"But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'" (John 15:25)
What is 'their Law'?
Jesus' discussion with his close disciples after the last supper reviews the rejection of God's representative by those who did not see Jesus' authority.The Greek word νόμος (nomos) has been translated to "law," yet this is not precisely its meaning in this context, and thus the translation confuses the meaning of Jesus' statement.
This Greek word can be translated to "law" in some contexts. But it can also be translated to "something that is established or commonly accepted." This can apply to a widely accepted custom, a command, an instruction, or even a written statement.
In this context, the word is being applied to an accepted Scripture, in particular, David's Psalms. Jesus is discussing a part of those accepted Psalms as he quotes an element within them. Below is an excerpt of the two Psalms containing the reference Jesus used (see bold):
O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise You. Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it." O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord. (Psalms 36:17-22)
Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from You. May those who hope in You not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek You not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. (Psalms 69:1-7)We can see from both of these Psalms that David is praying for and relying upon the Supreme Being to provide protection as he faces those who hate him without reason: Those who sought to destroy him and thus lodged false complaints against him. This is documented elsewhere, as David was faced with many challenges during his lifetime, especially from those who did not subscribe to faith and reliance on God.
Jesus was confirming that this tendency of those who are faithless, including those who claim membership in or leadership over religious institutions, to have contempt and hatred towards God's true representative.
This occurred with David as well as Jesus. They were both representing the Supreme Being in their teachings and their service towards Him. And both of them contended with offensive unbelievers.
Was David devoted to God?
We can see David's devotion to God throughout the Psalms. He wasn't simply a king and fearless leader.With regard to his Psalms, they claim that David was merely predicting the coming of Jesus.
This interpretation of the life and purpose of David is unfortunate. Jesus utilizes the word πληρόω (plēroō), translated here into the word "fulfill." While certainly this word can mean "fulfill," it is disingenuous to contend that Jesus was meaning that David was not talking about his own life within these and other Psalms.
David was certainly discussing his own life as he said, "My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me." Why would David utilize the word "me" if he was talking about Jesus? Were Jesus' eyes failing him?
Those who twist David's words here and elsewhere are simply trying to create false authority in Jesus. They do not realize that Jesus does not require such false authority. Jesus is God's representative and God's perfect loving servant. No other false authority is necessary. No twisting of scripture is necessary.
The meaning of the word πληρόω (plēroō) in this context applies to something being carried into effect or being brought to realization. Or consummating something. But this is not an exclusive consummation, as even the lexicon admits that it can be applied as "to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally." "Liberally" is the opposite of exclusion. To have something supplied liberally means that more than one person can carry out that application.
This means that what occurred in David's life - of the faithless condemning him and hating him - also occurred in Jesus' life on the planet, as well as John the Baptist's, some of Jesus' students and others.
There are many who try to create mysteries out of scripture. They do this because they seek to provide speculative theories about some of the content of scripture. For this reason, there are so many imaginative theories about how the Biblical scriptures discuss aliens and the like. As a result, there have been so many different sects that have sprung up, each sect being borne from a particular speculative interpretation of the scriptures.
This sect depicts this "inheritance" as people living on earth as though it is a vacation. They depict people relaxing on their lawn chairs sipping lemonade, with lions sitting next to them - yet the Supreme Being is nowhere to be found. They state that all the evil of the world will be wiped out by the second coming, and all those who joined their sect will rise out of their graves to inherit this earth.
The puzzling thing about this sect's speculative philosophy is that they claim that after death there is nothing. They claim that the bodies rise up after the second coming, but who is rising up? Is it the decomposed body that is by that time eaten by bacteria and worms? Is it fragments of bone? Is it the dirt that those bodies become after decomposition? And if there is nothing after death, how do the sect members rise up again?
What is sad about their philosophy is that throughout their marketing pamphlets they will put scriptural verse numbers in parentheses, as if that speculative position is somehow confirmed by a scriptural passage. But when you look up the passage, the verse is not proving their speculative point at all, and any reference to the statement is out of context with the text around the verse.
What we are seeing is misguidance. Some person has thought they had some sort of special ability to understand scripture and created a new speculative philosophy, and others began following that person. As soon as a few began to follow, others followed just because they saw others following. This is called herd mentality.
This can be compared to how animals will often arbitrarily chose one of their flock to follow around. Once a few people follow, the rest of the flock thinks there must be a good reason those others are following the leader. As others follow, more follow because of the same reason. They think that because so many are following, there must be a good reason. In reality, there is no good reason they are following that leader. And the leader is often surprised by the big following.
In fact, sometimes in these herds, the leader will start acting erratically as a result. The famous example is the lemmings, who will sometimes follow its crazed leader over a cliff (often exaggerated, but it does occur).
