Liberation theology

Liberation theology is a Christian theological approach emphasizing the liberation of the oppressed. In certain contexts, it engages socio-economic analyses, with "social concern for the poor and political liberation for oppressed peoples."

The truth is what liberates the people but some will define Liberation theology as generally refering to a theology applied to the core concerns of marginalized communities in need of social, political, or economic equality and justice.

Defining equality and justice and how they are achieved may pit two groups against one another while claiming to believe in Liberation theology. Christ promoted pure Religion not public religion.

The truth is if Jesus was born 30 years ago he would be crucified in the press and hated by many Modern Christians just like the Pharisees hated him back then. He would condemn the Modern Church for their acceptance of the system of Corban which was a form of social welfare provided through forced offerings and *made the word of God to none effect* through the covetous practices of he world provided by "men who call themselves Benefactors but exercise authority one over the other".
Socialism is the religion you get when desire the lasciviousness of the wages of unrighteousness because you failed to seek the righteousness of the Kingdom of God and its practice of Pure Religion.

Was Jesus a socialist

How anyone could even suggest that Jesus preached socialism is an indictment of the Modern Church.

Christ came to preach against socialism.

Socialism was one of the major reasons He took the kingdom from the Pharisees^[1] and appointed it to the Apostles with the instructions not to be like the other governments of the world who called themselves Benefactors but exercised authority one over the other.

It was the Corban of the Pharisees which made the word of God to none effect. That Corban which was started by Herod the Great and the Pharisees who held political power at that time was a socialist scheme. Herod's temples, like the Temples of Rome, operated a social welfare system of free bread through taxation instead of freewill offerings as Moses said to do.

The same scheme was promoted by Augustus in Rome, years before, and by Nimrod in Babylon. It was also promoted in the United States by FDR through his New Deal. I am amazed at the number of so-called Christian pastors who do not know or understand that Jesus said His followers were not to go that socialist way where the State takes care of the needy of society by forced offerings rather than by charity.

There has been a hijacking of the teachings of Jesus by modern Liberation theology to promote socialism and communism. Even Ben Shapiro stated, "Jesus was not a big government Marxist. Pick up a Bible sometime."

Lawrence Reed, president of the Foundation for Economic Education, explains the misconceptions about Jesus. He makes some good points but fails to mention numerous doctrines of Christ concerning the Church and the benefactors who exercise authority who were also the Fathers of the earth. He also does not mention the Corban of the Pharisees condemned by Christ because it was a Social Security System that was a part of the covetous practices that makes men merchandise curse children, and entangles people back into the yoke of bondage through the elements of the world. And certainly, there seems to be no suitable explanation of owning all things common which few people understand. Time 5:31

Christians were actually put to death because they would not sign up for the socialist welfare programs of Rome and their free Bread and circuses. The socialist schemes of the Roman government were at the heart of the Christian conflict.

Almost all the social ills and economic problems today can be linked back to socialist practices and schemes where people desire benefits at the expense of their neighbor. Those benefits are what the Bible calls the wages of unrighteousness. This is all because we have chosen to go the socialist way of central treasuries, forced offerings, central powers to redistribute that which was collected by an exercising authority. Other schemes like the Golden calf which was literally a central bank and other schemes like having One purse has always been condemned by the prophets. To secure benefits through men who exercise authority is covetousness.

Such covetous practices are the way of Balaam and the Nicolaitan, which God hates.

Christ told us to go another way if we were to follow Him. John the Baptist had done the same with his system of charity. The water Baptism was a way of marking the point where you were going to stop the Covetous Practices of men like Herod and their Corban.

Christians should not be a part of such programs rooted in covetousness. You cannot oppose what Christ said and at the same time be a follower of Christ.

Many of the people who think they are Christians, but are only Modern Christians, are actually workers of iniquity. They are worried about the Mark of the Beast and the number of the Beast 666. Modern Christians are often worried about National ID today. They have national ID. Their state IDs are linked nationally and you cannot get a state ID, Drivers license, business license, or marriage license without a Social Security Number by law. You cannot get a job in the civil sector, a bank account, or license of any kind without the Mark of the Beast. Most all nations have linked their own SSN-type number by international treaty.

Jesus the capitalist

Capitalism is only a economic system. It is not political and without politics it is not corporate.

Capitalism is found everywhere in nature from squirels and their nuts to birds and their nest. It is the way of every creature that protects it's next generation.

Christ came like a year of jubilee to set the captive free and return everyman to "his possessions" and to his family".

He understood that without capitalism there will be less fervent charity which is The Way of Christ.

What Christ was not was a socialist.

You can be a capitalist and a follower of Christ but a socialist by nature is opposed to the teachings of Christ.

In fact, the "legal charity" of socialism and its "covetous practices" the people will "make the word of God to none effect", become "merchandise", "curse children", and return the people to the "bondage of Egypt".

John Stossel - Capitalism vs Socialism. Neil Sroka (Democracy for America Communications) joins John to argue the need for more socialism, while economist Ivan Pongracic (Hillsdale College) explains why such a path is folly. One argument against Jesus being a socialist from Luke 12:13 "And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Time 11:17

Modern Christians through Covetous Practices have made themselves Merchandise and cursed their Children with endless debt and servitude to the very systems and its Benefactors to whom they have applied for benefits. They have no idea of what they have already done. If they have ears to hear, the time to repent is now.

Many practice a False religion to make them feel comfortable about their Public religion, either because no one has told them what Pure Religion really means or because they refuse to Repent.

We need to begin to attend to what Christ called the Weightier matters.

Luke 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so:"

http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/corban.php

Moneychangers

The moneychangers were not involved in nickel and dime purchases where you could tip over a table and send change rolling on the floor like you see in the movies or imagine in Sundayschool.

