Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Luke Chapter 10
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 10:1-12
10:1Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come. 10:2And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest. 10:3Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. 10:4Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way. 10:5And into whatsoever house ye shall enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 10:6And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall turn to you again. 10:7And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 10:8And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 10:9and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 10:10But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say, 10:11Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we wipe off against you: nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh. 10:12I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
December 14, 1913: Luke 10:1-11
Nearly all our lessons have, referred to the more interior planes of consciousness. This one goes out into the exterior and shows the power of the I AM thought in its diversified aspect.
Seven in the number representing fullness in the world of phenomena. There are seven senses, although we usually count but five; the two additional are thinking and perceiving. The brain is the thinking organ, and the solar plexus is the perceiving organ. The ability to send and receive messages is one of the untrained senses. The brain is the battery through which this sense is worded. This is named telepathy. Through the solar plexus man can intuitively feel the character of everything he comes in touch with. This is soul perception or intuition, and in the unregenerate pertains to the physical. These two undisciplined faculties must be trained by the Christ-Mind. Those who attempt to develop them without this sure guide will get mixed results and darkness.
But all the senses can be spiritualized and their limitations done away with. We know that the eye and ear, in fact, all the senses, have an inner field of action, but only the few have as yet quickened the within, and the phenomenal world seems to be their only place of action. So the brain and solar plexus are in touch with mighty spiritual forces, but the few only have discovered it. In fact, it is not generally accepted that these latter have a distinct function in the sense consciousness. But they have, and much of the thought and feeling which metaphysicians take to be spiritual have their origin in the vibrations of the outer brain and the emotions of the sense soul. It is only when the head and heart are moved to action by the Spirit that we can say that their emanations are spiritual.
But the seven avenues of expression are to be trained in spiritual ways and their efficiency multiplied tenfold: “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.” The sending them “two and two before his face” refers to their dual action in expression (face). “City and place” refer to centers or aggregations of intelligent cells in the organism. These senses must be freed from mortal limitations. They must be innocent and confiding (lambs), unselfish (no purse), no care for future providence (no scrip, wallet for food), understanding not restrained (no shoes), but the message of peace and harmony to be carried to every abiding thought (house).
Peace shall be established wherever your thought of peace has gone forth, and if it has not been established you will know it by the thought returning unto you. The thought of health is to be sent to every house or place of abode in the body and the message of the Spirit spoken unto it, “The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Deny all seeming materiality (wipe off the dust of the city.) Then your senses shall return the true words which you sent them forth with, and the consciousness will be that even the devils (discords) of your body are subject unto them.
December 3, 1922: Luke 10:1-11
What is the central idea in this lesson? The central idea in this lesson is the bringing of outer realms of consciousness to spiritual harmony.
In the first verse, what is the reference introduced by: “Now after these things”? In the previous chapter we are told that Jesus sent out the twelve; this act represents the disciplining of the twelve spiritual faculties, upon which the whole character of man is founded.
What do the seventy who were sent out, represent? The seventy represent the seven senses: feeling, tasting, smelling, seeing, hearing, intuition, and thinking. The cipher indicates the multitude of combinations in which these powers function.
What is the harvest, and who are the laborers? The harvest is the fruition of the age-long experiences of the soul; the laborers are the forces of the soul that have been trained to serve.
Why are the laborers “few”? The laborers are few, because few have patiently borne the strain and the stress of life. They want the fruit of the harvest, but are not willing to work for it.
What is the meaning of being sent forth as lambs in the midst of wolves, without purse or shoes? This means that the general attitude should be one of nonresistance and unselfishness. We should not be ambitious for attainment of temporal possessions in mind, body, or affairs.
What is the meaning of the salutation: “Peace be to this house”? The work of the Spirit is to restore peace and harmony to the discordant thoughts and elements of mind and body. Hence, we should always send forth the thoughts of peace.
Explain: “If a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him.” If there is a consciousness of peace in any of the body centers, the word will find entrance and peace will be fully established there.
Who are the sick that we are commanded to heal, and to tell: “The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you”? The sick are the thoughts of disease to which the to which the body centers are subject. We should affirm divine protection for thought and body.
When a center is so impregnated with sense and materiality that it will not receive the spiritual consciousness, what should we do? We should deny the material thought and affirm the omnipresence of God's kingdom of health, and harmony, and eternal life.
March 1, 1931: Luke 10:1-11
What is the metaphysical meaning of the Lord’s appointing the seventy and sending them forth, two and two, into different cities and places? In the individual consciousness the Lord represents the spiritual I AM as it sends disciplined thought forces into the exterior realms of the soul. The number seven represents completion on the natural plane of consciousness; the cipher added represents unlimited capacity.