This interpretation of the life and purpose of David is unfortunate. Jesus utilizes the word πληρόω (plēroō), translated here into the word "fulfill." While certainly this word can mean "fulfill," it is disingenuous to contend that Jesus was meaning that David was not talking about his own life within these and other Psalms.
David was certainly discussing his own life as he said, "My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me." Why would David utilize the word "me" if he was talking about Jesus? Were Jesus' eyes failing him?
Those who twist David's words here and elsewhere are simply trying to create false authority in Jesus. They do not realize that Jesus does not require such false authority. Jesus is God's representative and God's perfect loving servant. No other false authority is necessary. No twisting of scripture is necessary.
The meaning of the word πληρόω (plēroō) in this context applies to something being carried into effect or being brought to realization. Or consummating something. But this is not an exclusive consummation, as even the lexicon admits that it can be applied as "to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally." "Liberally" is the opposite of exclusion. To have something supplied liberally means that more than one person can carry out that application.
This means that what occurred in David's life - of the faithless condemning him and hating him - also occurred in Jesus' life on the planet, as well as John the Baptist's, some of Jesus' students and others.
There are many who try to create mysteries out of scripture. They do this because they seek to provide speculative theories about some of the content of scripture. For this reason, there are so many imaginative theories about how the Biblical scriptures discuss aliens and the like. As a result, there have been so many different sects that have sprung up, each sect being borne from a particular speculative interpretation of the scriptures.
'Inheriting the earth'?
For example, one modern sect goes door to door proclaiming that the scriptures are teaching that if a person joins their sect, they will inherit the earth after Jesus' second coming.This sect depicts this "inheritance" as people living on earth as though it is a vacation. They depict people relaxing on their lawn chairs sipping lemonade, with lions sitting next to them - yet the Supreme Being is nowhere to be found. They state that all the evil of the world will be wiped out by the second coming, and all those who joined their sect will rise out of their graves to inherit this earth.
The puzzling thing about this sect's speculative philosophy is that they claim that after death there is nothing. They claim that the bodies rise up after the second coming, but who is rising up? Is it the decomposed body that is by that time eaten by bacteria and worms? Is it fragments of bone? Is it the dirt that those bodies become after decomposition? And if there is nothing after death, how do the sect members rise up again?
What is sad about their philosophy is that throughout their marketing pamphlets they will put scriptural verse numbers in parentheses, as if that speculative position is somehow confirmed by a scriptural passage. But when you look up the passage, the verse is not proving their speculative point at all, and any reference to the statement is out of context with the text around the verse.
What we are seeing is misguidance. Some person has thought they had some sort of special ability to understand scripture and created a new speculative philosophy, and others began following that person. As soon as a few began to follow, others followed just because they saw others following. This is called herd mentality.
This can be compared to how animals will often arbitrarily chose one of their flock to follow around. Once a few people follow, the rest of the flock thinks there must be a good reason those others are following the leader. As others follow, more follow because of the same reason. They think that because so many are following, there must be a good reason. In reality, there is no good reason they are following that leader. And the leader is often surprised by the big following.
In fact, sometimes in these herds, the leader will start acting erratically as a result. The famous example is the lemmings, who will sometimes follow its crazed leader over a cliff (often exaggerated, but it does occur).
Why do some abuse authority?
When a person finds they have arrived at a position of authority for some reason, attracting the attention of others, they may take advantage of that temporary authority with the desire to become a spiritual leader.This desire to be a spiritual leader is no different than similar materialistic desires for authority and fame - including becoming a political leader, becoming a famous actor, becoming a sports star, or becoming a rock star. It is the same desire.
These desires are common amongst those who come to this planet because this world is where those who want to be king go to be trained.
Our disease is that we want to be like God. This was clarified by the serpent to Eve with regard to the forbidden fruit:
So the Supreme Being gave us temporary physical bodies (The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Gen. 3:21)) and this temporary physical universe to exercise our desires for false lordship.
And the epitome of this is the desire to be a spiritual leader.
"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God..." (Genesis 3:5)This desire to "be like God" is the basis for our seeking fame and fortune in the physical world. It is the fundamental reason we are here in this physical world in the first place. The Supreme Being created this physical world as a virtual rehabilitation center, allowing us to exercise our desires to "be like God" by pretending to have authority while pretending God does not exist or seeing God as our servant - expecting Him to give us whatever we want as if He was our genie or super-waiter.
So the Supreme Being gave us temporary physical bodies (The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Gen. 3:21)) and this temporary physical universe to exercise our desires for false lordship.
And the epitome of this is the desire to be a spiritual leader.
How does this contrast with Jesus?