A Greek word for “moneychangers” was kollubistes^[2] which was a reference to bankers. Many of the temples of that time were involved in some form of banking like the Temple of Diana in Ephesus which was the world bank of its day. They had secure vaults or golden statues which were used as reserve funds. These temples were depositories of gold as money or like we saw in Egypt a commodity money, like grain. Because religion was often about caring for the needy of society the social welfare of societies was provided through their temples. This was true in the times of Cain's city city-state, Nimrod's cities of Babylon, Sumer and its Goddess of the Turtledove and of course the walled city of Sodom.

Abraham, Moses, and of course Jesus the Christ also provided for the needy of society but it was the means and the method that made them a peculiar people. They also did not need vaults nor golden statues to hold the treasure for their society for it was held in the purse by every member of nation in free assemblies.

Even before stone temples there was need for many men to manage the heave offerings^[3] coming to the tabernacle and they were called porters in the days of Samuel and David who could discharge them as High priest or King.

Those collecting the funds often clipped a piece of a coin for their share.^[4]

Kollubistes is not the only word to describe these gatekeepers such as kermatistes.^[5] which was a composed of the Greek word kerma^[6] used in reference to a small coin which actually comes from keiro^[7] meaning to sheer as in shearing a sheep. or “clipped amount”.

The porters or moneychangers were holders of these lucrative offices on the left hand side of the Judean government that had come down to those days from the original Israelite Republic set up by Moses and his Church in the wilderness.

Over the centuries the national government shifted from the principles of that free Republic under God. Like Rome they were doing the business of government differently. The Temples were government buildings providing government services. Originally, both Rome and Israel depended on freewill offerings or sacrifice called Corban to provide for the needy of their society. But people were offered a new deal where everyone would be compelled to pay their fair share if they were registered with the temple. John the Baptist was preaching something different than the Corban of the Pharisees and Herod. Rome had been setting up similar systems at leas since Polybius.

Cleansing

In the original Tens the power of the purse of government was in the hands of the people since the Golden calf. That Golden statue was a form of idolatry^[8] because it was one purse and a national treasury which in many city-states it would be called a Reserve fund like what had been in Egypt and was meant to bind the people?

The people often chose rulers who exercise authority^[9] to do the job of establishing a social welfare for the people. They were to insure the honesty of those who performed the charitable care of society in areas of health, education and welfare of the people and for the people.

The people were the overseers of the public trust through their votive offerings. There was no one called the Pontifex Maximus, no "benefactor who exercised authority"^[9] until they signed up with Herod and his temples along with the Pharisees and their "corban which made the word of God to none effect".

But also men were chosen by the people through a network set up in patterns of tens where tithes were paid to men of peace like Melchizedeck and Abraham. This was not only the pattern of the Church in the wilderness but it was commanded by Christ.

Kings like David were overseer of the Porters of the temple and of course if Jesus was the Christ or Messiah he too was a king who would have that power.

Temples as bank

In the "Temple Cleansing and Temple Bank" by Neill Q. Hamilton, explains the:

"function of the Jerusalem temple as a bank^[10] and its connection to the cause of His death."
"A brief history of banking in temples in the ancient world will prepare us for an understanding of the Jerusalem temple bank."

Rameses, "I don't have to remind you, Moses—the temple grain is for the gods."
"What the gods can digest will not sour in the belly of a slave." Moses.
The Ten Commandments 1956 American film about the Egyptian Prince, Moses.

The granaries of the temples were store house to provide a social safety net in time of dearth or famine for society and ensure the loyalty of their citizens and subjects.

Many of the temples of Rome functioned as financial institutions, investment brokers, social safety nets, or other government service providers from building roads, docks, bridges, or aqueducts and even the minting of coins or keeping public records of lands and family lineage like birth registration. The temple at Ephesus provided some banking and investment services for 127 different countries.

Others were banking on the Kingdom. The Qumram of the Essenes, as well as Jesus and the early Church called for a temple made without hands but constructed of living stones.

The Essenes called that community a "temple of men" or the miqdash adam.

Ten elders of families gather together as an altar of 'adamah' e.g. clay in a free assembly and choose the living stones for |heir altars of sacrifice for the practice of Pure Religion which is the Corban of Christ, His Eucharist.

While the "seven men" in Acts 6 formed a sort of "bank" to handle funds as needed. They were a kind of nonprofit bank more like a decentralized credit unions today than the common for profit bank.

Everything about the Kingdom of God is decentralized because it is delivering a power of choice or liberty to individuals rather than to a central power or treasury.^[11]

All this may seem knew and strange to people who have forgotten that Israel was a government and Jesus came to take the kingdom from those who had sat in the seat of Moses^[12] and appoint it to those who would bear fruit,^[13] which he did. It may help to reexamine what we have come to believe is the meaning of Religion and what made Pure Religion pure?

Those in charge could take a portion for their labor. These commissioned moneychangers took a portion of the collected contributions of the people in the form of a commission. This commission had grown to become what we would call a large share or porterhouse cut.

The Tribute

The tribute could exceed 7,600,000 denarii in that one month. The money-changers were allowed to charge a silver meah, or about one-fourth of a denar. Their cut on this one event could be 950,000 denarii, worth more than $9,000,000 today. “Thus the immense offerings … to the Temple passed through the hands of the moneychangers.”^[14]

Understanding who the money-changers were as government officials and what it meant to be fired from their lucrative commissioned position in the national treasury brings the motivation of crucifying Jesus into a new and revealing light.

“All these [which were] chosen to be porters in the gates [were] two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.” (1 Chronicles 9:22)

Jesus walked into the national bank, the gazophulakion or “the royal treasury,” and by laying a string whip^[15] across their shoulders, according to the ancient tradition of His kingly office, simply fired these corrupt employees. As King, He was able to turn over their lucrative appointments to more worthy officers elected by the people, who now supported His reign as King by the thousands.^[16] The people had again been taught the ancient ways by men like John, Jesus, and His faithful followers, who had been demonstrating the way of God, making it straight again.