What are the senses? We usually count but five senses: feeling, hearing, seeing, tasting, and smelling. There are, however, seven senses in all. The two additional ones are thinking and intuitive perception. The brain is the thinking organ, and the solar plexus the perceiving organ.
Explain how man must develop the ability to use properly these two additional senses. The ability to send and to receive thoughts, as the telegrapher sends and receives messages, is an undeveloped power of man. Through the solar plexus man can intuitively feel everything that he contacts. This intuitive feeling is soul perception, or intuition; in the unregenerate, it functions on the physical plane as instinct. These two powers must be disciplined and made to function through the Christ mind. Those who attempt to develop them without the sure guide of the super-mind will get mixed results, and will be held in darkness.
Explain the double action of the eating and drinking such things as the senses. The eye and the ear, in fact all the senses, have an inner, as well as an outer, field of action, but not many people have as yet spiritually quickened the senses. To the majority of people the world of phenomena seems the only place of action. The brain and the solar plexus are in touch with mighty spiritual forces, but few have discovered this truth. Much of the thought and feeling that metaphysicians take to be spiritual has its origin in the vibrations of the brain and in the emotions of the sense soul. It is only when the head and the heart are moved to action by Spirit that we can say that their activities are spiritual.
How can man determine whether or not peace and health are established in his consciousness? Peace and health are established wherever man's thoughts of peace and health have gone forth; but if they are not established, man will know it by the thoughts returning to him.
April 12, 1942: Luke 10:1-7
What do the seventy disciples that Jesus sent out in addition to the twelve represent? They represent the senses after they have been spiritualized and their power increased many-fold. This increase is brought about by the Christ consciousness.
As a rule, but five senses are recognized. Why are seven implied in this lesson? The two additional senses included by implication in the text are telepathy and intuition.
What harvest is plenteous for the senses to reap? Man’s body is to be healed, spiritualized, and regenerated, until it becomes an expression of the higher life of man. This work has long needed doing. “Harvest” implies that the time to undertake it is at hand.
How many “laborers” can profitably be employed in the work of redeeming and uplifting the body? All man's powers, whatever they may be, can share in this undertaking.
Why are the spiritualized faculties and senses “as lambs in the midst of wolves”? Because temptation attacks through the senses, and man needs to invoke divine love and wisdom in order to remain immune to it.
What is meant by the words, “Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way”? The work of redeeming and uplifting the body is so necessary and so urgent that everyone should lay aside every impediment and should put his full faith in God to sustain him and to enable him to complete this work. He should devote himself wholeheartedly to the spiritualizing process, and everything that he meets or experiences should be secondary to his main work and should contribute to his progress in it.
Why should we proclaim, “Peace be to this house”? The house represents the body. We should speak the word of peace to the body and hold it in the thought of harmony whenever it comes into [discord].
June 9, 1946: Luke 10:4-9
Why did Jesus instruct His disciples to take with them “no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse; but to go shod with sandals; and ... put not on no coats”? They were to depend altogether on God for their supply, thus proving the constancy of their faith in the providing divine law.
How do we gain confidence and poise? By developing faith. Faith gives us confidence and poise and prepares us to do the proportionately greater works that Jesus prophesied we should do.
On the spiritual side what are the senses of seeing and hearing? Faith and understanding.
Into what is the sense of feeling translated? Into sympathy and compassion.
Should we await special occasions, crises, or emergencies before trying to prove Truth? No, we should prove it daily in our ordinary affairs. Then we shall be equal to emergencies as they arise. Our acuities grow stronger with use.
What weight are we to give to the negative reactions of others such as criticism and their refusal to accept truth? None whatever. Instead of allowing ourselves to become discouraged or affected adversely by criticism and doubt, we should shake them off as we would shake off dust from our feet, giving them no thought but to get rid of them.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 10:13-16
10:13Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 10:14But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you. 10:15And thou, Capernaum,
shalt thou be exalted unto heaven?
thou shalt be brought down unto Hades.10:16He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.
April 24, 1904: Luke 10:1-16
The Seventy stand in relation to the Twelve as body to the Spirit. The Spirit does not act directly upon the outer manifestation. It has its avenues of expression; these are the Twelve Disciples. But these also are not in direct touch with body, and it is part of the law of expression that they have other avenues through which the most outer physical is reached; these are the Seventy.