This is position is precisely contrasted by the real representative of God, Jesus, who was sent specifically by the Supreme Being to the physical world to bring those who wish to return to God back to the spiritual realm. Their desires are focused on serving the Supreme Being.
History has confirmed that those who are sent by God on this mission have been largely rejected by the masses and by some ecclesiastical institutions of their times. This took place over and over with many of the Saints of the Old Testament including David, Job, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Noah and others. This also took place for Jesus (as he states here), as well as Jesus' teacher John the Baptist, and for many of Jesus' disciples, including Peter and James.
This consistent rejection of God's representatives by some who claim membership in ecclesiastical institutions occurs repeatedly because God's representatives reject the misinterpretation of scripture and herd mentality of those institutions. They reject the teachings of those who have misused and speculated upon the scriptures.
Speculative interpretation of the scriptures can be faulty because the mind is limited. The mind is like a recording device that records what comes in from the senses and becomes mixed with the desires and concoctions of the individual operating the mind. Spiritual knowledge does not come from the mind.
Spiritual knowledge comes from God. God is the Source of all spiritual knowledge. And God passes on this knowledge through His representatives. Those who have committed their lives to Him become His instruments.
Those who have represented the Supreme Being did not make anything up. They each accepted a spiritual teacher then passed down knowledge consistent with the teachings of their teacher. This is why Jesus accepted John the Baptist as his teacher (the meaning of baptism) and Jesus' teachings were linked to John's. This is also why Jesus often quoted the writings of those representatives of God before him, as he does in the statement above.
We can see how Jesus' teachings reflected John's, and how he passed these same teachings on to his students:
Spiritual advancement is not about joining a group or institution. It is about having a humble relationship with God. When a person follows the teachings of Jesus sincerely they can also achieve a relationship with the Supreme Being. It is this relationship that re-establishes our eternal relationship with the Supreme Being as one of His humble loving caregivers.
This focus on relationship in the spiritual realm is why Jesus' and Moses' teachings focused on loving God. Loving the Supreme Being requires a relationship of humility and dedication. We cannot love someone we do not know, and we cannot know someone without sincerely and humbly reaching out to them. This is why Jesus' and Moses' most important instruction was:
*Here is the translation of Jesus' statement from the Lost Gospels of Jesus:
History has confirmed that those who are sent by God on this mission have been largely rejected by the masses and by some ecclesiastical institutions of their times. This took place over and over with many of the Saints of the Old Testament including David, Job, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Noah and others. This also took place for Jesus (as he states here), as well as Jesus' teacher John the Baptist, and for many of Jesus' disciples, including Peter and James.
This consistent rejection of God's representatives by some who claim membership in ecclesiastical institutions occurs repeatedly because God's representatives reject the misinterpretation of scripture and herd mentality of those institutions. They reject the teachings of those who have misused and speculated upon the scriptures.
Speculative interpretation of the scriptures can be faulty because the mind is limited. The mind is like a recording device that records what comes in from the senses and becomes mixed with the desires and concoctions of the individual operating the mind. Spiritual knowledge does not come from the mind.
Spiritual knowledge comes from God. God is the Source of all spiritual knowledge. And God passes on this knowledge through His representatives. Those who have committed their lives to Him become His instruments.
Those who have represented the Supreme Being did not make anything up. They each accepted a spiritual teacher then passed down knowledge consistent with the teachings of their teacher. This is why Jesus accepted John the Baptist as his teacher (the meaning of baptism) and Jesus' teachings were linked to John's. This is also why Jesus often quoted the writings of those representatives of God before him, as he does in the statement above.
We can see how Jesus' teachings reflected John's, and how he passed these same teachings on to his students:
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matt. 3:1-2)
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matt. 4:17)
[Jesus speaking to his disciples] "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'" (Matt. 10:7)We can thus see how they passed down the same teachings. They were consistent in their message because none of them were making things up. They were teaching what their teacher taught. They had heard from their teacher, understood those teachings to be from God, and then passed on those teachings.
Spiritual advancement is not about joining a group or institution. It is about having a humble relationship with God. When a person follows the teachings of Jesus sincerely they can also achieve a relationship with the Supreme Being. It is this relationship that re-establishes our eternal relationship with the Supreme Being as one of His humble loving caregivers.
This focus on relationship in the spiritual realm is why Jesus' and Moses' teachings focused on loving God. Loving the Supreme Being requires a relationship of humility and dedication. We cannot love someone we do not know, and we cannot know someone without sincerely and humbly reaching out to them. This is why Jesus' and Moses' most important instruction was:
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'" (Luke 10:27 and Deuteronomy 6:5)
*Here is the translation of Jesus' statement from the Lost Gospels of Jesus:
"But their actions confirm the Teachings written in the Scripture – ‘they hated me without a cause.” (John 15:25)