The king's discretion

The king had appointed these offices from the elected choices of the people. They were not elected as we often think of elections today, but were reckoned by their genealogy, which dealt with their family units, or “generations” which gathered together in Tens. They were not to hold this office by inheritance or by their lineage. Nor by the kings discretion alone.

The word “villages” is normally translated “court” and is based on their positions as servants of the tens and hundreds. Even though David and Samuel ordained them to their set offices, they had no authority to elect them. The king and high priest, as overseers, could reject those holding their specific positions, but they could not appoint their own cohorts, loyal crowd, nor cronies.

Whip and the crook

A sheep crook (heka) and flail (nekhakha) were used in Egyptian culture. They were symbols of a ruling judge and an insignia of pharaonic authority. The shepherd's crook stood for kingship to appoint officer or taskmaster and the nekhakha or whip was to flail the chaf from the wheat^[15] were symbols of kings and pharaohs with their power to hire and fire public servants.

The people would reaffirm their network of Tens at the feast of Pentecost. Without perfect people, it could not be a perfect system; but it was a godly balance under the Perfect law of liberty for those who lived by love in hope rather than force and greed. There was separation of Church and State, meaning that the giving of charity and the enforcement of law did not mix. There was a balance of power in the hands of the people.

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.” (Mark 12:41)

Jesus was the king and had been observing the practices in the public treasury^[17] for some time. The words ”over against” were from katenanti, which was a metaphor meaning “before one, i.e. he being judge”. He had already begun to instruct men within the royal treasury in John 8. There are a number of misconceptions concerning what is taking place and where it all took place within that text.

Set and appoint

“Jesus…came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them." (John 8:2)

There are numerous words translated into “set” in the New Testament including kathemai, epitithemi, paratithemi, histemi, duno, anakeimai, anapipto among others, but the words “sat down” in John 8:2 is kathizo, which is defined, “to set, appoint, to confer a kingdom on one.”^[18]

From the book Thy Kingdom Comes

To understand how the Church handles things like banking accounts, we need to understand the full purpose, function, and nature of the Church. In the days of Rome, just as today, the transfer of funds from one place to another produced a need for what has become known as Banks. In Herod’s Temples the Royal Treasury stored large capital reserves managed by the ministers for the benefit of the people. The tables of the money changers were actually a part of this national “bank”^[19]or royal treasury,^[20] even receiving a compelled offering.^[21]

Things in the Kingdom of God had changed since the day of Moses and not always for the better.

“These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.” (John 8:20)

The word treasury is from gazophulakion, meaning “the royal treasury” and “guarded vault or chamber.” It contained millions of dollars in silver, deposited in large chests which held the collected contributions of the citizenry for the running of the government, and to support the common welfare.

From Sumer to Diana

From Sumer to Diana there ere sustems that made captives of the people.

Even Diana’s temple at Ephesus was nothing more than a world bank built by the commitment of over 127 different nations who deposited funds in their vault. It was the most secure depository in all the Mediterranean, and also invested in lucrative commercial and social enterprises on an international basis.

Ephesus, and the temples of Herod under the administration of the Pharisees and Sadducees, indulged in practices which Moses and Jesus opposed. As the Messiah, He spoke against the Corban of the Pharisees with its social entitlements and compelled offerings. They were storing up silver and gold within a central government^[22] to provide the benefits of social security, but allowed an exercising authority over the people in the gathering of those contributions and the filling of the treasury.

Central Treasury

This consolidation of funds and the ability to compel the sacrifices of the people centralized power, tempted and corrupted the ministers, and subverted the word of God by taking away the charitable choice exercised by a free people.

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.” (Mark 12:41)

Jesus, the anointed King, was setting policy for the repository of the public treasury. The words ‘over against’ were from katenanti meaning “before one i.e. he being judge”. He was instructing men within the royal treasury in John 8. “Jesus … came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and he sat down, and taught them.” There are many words in the Bible translated into ‘set’ but in John 8:2, “sat down,” which is from “kathizo,” meant: “to set, appoint, to confer a kingdom on one.”^[23]

These are specific words of authority.

Jesus desired charity and forbade benefactors who exercised authority. When there were serious needs among the people during Claudius’ reign, instead of calling upon Caesar, it was the Church^[24] who provided assistance to the people by way of the ministry of Barnabas and Saul.^[25]

Firing the taxman

So the firing of the moneychangers was the job of the king and his use of a string whip^[15] made it public. New men would take their position at Pentecost but under the Fervent Charity taught by John the Baptist and Jesus. To regain their power over the One purse of the nation they would have remove Christ before Pentecost. Now you know why they rushed to crucify Christ. Like most Socialists they did not believe in charity but coveted their neighbor's goods.

The Church's service to the living body of Christ in the modern world must be as real as that Church of the first century. We must be as concerned about other congregations as we are about our own in an effective and world-wide way. We must come together and attend to the Weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith which include caring for the needs of our neighbors and the widows and orphans of our society through Pure Religion in matters of health, education, and welfare. We are NOT to provide for the needy of society through the Covetous Practices and the men who call themselves benefactors but who exercise authority one over the other like the socialists do.

The Way of Christ was like neither the way of the world of Rome nor the governments of the gentiles who depend on those fathers of the earth through force, fear and fealty who deliver the people back in bondage again like they were in Egypt. Christ's ministers and true Christians do not depend upon systems of social welfare that force the contributions of the people like the corban of the Pharisees which made the word of God to none effect. Many people have been deceived to go the way of Balaam and the Nicolaitan and out of The Way of Christ and have become workers of iniquity.

The Christian conflict with Rome in the first century Church appointed by Christ was because they would not apply to the fathers of the earth for their free bread but instead relied upon a voluntary network providing a daily ministration to the needy of society through Faith, Hope, and Charity by way of freewill offerings of the people, for the people, and by the people through the perfect law of liberty in Free Assemblies according to the ancient pattern of Tuns or Tens as He commanded.

The modern Christians are in need of repentance.

"Follow me!" —Jesus the Christ.

