When Jesus was near the Capernaum city, he cured a sick man possessed of devil Jinns. Accordingly the men of the city came forth and found Jesus and the man that was healed. The men were filled with fear and prayed Jesus that he would depart out of their borders. Jesus accordingly departed from them and went up into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.
And lo! a Canaanite woman came forth to find Jesus. Having therefore seen him come with his disciples, she cried out: 'Jesus, son of David, have mercy on my daughter. she is tormented of the devil Jinns!’
Jesus did not answer her nor even said a single word. The disciples were moved to pity, and said: 'O master, have pity on her! Behold how much she cry out and weep!'
Jesus answered: 'I am not sent but unto the Sons of Israel.'
Then the woman fell on his feet, weeping and saying: 'Have mercy on me!'
Jesus answered: 'It is not good to take the bread from the children's hands and give it to the dogs.'
The woman had only a daughter and she was ready to save her at any cost. So, she was not angry but answered: 'O Lord, the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.'
Jesus seized with admiration and said to the woman: 'Great is thy faith.'
And he raised his hands towards heaven he prayed to God that He may give what the poor woman needed. Then he said her: 'Go thy way in peace.'
The woman departed.
On her departing, the disciples questioned Jesus, saying: 'O master, why didst thou make such answer to the woman, saying that they were dogs? Is that because they were unclean as they belongs to the uncircumcised people?”
Jesus Said, "Actually, a dog is better than an uncircumcised man. To explain this, 1st we consider, what the dog doth, that hath no reason, for the service of his master, ye will find its true. Tell me, doth the dog guard the house of his master, and expose his life against the robber? Yea, assuredly. But what receiveth he? Many blows and injuries with little bread, and he always showeth to his master a joyful countenance. Is this not true?'
Now, consider how much God hath given to man, and ye shall see how unrighteous he is in not observing the covenant of God made with Abraham his servant. So, what do you think, is not a Dog better than an uncircumcised man?"
Remember that which David said to Saul king of Israel, against Goliath the Philistine: "My lord," said David, "while thy servant was keeping thy servant's flock there came the wolf, the bear, and the lion and seized thy servant's sheep: whereupon thy servant went and slew them, rescuing the sheep. And what is this uncircumcised one but like unto them? Therefore will thy servant go in the name of the Lord God of Israel, and will slay this unclean one that blasphemeth the holy people of God."
Now, for the answer, why man need to be circumcised, it is sufficient for the believer to know that God hath commanded it to Abraham. saying: "Abraham, circumcise thy foreskin and that of all thy house, for this is a covenant between me and thee for ever.''
But those who are not satisfied with this answer, for them we have to explain why the covenant of Circumcise made with Abraham and what is its importance.
All we know that Adam, the first man, eat the fruit forbidden by God in paradise, his flesh rebelled against the spirit; whereupon he swore, saying: "By God, I will cut thee!"
And having broken a piece of rock, he seized his flesh to cut it with the sharp edge of the stone: whereupon he was rebuked by the angel Gabriel. And he answered: "I have sworn by God to cut it; I will never be a liar!"
'Then the angel showed him the superfluity of his flesh, and that he cut off. And hence, just as every man taketh flesh from the flesh of Adam, so is he bound to observe all that Adam promised with an oath. This did Adam observe in his sons, and from generation to generation came down the obligation of circumcision. But in the time of Abraham there were but few circumcised upon the earth, because that idolatry was multiplied up the earth. Whereupon God told to Abraham the fact concerning circumcision, and made this covenant, saying: "The soul that shall not have his flesh circumcised, I will scatter him from among my people for ever." '["But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."-[Genesis 17:14)]
So, it is really a fear to him that hath not circumcised his foreskin, for he is deprived of paradise. It can be explain as-
The spirit in many is ready in the service of God, but the flesh is weak. The man therefore that feareth God ought to consider what the flesh is, and where it had its origin, and whereto it shall be reduced. Of the clay of the earth created God flesh, and into it he breathed the breath of life, with an inbreathing therein. And therefore when the flesh shall hinder the service of God it ought to be spurned like clay and trampled on, forasmuch as he that hateth his soul in this world shall keep it in life eternal.
