This volume shares some of the most significant teachings Jesus gave to His disciples. But why are they titled “secret” teachings? Because they are almost never heard inside church buildings.
(Note: All Scriptures are from the NASB Version of the Bible, unless otherwise indicated).
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Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him (John 14:23).
I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me (John 17:20-23).
Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death (John 8:51).
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You (the apostles) are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:28-30).
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matthew 25:21 – KJV).
He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father (Revelation 2:26-27).
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21).
All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:32-34).
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears let him hear (Matthew 13:43).
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Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
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It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I (Jesus) have spoken to you are spirit and are life (John 6:63 – KJV).
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32).
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand (John 10:27-29).
I have other sheep (Gentiles), which are not of this fold (the Jews); I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd (John 10:16).
He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
When he (Christ) puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers (John 10:4-5).
Truly, truly, I (Jesus) say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life (John 5:24).
I (Jesus) am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:9).
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23).
So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me (God the Father) (John 7:16).
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me (Matthew 10:38).
Come to Me (Jesus), all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
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But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’ (a title used by the Jews to address their religious teachers) for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors (teachers), for you have one Instructor, the Messiah (Matthew 23:8-10).
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd (John 10:16).
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant (Greek: an attendant who waits on tables), and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).
But Jesus called them (the apostles) to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave (Matthew 20:25-27).
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No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (Luke 16:13 – KJV).
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand (Greek: a hired employee), and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep” (John 10:11-13).
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly (Greek ἔσω: on the inside) are ravenous wolves (Greek: aggressively greedy for money)” (Matthew 7:15).
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
And to those who were selling the doves (for offerings) He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business (Greek: a place where money is traded for a product)” (John 2:16).
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“What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons (of God) are exempt” (last part of Matthew 17:25 and verse 26).
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost (Greek: for free) (Revelation 22:17).
And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den” (Matthew 21:12-13).
Author’s note: Jesus never forbid taking up a collection to defray the costs of maintaining a Christian meeting place. But when Christians do so, they should not pretend they are “offering up” their money to God. We also should note that throughout the entire New Testament, there is not a single example of Christians taking up monetary “offerings to God,” either to support local church operations or to pay ministerial salaries (see discussion at the end of this book for an explanation of II Corinthians 9:6-7).
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Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46).
I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; (but) if another comes in his own name, you will receive him (John 5:43).
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master (Matthew 10:24).
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Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” (John 6:32-33).
If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world (John 12:47).
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17).
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32).
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Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people (Matthew 4:23).
Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness (Matthew 9:35).
Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
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For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son (John 5:22).
Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man (John 8:15 — KJV).
If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day (John 12:47-48).
Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men (Matthew 12:31 — KJV).
If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world (John 12:47 — KJV).
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:44-45).
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Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22).
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Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Greek ἀπόλλυμι: to fully destroy) (Luke 13:1-3).
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But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you (the people to which Jesus was speaking) will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:23).
But when you (the people to which Jesus was speaking) see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea (the area surrounding Jerusalem) must flee to the mountains (Mark 13:14).
But when you (the people to which Jesus was speaking) see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people (Luke 21:20-23).
But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads (the heads of the people to which Jesus was speaking), because your redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28).
But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you (the people to which Jesus was speaking) may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).
In Mark 8:34, Jesus called His disciples and various other people together to speak unto them. And then in Mark 9:1, we read: And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Matthew 16:27-28).
But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:63-64).
And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (Matthew 24:30-34).
“Therefore, behold, I am sending you (the Jews) prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation” (Matthew 23:34-36).
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (Mark 13:26-30).
Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place (Luke 21:29-32).
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Preachers often mention II Corinthians 9:6-7 as justification for collecting monetary offerings from Christians. So let’s examine this verse, to see if it really states what preachers claim:
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (II Corinthians 9:6-7).
Naturally, Christians want God to view them as “cheerful givers.” But isn’t it interesting how preachers always manage to leave out the first part of this chapter, in which Paul explains he was asking for donations to help poor Christians — not funds to support church organizations and ministerial salaries?
Let’s read II Corinthians 9:1, the verse that introduces Paul’s subject:
For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints …
As you can see, Paul’s subject was a specific ministry for the saints (Christian brethren). And what was this ministry? Theologian John Gill explains:
“It looks at first sight as if the apostle was entering upon a new subject, though by what follows it appears to be the same; for by ‘ministering to the saints’, he does not mean the ministry of the Gospel to them; nor that mutual assistance members of churches are to give each other; but either the fellowship of ministering to the saints, which the churches had entreated him, and his fellow ministers, to take upon them, namely, to take the charge of their collections, and distribute them to the poor saints at Jerusalem; or rather these collections themselves, and their liberality in them: with respect to which he says.”
At the time Paul wrote II Corinthians, the Jerusalem brethren were in the midst of a severe famine. So Paul asked the assembly to take up a generous collection to help these brethren. And therefore, II Corinthians 9 has nothing to do with taking up offerings to God or collecting money for churches.
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Author
D. A. Taylor
PUBLISHED BY
D. A. Taylor
Copyright 2016 by D. A. Taylor
ISBN 9781370738403
Prepared on 06/25/23 at 06:38:10 PM
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Website: https://www.christsreligion.com
Author’s E-Mail: dataylor@christsreligion.com
(comments and suggestions are appreciated)
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Scripture quotations from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), unless otherwise noted.
Textual emphasis by the author.
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Although the author has made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at publishing time, the author does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.
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