One of the most important things to do is to become involved in a network of Charitable Practices. Everyone should want to join a Living Network of Love and Charity.

If you think you have a calling to be a Minister of God or you might want to dedicate your life to Christ as an Ordained Minister of His Holy Church, contact us to start the process of discipleship and become the benefactors who exercise only love, NOT authority.^[26]

All things common

Jesus preached that we should seek His kingdom of God that he promised to take from the Pharisees and appoint to those who would bear fruit. He called out some to become His disciples training them to be ministers of that kingdom, requiring them to sell their property^[27] and eventually appointed that little flock a kingdom as is clearly stated in the text.

Acts 2:42 47 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common^[28]; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

There is a lot of confusion created by the quote in Acts about believers having all "All things in common".

Acts 2:44 "And all that believed were together, and had all things common;" the word translated "all things" is ἅπαντα hapanta^[29] which actually means "all" while the first word all which we see in the sentence is Πάντες, pantes meaning "Everybody" from pas^[30] which means collectively as each individual.

Acts 2:45 "And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need." We know that the apostles were taking care of the needy, receiving the freewill offerings or sacrificed of the people and in the vey next verse they are rightly dividing the bread from house to house. Yet people want to be live that early Christians were socialist and that Jesus was preaching some form of socialism by taking Act 2:44 out of the context of all His other teachings and the whole Bible.

The word "had" is the word that means to have i.e. own, possess.

So, where else do we see the phrase "all things common"?

Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any [of them] that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had^[31] all things common.

It is here they talk about Joses, a levite, becoming one of them but Ananias failing the test of faith succumbed to a mysterious death.

That all has to do with the called out apostles appointed by Jesus and not the people in general. Everyone was not required to give up all they had and give it to the poor to follow Jesus. This was a requirement for those who wanted to be disciples or student ministers.^[32] This has nothing to do with Jesus being a socialist. Jesus was just the opposite and even condemned the Pharisees for their socialist system of Corban.

The early Church and the Christian community was a sharing society dependent upon individual choice under what Paul calls the perfect law of liberty. Those choices included the free assemblies "of the people" living by faith, hope and charity providing social welfare fueled by a daily sacrifice "for the people and by the people". These charitable practices through the ministers of the Church, who were a public servant, providing a daily ministration that bound the people by love instead of force, hope instead of entitlements and faith instead of allegiance.

While love, which comes in the form of charity, is imposed by God and Jesus Christ, the enforcement is through the spirit and not men like Cain, Nimrod, or Caesar of the world. . Those who misinterpret the "all things common" quote incorrectly fail to understand the separation of the Church and state. Originally the power of the State was the power of the people held individually by the people in a Natural state. The ministers of the Church composed first of disciples and then called Apostles or ambassadors and ministers were separate from the general population of the people.

They were not better or rulers but like Christ, they were people who came out because they were called out to serve as shepherds of Gods flock, his people, his nation.

Like the Levites of old, Moses and Jesus created a system of self-government where the ministers were separate and titular. They could not exercise authority one over the other like the Benefactors of the world in fact they were to be in the world but not of the world or depend upon its benefits as members.

While they owned all things in common they did not exercise authority one over the other. The people did not belong to the body of Levites but individually belonged to God^[33] Himself or so is the intention of God. The ministers of the Church in the wilderness and the early Church belonged to God as bond servants and therefore they owned all things common ^[34] but the people were to be returned to their possessions and their families.^[35]

The same as the Church in the wilderness the early Church as a group of appointed ministers called out of the world of Rome to minister to the Kingdom of God at hand was composed of men and women who belonged to God like the Levites before them. To say they were not of the "world" and were assigned to feed his sheep just as the Levites served the tents of the congregations of a free people by providing a Daily ministration through the righteous Corban of Christ. The sacrifice of the people given as Freewill offerings which the New Testament calls charity was the key to the kingdom. They, the Church and His ordained ministers, held things as joint heirs of a society with a mission of charity as unhewn but lively Stones from which the living Altars of God may be built to set all men free who repent and seek His Way.

The sheep of Christ hear His voice^[36] and live by charity not by force. The appointed shepherds of Christ's Kingdom of God at hand provide a network of charity in service and a daily ministration of righteousness according to The Way of Christ as one body in the world but not of it.

Understanding the church in general and the Church specific will also help people understand why those rich men and the disciples who wanted to become appointed ministers of this unique form of free government as the called out of Christ had to give up "all their property" and hold all things in common.

John the Baptist was against the use of force in creating the altruistic society of Christianity. Christ forbid the use of force for all Christians in providing the benefits of society and warned against covetousness through the Ten Commandments in His directives about Eternal life and Corban of the Socialism of the Pharisees.

The Poor Princes of the kingdom

The princes of Israel were to serve only and be chosen as servants of servants to keep the people free souls under God. This is the essence of a good Church. This has been the nature of the Kingdom and government of God from the beginning. Other forms of government seen throughout the Bible, in opposition to God, give power to men to rule with authority. Both governments require support.

In the first, the people must choose to support those who fall upon need, finance the ministration of government, and provide the protection of the country locally and nationally by free contributions.

In the latter, the people are required by those in power to provide for the needs of the state by forced contributions that take both substance and choice from their neighbor.

The former depends on reciprocating charity, service, and freewill offerings. ^[37]

The other has reciprocating entitlements where the people are under the exercising authority of the political benefactors. It does not matter if that benefactor is a despot or a democracy. In all cases men rule over men, choice is diminished, and God is rejected. The kingdom of heaven is within and if the choice^[38] is not made in the hearts and minds of men then the kingdom is abandoned.

This latter system of men is not instituted by God. It is a violation of God’s way which Christ spoke against.^[39] Such systems often speak of faith in God, have their rituals and gatherings where they claim to pray to God but in fact their prayers and kings are not to Christ or the Father but to the Caesars of the world. Their ordinances and laws make the word of God to none effect, but what of the Church?