'What the flesh is at this present its desires make manifest -that it is a harsh enemy of all good: for it alone desireth sin. 'Ought then man for the sake of satisfying one of his enemies to leave off pleasing God, his creator? Consider ye this. All the saints and prophets have been enemies of their flesh for service of God: wherefore readily and with gladness they went to their death, so as not to offend against the law of God given by Moses his servant, and go and serve the false and lying gods.
'Remember Elijah, who fled through desert places of the mountains, eating only grass, clad in goats' skin. Ah, how many days he supped not! Ah, how much cold he endured! Ah, how many showers drenched him, and [that] for the space of seven years, wherein endured that fierce persecution of the unclean Jezebel!
Remember Elisha, who ate barley-bread, and wore the Coarsest raiment. Verily I say unto you that they, not fearing to spurn the flesh, were feared with great terror by the king and princes. This should suffice for the spurning of the flesh, O men. But if ye will gaze at the sepulchres, ye shall know what the flesh is.'
Who are servants to their flesh, they are sure not to have any good in the other life, but only torments for their sins. Supporting this, Jesus cited this example--
There was a rich glutton who paid no heed to aught but gluttony, and so every day held a splendid feast. There stood at his gate a poor man by name Lazarus, who was full of wounds, and was fain to have those crumbs that fell from the glutton's table. But no one gave them to him; nay, all mocked him. Only the dogs had pity on him, for they licked his wounds.
It came to pass that the poor man died, and the angels carried him to the arms of Abraham our father. The rich man also died, and the devils carried him to the arms of Satan; whereupon, undergoing the greatest torment, he lifted up his eyes and from a far saw Lazarus in the arms of Abraham. Then cried the rich man: "O father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, who upon his fingers may bring me a drop of water to cool my tongue, which is tormented in this flame."
'Abraham answered: "Son, remember that thou receivedst thy good in the other life and Lazarus his evil; wherefore now thou shalt be in torment, and Lazarus in consolation."
'The rich man cried out again, saying: "O father Abraham, in my house there are three brethren of mine. Therefore send Lazarus to announce to them how much I am suffering, in order that they may repent and not come hither."
'Abraham answered: "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."
'The rich man answered: "Nay, father Abraham; but if one dead shall arise they will believe."
'Abraham answered: "Whoso believeth not Moses and the prophets will not believe even the dead if they should arise.’
'See then whether the poor are blessed, who have patience, and only desire that which is necessary, hating the flesh. And wretched they, who bear others to the burial, to give their flesh for food of worms, and do not learn the truth. So far from it that they live here like immortals, for they build great houses and purchase great revenues and live in pride.
The End.
Not Yet Revised
And lo! a Canaanite woman came forth to find Jesus. Having therefore seen him come with his disciples, she cried out: 'Jesus, son of David, have mercy on my daughter. she is tormented of the devil Jinns!’
Jesus did not answer her nor even said a single word. The disciples were moved to pity, and said: 'O master, have pity on her! Behold how much she cry out and weep!'
Jesus answered: 'I am not sent but unto the Sons of Israel.'
Then the woman fell on his feet, weeping and saying: 'Have mercy on me!'
Jesus answered: 'It is not good to take the bread from the children's hands and give it to the dogs.'
The woman had only a daughter and she was ready to save her at any cost. So, she was not angry but answered: 'O Lord, the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.'
Jesus seized with admiration and said to the woman: 'Great is thy faith.'
And he raised his hands towards heaven he prayed to God that He may give what the poor woman needed. Then he said her: 'Go thy way in peace.'
The woman departed.
On her departing, the disciples questioned Jesus, saying: 'O master, why didst thou make such answer to the woman, saying that they were dogs? Is that because they were unclean as they belongs to the uncircumcised people?”
Jesus Said, "Actually, a dog is better than an uncircumcised man. To explain this, 1st we consider, what the dog doth, that hath no reason, for the service of his master, ye will find its true. Tell me, doth the dog guard the house of his master, and expose his life against the robber? Yea, assuredly. But what receiveth he? Many blows and injuries with little bread, and he always showeth to his master a joyful countenance. Is this not true?'
Now, consider how much God hath given to man, and ye shall see how unrighteous he is in not observing the covenant of God made with Abraham his servant. So, what do you think, is not a Dog better than an uncircumcised man?"
 |
| Circumcision |
Now, for the answer, why man need to be circumcised, it is sufficient for the believer to know that God hath commanded it to Abraham. saying: "Abraham, circumcise thy foreskin and that of all thy house, for this is a covenant between me and thee for ever.''