Seven is the number of physical expression. The soul and its outer vehicle, the body, is like an egg, with a vital centre and six stratified layers. These are connected and supplied from the centre through twelve batteries of intelligence and force. But this illustration falls short, because these strata are all mental instead of material.
The Twelve Disciples are sent forth by Jesus, the I AM, with almost identically the same instructions as the Seventy, as given in Matt. 10:5-42. The Spirit affirms all to be spiritual. The seven seeming material planes of consciousness are given the Word of the Spirit and their potentiality raised tenfold. The added cipher is symbolical of the endless capacity for unfoldment which is potential in the man of form. Applying this to individual consciousness, we, the Lord of the formed man, send out in the light of understanding (face) our words of affirmation and denial. These are to go to every centre (city) and sub-centre (place) which we wish to bring under the dominion of I AM.
The harvest is the ripe results of many lives, waiting to be understood in consciousness, but there is lack of industry in Truth study and meditation, hence we should pray for inspiring, quickening ideas from on high. The words of affirmation and denial when sent forth into the formed realms should be unselfish, innocent, unencumbered. They are not to conform to the habits of thought into which they are sent (salute no man), but are to go forth with a definite, clear-cut purpose.
The quieting, harmonizing affirmation, Peace, is more powerful than an opiate. Quivering nerves can be quieted by sending to their nearest house, or sub-centre, this affirmation of Peace. If there is receptivity, your word will abide there. When a word of affirmation finds entry in these subconscious centres, it is like a seed that begins to appropriate from its environment the elements necessary to growth. This is symbolized by the eating and drinking what is set before you.
The healing thought should be carried to every centre. The human consciousness seems greatly in need of the thought of health. The constant talk about sickness has permeated the whole man, and both within and without he needs to have spoken the Truth of Being, “The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”
Verse 10 explains the denial of materiality (dust) (necessary when the spiritual affirmation finds no receptivity. After denying the belief in materiality we should always affirm the Truth of Spirit, and leave it to do its work, as explained in verse 10.
Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum are centres in the abdomen that are dominated by very physical thoughts. Their analysis is too intricate for this lesson. It is sufficient to give them a general treatment for conformity to the law.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 10:17-20
10:17And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name. 10:18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. 10:19Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. 10:20Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
April 12, 1942: Luke 10:17
What are the “demons” that are subject to the spiritualized senses, in the name of the Christ? These are the discords of the body that yield to the word of Truth spoken in the consciousness of the Christ.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 10:21-24
10:21In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father; for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. 10:22All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth who the Son is, save the Father; and who the Father is, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him.
10:23And turning to the disciples, he said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 10:24for I say unto you, that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.
March 1, 1931: Luke 10:21-22
When does the higher mind rejoice and give thanks? Until enlightenment comes, the senses are thought of as at best negative, as mere “babes” in Truth, lacking power to conceive or to impart the things of Spirit. But when the senses have been freed from the limitations of material thought and have proved their ability to fulfill the behests of the Christ mind, the higher mind rejoices and gives thanks.
How does man come into his true nature? It is through the spiritualized senses that man comes into his true nature. Under the sure guidance of the Christ Spirit, every impulse of mind and body can be permeated with the true essence of Spirit (the Father can be revealed by the Son) and can be brought into full expression of good.
April 12, 1942: Luke 10:21-24
Why did Jesus tell His disciples privately that they were blessed in seeing and hearing what they saw and heard? Jesus represents the divine-man idea in expression. Anyone who is privileged to become aware of absolute good through the spiritualized senses, either that of seeing (perception) or hearing (receptivity), is blessed. They both saw and heard Him daily.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 10:25-37
10:25And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 10:26And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 10:27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. 10:28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
10:29But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 10:30Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 10:31And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 10:32And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.10:33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 10:34and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 10:35And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee.10:36Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers? 10:37And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
July 15, 1906: Luke 10:25-37
The attainment of eternal life is recognized by all students of the Law as of the utmost importance. The man who lives the life of sense alone, having no concept of the realities of existence, is merely in animal consciousness. He is not yet awaked to that supreme attainment of man, the unity with undying Life.
Every occult student knows the law of love to be the open door to the God-Mind. We must love God with a greater love than that of human love. It is a love in which enters not only the heart, but also the soul, the strength and the mind. The soul is the thinking consciousness within and the mind its externality. These are to be identified with Divine Life, with all strength.