God’s congregation in the wilderness and in the first century Church were gathered together in free will fellowships. Since, the congregations are composed of free men and women, they must establish a titular body to represent them without giving it an exercising authority over their liberty. The called out ministers of the Church represent that servant body politic to the world.

Christians would not bind themselves to the Nicolaitan altars of power by oath, application or participation. Those offered entitlements were funded by agents with exercising authority over neighbors or by oppressing the stranger. Christians could not pray at such covetous^[40] altars like the Corban of Herod nor the pharisees. Nor could they take the free bread offered by the Roman temples because since they also used force to take from some to give to another. The dainties offered at their tables were not only a snare but since they were based on covetous practices Paul said they were idolatry.^[8] Peter said they would make you merchandise and curse children if they took those benefits which were the wages of unrighteousness.

To truly belong to Christ being separate and not be of the world ministers must put their faith in another king who preached a different kind of way and government with gregarious altars of charity.

They formed living altars of faithful men who received the freewill offerings^[37] of the people called sacrifice to provide a daily ministration through Pure Religion.

They would redistribute those gifts through the living network of congregations and churches. There was no central store house, but a constant weekly and daily flow of that which made the body whole and healthy.

The people retained their rights and responsibilities to love one another instead of engaging in the covetous practices of the world which made men merchandise and degenerated the masses.

Systems of legal charity like that of Herod or Nimrod are thetables of welfare which become snare as David and Paul said. Without a system of welfare funded by Fervent charity the people will not long remain free.

Such volunteer system of living altars allowed the people to survive in hard times and could be called sacred purpose ministries. Such trust needs some form of protector or overseer or an authoritarian state will eventually assume that office.

The ordained ministers of the Church supplied both the representation and that position of servant overseer. They did not usurp or exercise authority over the people, but stood in appointed authority between the corpus of the people and the interlopers and usurpers of the other governments of the world.

The critical difference between a God inspired government and governments of the other nations is that no authority over the people is vested in that public office. Those who seek that office of service are subject to the job description given by Christ and by Moses. They could be in but not of the world.

Christ restricted them from owning property in their own name. This is a very controversial subject but it was key to the standing of the Church in the wilderness,^[41] at the time of Christ and in the free Church today. The autonomy of the Church is not only dependent upon the Church rejecting benefits of the world, but the ordained ministers must also reject all benefits of the world that might ensnare them.^[42]

In those early days of Israel when there was no king the ministers of the government of liberty and charity had no inheritance in the land but holding all things in common they belonged to God.^[43] They were foreign to the world and to the people.^[44]

The apostles were appointed a kingdom, but told to not be like the princes, rulers, or the kings of the Gentiles.^[45] These men were princes of the kingdom, but unlike most every government today they did not exercise authority one over the other ^[9] for they do not go up by steps^[46] nor do they hew the choices^[38] of their fellow servants.

In the early Church those ordained disciples of Christ had no inheritance in the land, like the Levites who were the church in the wilderness because Christ ordered that they sell their property or they could not be His disciple, student ministers.^[47]

Those like Barnabas obeyed this command, but Ananias did not. Understanding Barnabas, who was Joses a Levite who owned property in Cyprus^[48] was not allowed to by God according to Moses. In order to obey Jesus he had to sell it and give the money away. “But” Ananias failed to do so and died.

If the ministers of Christ are a part of the estate of Christ they can have no personal estate of their own. This is essential to the foreign nature of the Church to maintain true autonomy. This unique status of a ordained minister with no personal estate is important to mention, but we will have to deal with the detailed examination and explanation in another place.

Footnotes

↑ Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
↑
2855 κολλυβιστής kollubistes [kol-loo-bis-tace’] from a presumed derivative of kollubos (a small coin-probably akin to 2854); n m; AV-moneychanger 2, charger 1; 3
1) a money-changer, banker
- See also 2856 koloboo to mutilate, from 2849 to lop or prune.
↑ The heave offering managers
1 Chronicles 9:22 "All these [which were] chosen to be porters in the gates [were] two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office."

2 Chronicles 31:14 "And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, [was] over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations <08641> of the LORD, and the most holy things."

Nehemiah 10:39 "For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering <08641> of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where [are] the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God."

Nehemiah 13:5 "And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded [to be given] to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings <08641> of the priests."
↑ “kollubistes, (i.q. a. a small coin, cf. Clipped; b. rate of exchange, premium), a money-changer, banker: Mt.xxi. 12; Mk. Xi. 15; Jn.ii. 15.” Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, page 353.
↑
2773 κερματιστής kermatistes [ker-mat-is-tace’] from a derivative of 2772 kerma a small piece of money; n m; AV-changer of money 1; 1
1) a money changer, money broker
- In the court of the Gentiles in the temple of Jerusalem were the seats of those who sold such animals for sacrifice as had been selected, examined, and approved, together with incense, oil, and other things needed in making offerings and in worship; and the magnitude of this traffic had introduced the banker’s or broker’s business.
↑ 2772 κέρμα kerma [ker’-mah] from 2751 keiro shearing; n n; AV-money 1; 1
1) small pieces of money, small coin, change, money
↑ 2751 κείρω keiro [ki’-ro] a primary verb; v; AV-shear 3, shearer 1; 4
1) to sheer: a sheep

2) to get or let be shorn

3) of shearing or cutting short the hair of the head
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1
Covetousness is idolatry
Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
- For it is written that the tables of dainties provided by rulers of the world are a snare because they cause the masses to bite one another through government systems of legal charity which are covetous practices which are a form of fornication or adultery where the people are devoured as merchandise, curse children and are "entangled again in the yoke of bondage" with the aid of the false religion of the whore who rides the beast.
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Not exercise authority
Matthew 20:25 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you:..."

Mark 10:42 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:..."

