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Chapter 13 - Jmmanuel And The Sabbath
1. At that time Jmmanuel walked through a field of grain on the Sabbath; and his disciples, being hungry, began to pluck ears of grain and to eat.
2. When the Pharisees saw this, they spoke to him, "Behold, your disciples are doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath."
3. But he spoke to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?
4. "How he went into the temple and ate the shewbread, which neither he nor those with him were permitted to eat but only the priests?
5. "Or have you not read in the law, how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and yet are without guilt?
6. "Truly, I say to you, you brood of snakes and vipers, a stone will turn into bread before no work may be done on the Sabbath.
7. "For the law that the Sabbath be kept holy is only a man-made law without logic, as are many man-made laws that contradict the laws of Creation.
8. "False prophets and distorters of the scriptures are the guilty ones responsible for these false laws that contradict the laws of Creation and of nature.
9. "It is therefore a human law that the Sabbath be kept holy and that no work be done on that day, but it is a law that escapes logic, since this law is a false teaching, emanating from the human mind.
10. "Truly, I say to you, no Sabbath is holy and no law of Creation dictates that no work may be done on the Sabbath.
11. "Thus the Sabbath is a day like any other day on which the day's work may be done.
12. "Humans are creatures with wills of their own; thus they alone ate masters over the Sabbath, as was previously written in those ancient scriptures and laws that were not adulterated by false prophets, distorters of the scriptures and Pharisees."
13. And he walked on from there and came into their synagogue, where he continued to teach the people.
14. And behold, there was a man with a withered hand, and they asked him, "is it also lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" in order that they would have further cause against him.
15. But he spoke to them, "You hypocrites, if only you had eyes, ears and minds so you could see, hear and understand; but you are blind and without reason because you lack the knowledge to see, hear and understand nature. Therefore, you lack insight into the laws of Creation that would enable you to see, hear and understand that Creation does not keep the Sabbath holy.
16. "Every Sabbath day Creation rotates the stars through the heavens, regulates the sun, winds and rains and nourishes all creatures on Earth.
17. "It keeps the rivers flowing in their beds, and everything goes its normal way on one Sabbath as on another, just as Creation made it.
18. "But are not humans much more than all the creatures and plants? Thus they are masters over them all when they follow the true laws!
19. "You brood of snakes and vipers, you distorters of the scriptures who, because of your greed for money and power, spread false teachings; had you but one sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath day, who among you would not take hold of it and pull it out?
20. "How much more is a person worth than a sheep or your deceitful and false teachings?"
21. Then he spoke to the man, "Stretch out your hand!"
22. And he stretched it out; and it became sound again just like the other hand.
23. Then the Pharisees went out and held counsel about him, on how they could destroy him, since he made known their lies and false teachings in front of the people.
24. When Jmmanuel learned of this, he withdrew from there, and many people followed him, including many sick people; and he healed them all.
25. He warned them, however, not to spread the news about him, because he was afraid he would be captured and put to death by torture.
26. But his dedication to the truth prevailed, and so he continued to reveal his teachings and wisdom to the people.