This strong love to God is not the fulfillment of the law that leads up to eternal life; there is a manifest, or formed God, and with this also the initiate must make complete union; he must love his neighbor as himself. God-Life is in both the invisible and the visible, the formless and the formed, God and man. Our neighbor is the whole human family, and our duty is to aid them, and do unto them as we do unto ourselves.
The priest who passes by on the other side, when he sees his needy neighbor, represents that state of mind that ignores the common helplessness of humanity, because of religious dignity and bigotry. The Levite who looks upon him, and yet offers no aid, is a type of the compassionate, indifferent man, who is mildly loving, but has no strength in his heart. The Samaritan is the unconventional, untrammeled man, who has neither a social or religious reputation to sustain, and is not afraid to assist in all ways those who are in need. He not only puts himself to much inconvenience, expecting no reward, but also pays out generously his money in support of those who are not able to help themselves. This portrays the generosity of love, a kingly virtue, and the mark of a rare soul in Christ.
August 24, 1919: Luke 10:25-37
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY—Luke 10:25:37
Silent Prayer — Thy compassionate, all forgiving love fills my heart and I am at peace.
The central idea of this lesson is "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus illustrates by the story of the waylaid traveler and the good Samaritan. Our neighbor is here shown to be farther removed than the one who lives next door, or those in whom we are personally interested.
The object of love to God and to our neighbor is the attainment of eternal life. This according to the teaching of the Jewish Scripture, and is sanctioned by Jesus. We may love God with all our "heart, soul, mind and strength" and yet miss eternal life. The metaphysical interpretation is that we may get very close to God spirit, but we must see the life of God manifest in externals also, before we shall compass the fullness of Being, and come into its completeness in consciousness. Religion easily falls into forms, thus losing its vitality — its life-giving quality. The early Christians had all the powers of the Spirit, and they performed miracles. But rites and ceremonies came with organizations and church buildings, and spiritual power gradually waned. This the history of every religious organization. The founder is inspired, and for a time he inspires his disciples. Then comes a period of temporal prosperity—and spiritual decadence.
The formalist overlooks the essence of things—he lacks compassion or love. When life lies bleeding, the priest and the Levite pass by on the other side, but the quick sympathy of the unconventional Samaritan is aroused and he does the right thing from inner impulse.
To lay hold of eternal life we must bind up its wounds wherever we find them, and we will find them wherever life flows, whether in man or beast.
God is life, and wherever the pulse of life beats there God is. Man cannot give nor take life, but so long as he thinks he can slay the living, and so long as he proceeds to do so in man and beast, he will be at enmity with life. Those who would lay hold on eternal life must seek in every way to preserve the forms in which it manifests. The wounds of life are thus bound up.
We all have life, it is and God's eternal life; but it does not become ours in reality until we consciously realize it. The one who enters into eternal life, as did Jesus, must lay hold on that life omnipresent and make one with his body. This is the secret of inheriting eternal life.
So long as man continues to lose his body through death he will be in doubt as to the reality of eternal life. Eternal life means to be eternally conscious of life in its fullness. The very fact that man believes that life can go out of his body, shows that he not the con sciousness of eternal life. In theory he may see that life is omnipresent, and may reason to himself that he cannot therefore get outside of life, yet the appearance that he lets it slip away from him. The thought that life can even temporarily slip away will keep man out of the consciousness of eternal life.
The remedy is: Lay hold on eternal life, like the unconventional Samaritan. Have compassion upon the life in he body of every living creature, and especially in your own body. Declare life perpetually abiding in the organism. Bind up some of the wounds through which you are dissipating the life of your organism. Robbers are at work upon your body every day. They are the lusts of passion and appetite. Drive them off and bind up the wounds. Give life the sanctuary of your pure thought and pay the price through overcoming.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
- Metaphysical interpretation — Explained according to the science of mind.
- Being— Immortal existence; God.
- Formalist —One who adheres strictly to prescribed forms.
- Inner impulses—Thought activities that arise in me inner, or spiritual mind.
QUESTIONS
- What is the object of love toward God and man?
- What is the metaphysical interpretation of the first commandment? Why is it necessary to fulfill this commandment?
- What happens when a religion falls into form? What happens to the formalist?
- What does eternal life mean? What is the way to eternal life? How does following this way work out in life?
- How are the wounds of life bound up?
- Is there any life but God-Life?
- How will man consciously attain eternal life?
May 29, 1921: Luke 10:25-37
After one has loved God with his whole heart, how shall he extend this love to the people with whom he associates, that is, his neighbors? To us, individually, the character of everything is determined by our thought about it. If we think that the people with whom we associate, have faults, the faults, instead of the good qualities, will be apparent to us. We should, therefore, train ourselves in expressing the loving thought.