Luke 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye [shall] not [be] so:..."
↑ Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:48-49, Matthew 21:12,13
↑ Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
↑ Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
↑ Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
↑ New Unger’s Bible Dictionary
↑ ^15.0 ^15.1 ^15.2 The Bible says Jesus made this whip or scourge of schoinos which was "a rush, bulrush" material. That material would only produce a small "cord" made of rush fibers. On the other hand a Roman scourge, also called the "flagrum" or "flagellum" was a short whip made of two or three leather (ox-hide braids) thongs or ropes connected to a handle. It could have knots or objects tied to it to increase damage and pain. The small cord made from bulrushes would not only be fragile but virtually harmless. It had long been a symbol of kings and their authority to make determinations and was even used to measure length or sizes of fields(see image of Egyptian rulers). A "schoinos" measures 4.605 miles.
↑ Acts 2:41, “...three thousand souls.” “...men was about five thousand.”
↑ Gazophulakion a repository of treasure, especially of public treasure.
↑ 2523 kathizo another (active) form for 2516; AV-sit 26, sit down 14, set 2, be set 2, be set down 2, continue 1, tarry 1; 48 1) to make to sit down 1a) to set, appoint, to confer a kingdom on one 2) intransitively
↑ The word for “table” of the moneychangers which Jesus overthrew is the same word for “bank” in Luke 19:23 In the Greek today the word trapezia still means bank. Bank is from the Italian banca meaning bench.
↑ Gazophulakion a repository of treasure, especially of public treasure.
↑ Salome- Alexandra (about 78 BC), that the Pharisaical party carried an enactment by which the Temple tribute was to be enforced at law. Alfred Edersheim’s book The Temple. See Thy Kingdom Comes, The Hasmonean Appeal.
↑ Deuteronomy 17:17 “... neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.”
↑ kathizo another (active) 1) to make to sit down 1a) to set, appoint, to confer a kingdom on one 2) intransitively
↑ Acts 11:28 “And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
↑ Deuteronomy 19:15 “... at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Matthew 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, Luke 19:29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called [the mount] of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,”
↑ Matthew 20:25-26 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mark 10:42-43 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Luke 22:25-26 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
↑ Luke 14:33 "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
↑ An interesting observation is the word common is from 2839 ~κοινός~ koinos translated common 7 times, unclean 3, defiled 1, unholy 1. It primarily meant "common, mutual, shared, joint".
↑ 537 ἅπας hapas [hap’-as] from 1 (as a particle of union) and 3956 individually coming together; adj; TDNT-5:886,795; [{See TDNT 604 }] AV-all 34, all things 5, whole 3, every one 1, every 1; 44
1) quite, all, the whole, all together, all
↑ 3956 ~πᾶς~ pas \@pas\@ including all the forms of declension; adj AV-all 748, all things 170, every 117, all men 41, whosoever 31, everyone 28, whole 12, all manner of 11, every man 11, no + 3756 9, every thing 7, any 7, whatsoever 6, whosoever + 3739 + 302 3, always + 1223 3, daily + 2250 2, any thing 2, no + 3361 2, not tr 7, misc 26; 1243
1) individually
1a) each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything

2) collectively
2a) some of all types
↑ The phrase "had all things common" with the word "had" in Acts 2:44 is translated from "echo" which is a different word than we see in Acts 4:32 "en".
2258 ἦν en [ane] imperfect of 1510; v; AV-was 267, were 115, had been 12, had 11, taught + 1321 4, stood + 2476 4, misc 42, vr was 1; 457
1) I was, etc.
↑ Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
↑ Numbers 3:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.

Numbers 8:14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
↑ Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
↑ Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
Leviticus 25:41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.
↑ John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Psalms 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
↑ ^37.0 ^37.1 A Freewill offering is charity which is love.
Exodus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering<08641>: of every man that giveth it willingly<05068> with his heart ye shall take my offering<08641>.

Exodus 35:5 Take ye from among you an offering<08641> unto the LORD: whosoever [is] of a willing<05081> heart, let him bring it, an offering<08641> of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,

Exodus 35:10 And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;

Exodus 35:21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing<05068>, [and] they brought the LORD’S offering<08641> to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering<05071> unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing<05068> to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

Exodus 36:3 And they received of Moses all the offering<08641>, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it [withal]. And they brought yet unto him free offerings <05071> every morning.

Leviticus 1:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering <07133-Corban> unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering <07133-Corban> of the cattle, [even] of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering [be] a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will <07522> at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

Leviticus 2:4 "And if thou bring an oblation <07133> of a meat offering baken in the oven, [it shall be] unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5 And if thy oblation <07133-Corban> [be] a meat offering [baken] in a pan, it shall be [of] fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.

Leviticus 7:16 But if the sacrifice of his offering [be] a vow, or a voluntary offering <05071>, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:

Leviticus 22:18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever [he be] of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation<07133-Corban> for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings<05071>, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering;

Deuteronomy 16:10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering<05071> of thine hand, which thou shalt give [unto the LORD thy God], according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

Ezra 7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill <05069> to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee....15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered <05069> unto the God of Israel, whose habitation [is] in Jerusalem, 16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering <05069> of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly <05069> for the house of their God which [is] in Jerusalem:
↑ ^38.0 ^38.1 "Freedom is the Right to Choose, the Right to create for oneself the alternatives of Choice. Without the possibility of Choice, and the exercise of Choice, a man is not a man but a member, an instrument, a thing.” Archibald MacLeish
↑ Matthew 23:13 “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”
↑ Jesus against covetousness
Mark 7:9 "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." See Corban.

Mark 7:20 "And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

Luke 12:15 "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."

Luke 16:14 "And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."

Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love."
↑ This status of an ordained minister is covered under the title of “Vow of Poverty”. It is often misunderstood but well documented in the biblical text and the law today. It may require some detailed study to overcome our misconceptions.
↑ Members of Religious groups who have social security numbers may apply for exemption with form 4029 from the Social Security tax. But members of order who have taken a vow of poverty are "automatically excluded". It can be assumed they waive any rights to all benefits under the Social Security Act, and are conscientiously opposed to accepting benefits from men who force the contributions of others with an exercising authority.
↑ Deuteronomy 18:1 The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. 2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
Numbers 3:45 “... the Levites shall be mine: I [am] the LORD.”