But those who are not satisfied with this answer, for them we have to explain why the covenant of Circumcise made with Abraham and what is its importance.
All we know that Adam, the first man, eat the fruit forbidden by God in paradise, his flesh rebelled against the spirit; whereupon he swore, saying: "By God, I will cut thee!"
And having broken a piece of rock, he seized his flesh to cut it with the sharp edge of the stone: whereupon he was rebuked by the angel Gabriel. And he answered: "I have sworn by God to cut it; I will never be a liar!"
'Then the angel showed him the superfluity of his flesh, and that he cut off. And hence, just as every man taketh flesh from the flesh of Adam, so is he bound to observe all that Adam promised with an oath. This did Adam observe in his sons, and from generation to generation came down the obligation of circumcision. But in the time of Abraham there were but few circumcised upon the earth, because that idolatry was multiplied up the earth. Whereupon God told to Abraham the fact concerning circumcision, and made this covenant, saying: "The soul that shall not have his flesh circumcised, I will scatter him from among my people for ever." '["But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."-[Genesis 17:14)]
So, it is really a fear to him that hath not circumcised his foreskin, for he is deprived of paradise. It can be explain as-
The spirit in many is ready in the service of God, but the flesh is weak. The man therefore that feareth God ought to consider what the flesh is, and where it had its origin, and whereto it shall be reduced. Of the clay of the earth created God flesh, and into it he breathed the breath of life, with an inbreathing therein. And therefore when the flesh shall hinder the service of God it ought to be spurned like clay and trampled on, forasmuch as he that hateth his soul in this world shall keep it in life eternal.
'What the flesh is at this present its desires make manifest -that it is a harsh enemy of all good: for it alone desireth sin. 'Ought then man for the sake of satisfying one of his enemies to leave off pleasing God, his creator? Consider ye this. All the saints and prophets have been enemies of their flesh for service of God: wherefore readily and with gladness they went to their death, so as not to offend against the law of God given by Moses his servant, and go and serve the false and lying gods.
'Remember Elijah, who fled through desert places of the mountains, eating only grass, clad in goats' skin. Ah, how many days he supped not! Ah, how much cold he endured! Ah, how many showers drenched him, and [that] for the space of seven years, wherein endured that fierce persecution of the unclean Jezebel!
Remember Elisha, who ate barley-bread, and wore the Coarsest raiment. Verily I say unto you that they, not fearing to spurn the flesh, were feared with great terror by the king and princes. This should suffice for the spurning of the flesh, O men. But if ye will gaze at the sepulchres, ye shall know what the flesh is.'
Who are servants to their flesh, they are sure not to have any good in the other life, but only torments for their sins. Supporting this, Jesus cited this example--
There was a rich glutton who paid no heed to aught but gluttony, and so every day held a splendid feast. There stood at his gate a poor man by name Lazarus, who was full of wounds, and was fain to have those crumbs that fell from the glutton's table. But no one gave them to him; nay, all mocked him. Only the dogs had pity on him, for they licked his wounds.
It came to pass that the poor man died, and the angels carried him to the arms of Abraham our father. The rich man also died, and the devils carried him to the arms of Satan; whereupon, undergoing the greatest torment, he lifted up his eyes and from a far saw Lazarus in the arms of Abraham. Then cried the rich man: "O father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, who upon his fingers may bring me a drop of water to cool my tongue, which is tormented in this flame."
'Abraham answered: "Son, remember that thou receivedst thy good in the other life and Lazarus his evil; wherefore now thou shalt be in torment, and Lazarus in consolation."
'The rich man cried out again, saying: "O father Abraham, in my house there are three brethren of mine. Therefore send Lazarus to announce to them how much I am suffering, in order that they may repent and not come hither."
'Abraham answered: "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."
'The rich man answered: "Nay, father Abraham; but if one dead shall arise they will believe."
'Abraham answered: "Whoso believeth not Moses and the prophets will not believe even the dead if they should arise.’
'See then whether the poor are blessed, who have patience, and only desire that which is necessary, hating the flesh. And wretched they, who bear others to the burial, to give their flesh for food of worms, and do not learn the truth. So far from it that they live here like immortals, for they build great houses and purchase great revenues and live in pride.
The End.
Not Yet Revised
Source:
Gospel of Barnabas. -[Ch-22-24]
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