Numbers 3:12 "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;"
↑ Numbers 8:14 "Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine. 15 And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering. 16 For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. 17 For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.”
↑ Matthew 20:25 “...princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them..., Mark 10:42... accounted to rule...” Luke 22:25 “...kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.”
↑ Heirs of service
The hierarchy of the kingdom of God does not go up by steps nor exercise authority one over the other but come as he that serves:

Matthew 20:27 "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Matthew 23:9 "And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

Luke 22:26 "But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth."

Mark 9:35 "And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, [the same] shall be last of all, and servant of all."

Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
↑
All you have
Luke 14:33 “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 18:22 "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."

Acts 2:42 47 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

Acts 4:32 "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."

Numbers 3:12 "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;"

Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD."

Numbers 8:14 "Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine."
- The ministers of the Church in the wilderness and the early Church belonged to God as bond servants and therefore they owned all things common so the people could be free.
Leviticus 25:10 "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family."

Leviticus 25:41 "And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return."
↑ Individual Levites owning property was forbidden by Moses but allowed by the Hasmonean dynasty.

[1] Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

[kollubistes-2] 2855 κολλυβιστής kollubistes [kol-loo-bis-tace’] from a presumed derivative of kollubos (a small coin-probably akin to 2854); n m; AV-moneychanger 2, charger 1; 3
1) a money-changer, banker

See also 2856 koloboo to mutilate, from 2849 to lop or prune.

[3] See also 2856 koloboo to mutilate, from 2849 to lop or prune.

[porterheave-3] The heave offering managers
1 Chronicles 9:22 "All these [which were] chosen to be porters in the gates [were] two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office."

2 Chronicles 31:14 "And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, [was] over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations <08641> of the LORD, and the most holy things."

Nehemiah 10:39 "For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering <08641> of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where [are] the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God."

Nehemiah 13:5 "And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded [to be given] to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings <08641> of the priests."

[4] “kollubistes, (i.q. a. a small coin, cf. Clipped; b. rate of exchange, premium), a money-changer, banker: Mt.xxi. 12; Mk. Xi. 15; Jn.ii. 15.” Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, page 353.

[kermatistes-5] 2773 κερματιστής kermatistes [ker-mat-is-tace’] from a derivative of 2772 kerma a small piece of money; n m; AV-changer of money 1; 1
1) a money changer, money broker

In the court of the Gentiles in the temple of Jerusalem were the seats of those who sold such animals for sacrifice as had been selected, examined, and approved, together with incense, oil, and other things needed in making offerings and in worship; and the magnitude of this traffic had introduced the banker’s or broker’s business.

[7] In the court of the Gentiles in the temple of Jerusalem were the seats of those who sold such animals for sacrifice as had been selected, examined, and approved, together with incense, oil, and other things needed in making offerings and in worship; and the magnitude of this traffic had introduced the banker’s or broker’s business.

[kerma-6] 2772 κέρμα kerma [ker’-mah] from 2751 keiro shearing; n n; AV-money 1; 1
1) small pieces of money, small coin, change, money

[keiro-7] 2751 κείρω keiro [ki’-ro] a primary verb; v; AV-shear 3, shearer 1; 4
1) to sheer: a sheep

2) to get or let be shorn

3) of shearing or cutting short the hair of the head

[Isidolatry-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Covetousness is idolatry
Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."

For it is written that the tables of dainties provided by rulers of the world are a snare because they cause the masses to bite one another through government systems of legal charity which are covetous practices which are a form of fornication or adultery where the people are devoured as merchandise, curse children and are "entangled again in the yoke of bondage" with the aid of the false religion of the whore who rides the beast.

[11] For it is written that the tables of dainties provided by rulers of the world are a snare because they cause the masses to bite one another through government systems of legal charity which are covetous practices which are a form of fornication or adultery where the people are devoured as merchandise, curse children and are "entangled again in the yoke of bondage" with the aid of the false religion of the whore who rides the beast.

[exauth-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Not exercise authority
Matthew 20:25 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you:..."

Mark 10:42 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:..."

Luke 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye [shall] not [be] so:..."

[10] Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:48-49, Matthew 21:12,13

[11] Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

[12] Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

[13] Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

[14] New Unger’s Bible Dictionary

[schoinos-15] 15.0 ^15.1 ^15.2 The Bible says Jesus made this whip or scourge of schoinos which was "a rush, bulrush" material. That material would only produce a small "cord" made of rush fibers. On the other hand a Roman scourge, also called the "flagrum" or "flagellum" was a short whip made of two or three leather (ox-hide braids) thongs or ropes connected to a handle. It could have knots or objects tied to it to increase damage and pain. The small cord made from bulrushes would not only be fragile but virtually harmless. It had long been a symbol of kings and their authority to make determinations and was even used to measure length or sizes of fields(see image of Egyptian rulers). A "schoinos" measures 4.605 miles.

[16] Acts 2:41, “...three thousand souls.” “...men was about five thousand.”

[17] Gazophulakion a repository of treasure, especially of public treasure.

[18] 2523 kathizo another (active) form for 2516; AV-sit 26, sit down 14, set 2, be set 2, be set down 2, continue 1, tarry 1; 48 1) to make to sit down 1a) to set, appoint, to confer a kingdom on one 2) intransitively

[19] The word for “table” of the moneychangers which Jesus overthrew is the same word for “bank” in Luke 19:23 In the Greek today the word trapezia still means bank. Bank is from the Italian banca meaning bench.

[20] Gazophulakion a repository of treasure, especially of public treasure.

[21] Salome- Alexandra (about 78 BC), that the Pharisaical party carried an enactment by which the Temple tribute was to be enforced at law. Alfred Edersheim’s book The Temple. See Thy Kingdom Comes, The Hasmonean Appeal.

[22] Deuteronomy 17:17 “... neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.”

[23] thizo another (active) 1) to make to sit down 1a) to set, appoint, to confer a kingdom on one 2) intransitively

[24] Acts 11:28 “And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”

[25] Deuteronomy 19:15 “... at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Matthew 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, Luke 19:29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called [the mount] of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,”

[26] Matthew 20:25-26 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mark 10:42-43 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Luke 22:25-26 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

[27] Luke 14:33 "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

[28] An interesting observation is the word common is from 2839 ~κοινός~ koinos translated common 7 times, unclean 3, defiled 1, unholy 1. It primarily meant "common, mutual, shared, joint".

[hapas-29] 537 ἅπας hapas [hap’-as] from 1 (as a particle of union) and 3956 individually coming together; adj; TDNT-5:886,795; [{See TDNT 604 }] AV-all 34, all things 5, whole 3, every one 1, every 1; 44
1) quite, all, the whole, all together, all

[pas-30] 3956 ~πᾶς~ pas \@pas\@ including all the forms of declension; adj AV-all 748, all things 170, every 117, all men 41, whosoever 31, everyone 28, whole 12, all manner of 11, every man 11, no + 3756 9, every thing 7, any 7, whatsoever 6, whosoever + 3739 + 302 3, always + 1223 3, daily + 2250 2, any thing 2, no + 3361 2, not tr 7, misc 26; 1243
1) individually
1a) each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything

2) collectively
2a) some of all types

[31] The phrase "had all things common" with the word "had" in Acts 2:44 is translated from "echo" which is a different word than we see in Acts 4:32 "en".
2258 ἦν en [ane] imperfect of 1510; v; AV-was 267, were 115, had been 12, had 11, taught + 1321 4, stood + 2476 4, misc 42, vr was 1; 457
1) I was, etc.

[32] Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

[33] Numbers 3:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.

Numbers 8:14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.

[34] Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

[35] Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
Leviticus 25:41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.

[36] John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Psalms 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

[Freewillo-37] 37.0 ^37.1 A Freewill offering is charity which is love.
Exodus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering<08641>: of every man that giveth it willingly<05068> with his heart ye shall take my offering<08641>.

Exodus 35:5 Take ye from among you an offering<08641> unto the LORD: whosoever [is] of a willing<05081> heart, let him bring it, an offering<08641> of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,

Exodus 35:10 And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;

Exodus 35:21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing<05068>, [and] they brought the LORD’S offering<08641> to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering<05071> unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing<05068> to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

Exodus 36:3 And they received of Moses all the offering<08641>, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it [withal]. And they brought yet unto him free offerings <05071> every morning.

Leviticus 1:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering <07133-Corban> unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering <07133-Corban> of the cattle, [even] of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering [be] a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will <07522> at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

Leviticus 2:4 "And if thou bring an oblation <07133> of a meat offering baken in the oven, [it shall be] unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5 And if thy oblation <07133-Corban> [be] a meat offering [baken] in a pan, it shall be [of] fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.

Leviticus 7:16 But if the sacrifice of his offering [be] a vow, or a voluntary offering <05071>, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:

Leviticus 22:18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever [he be] of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation<07133-Corban> for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings<05071>, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering;

Deuteronomy 16:10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering<05071> of thine hand, which thou shalt give [unto the LORD thy God], according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

Ezra 7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill <05069> to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee....15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered <05069> unto the God of Israel, whose habitation [is] in Jerusalem, 16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering <05069> of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly <05069> for the house of their God which [is] in Jerusalem:

[archy-38] 38.0 ^38.1 "Freedom is the Right to Choose, the Right to create for oneself the alternatives of Choice. Without the possibility of Choice, and the exercise of Choice, a man is not a man but a member, an instrument, a thing.” Archibald MacLeish

[39] Matthew 23:13 “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

[jesuscovet-40] Jesus against covetousness
Mark 7:9 "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." See Corban.

Mark 7:20 "And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

Luke 12:15 "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."

Luke 16:14 "And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."

Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love."

[41] This status of an ordained minister is covered under the title of “Vow of Poverty”. It is often misunderstood but well documented in the biblical text and the law today. It may require some detailed study to overcome our misconceptions.

[42] Members of Religious groups who have social security numbers may apply for exemption with form 4029 from the Social Security tax. But members of order who have taken a vow of poverty are "automatically excluded". It can be assumed they waive any rights to all benefits under the Social Security Act, and are conscientiously opposed to accepting benefits from men who force the contributions of others with an exercising authority.

[43] Deuteronomy 18:1 The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. 2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
Numbers 3:45 “... the Levites shall be mine: I [am] the LORD.”

Numbers 3:12 "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;"

[44] Numbers 8:14 "Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine. 15 And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering. 16 For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. 17 For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.”

[45] Matthew 20:25 “...princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them..., Mark 10:42... accounted to rule...” Luke 22:25 “...kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.”

[serveth-46] Heirs of service
The hierarchy of the kingdom of God does not go up by steps nor exercise authority one over the other but come as he that serves:

Matthew 20:27 "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Matthew 23:9 "And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

Luke 22:26 "But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth."

Mark 9:35 "And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, [the same] shall be last of all, and servant of all."

Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

[properpov-47] All you have
Luke 14:33 “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 18:22 "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."

Acts 2:42 47 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

Acts 4:32 "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."

Numbers 3:12 "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;"

Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD."

Numbers 8:14 "Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine."

The ministers of the Church in the wilderness and the early Church belonged to God as bond servants and therefore they owned all things common so the people could be free.

Leviticus 25:10 "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family."

Leviticus 25:41 "And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return."

[51] The ministers of the Church in the wilderness and the early Church belonged to God as bond servants and therefore they owned all things common so the people could be free.

[48] Individual Levites owning property was forbidden by Moses but allowed by the Hasmonean dynasty.

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Liberation theology

Contents