How shall we arrive at the correct estimate of the character and needs of those about us? As all men are the offspring of God, we should see them as they are, ideas of God. We should express to them the whole-hearted love of God, standing in God's place and loving all his children impartially, as he loves them.
Is it possible to help all the needy ones? Yes. The encouraging salutation, the word of praise, the prayer for health and happiness, and general good will and helpfulness, are always within the power of everyone to extend to others. We should also give our possessions, knowing, of a truth, that all things belong to God.
November 30, 1924: Luke 10:25-37
What is represented by the passage, “a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him”? The “certain lawyer” represents a phase of consciousness in which the law is understood and emphasized intellectually.
Why does the state of consciousness that intellectually understands the law ask the question: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life”? The intellect can reason and compare and arrive at conclusions, yet be dissatisfied, because such reasoning does not demonstrate continuity of life.
What is necessary to the perpetuation of life? Life is one of the main factors of existence; life must be lifted up, purified, harmonized, and preserved.
How does man perform these services for life? The harmonizing, peace-giving element in man’s consciousness is love. Love has its root in God. “God is love.” We must so quicken the God love in us that it will pour out love and life on the wounds of the bruised body, as the good Samaritan in this lesson poured out his oil and wine on the bruised body of the man who had been beaten by robbers.
From what state of mind does love spring into action? Love springs into action from the natural, unconventional impulse to help and to heal the suffering.
Does love in its ministry, distinguish between friends and enemies? Love is all-enfolding in its outpouring. The good and the evil, according to Jesus, receive alike the abundance of God's substance. “Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.”
What are the names of some of the robbers who are stripping and beating our bodies and leaving them half dead? Selfishness, appetite, and passion are the chief robbers of the life and substance of the body.
What is the chief remedy for the ills of the suffering body? Love is the sovereign remedy for all the ills of both mind and body. By holding loving thoughts and performing loving acts we pour a healing balm into the whole organism, and the restoring Spirit of God binds up our wounds and we have a fuller consciousness of continuous life, continuous love.
March 8, 1931: Luke 10:25-37
What is represented by the passage “a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him”? In this Scripture the “certain lawyer” represents a phase of consciousness in which the law is understood and emphasized intellectually.
Why does the phase of consciousness that intellectually understands the law ask, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life”? The intellect can reason and compare and arrive at conclusions and yet be dissatisfied, because such reasoning does not demonstrate the continuity of life. Dissatisfaction and longing always invite fresh inquiry in the soul's endeavor to understand Truth.
From what source does good will spring? Good will springs from love.
Does love in the ministry distinguish between friends and enemies? No. The good and the evil, according to Jesus, receive alike from God. Love springs into action from the natural impulse to help and to heal the suffering.
Explain the commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” The law requires that one must devote every particle of one's energy and strength to loving God. But as the parable shows that love was given to the neighbor, we may be sure that God and the neighbor are one. “God ... hath made of one blood all nations of men.” (A.V.) Consequently, man’s neighbors are all people everywhere, Jews and Gentiles alike.
What are the names of some of the robbers who are stripping and beating the body and leaving it half dead? Selfishness, appetite, and passion are the chief robbers that rifle the body of life and substance.
What is the chief remedy for the ills of the suffering body? Love is the sovereign remedy for all the ills of both mind and body. By holding loving thoughts and performing loving acts we pour a healing balm into the whole organism, the restoring Spirit of God binds up our wounds, and we have a fuller consciousness of continuous life, continuous love.
How do we enter into eternal life? We may all have life, God's eternal life, but it does not become ours in experience, until we consciously realize that it is ours. If we are to enter into eternal life as Jesus did, we must lay hold on omnipresent life and incorporate it into our body. This is the secret of inheriting eternal life.
March 8, 1936: Luke 10:25-37
What two sides of man's nature must be taken into account in our search for Truth? The inner and the outer must both be considered. The inner side is the seat of original or creative thought. The outer regards external laws and customs and looks for Truth in the opinions of men rather than in the mind and heart.
Does man in his outer or conservative consciousness comprehend the true principles of life? The conservative consciousness embraces an intellectual understanding of [life and] a distrust of the intuitional method of perceiving the law of life.
Does intuition make one independent of the law? Intuition leads one to fulfill the law in the spirit as well as the letter. “These ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.”
What spirit characterizes the law of love? The law of love is kept in the neighborly spirit.
What is represented by the story of the man who fell among thieves on his journey from Jerusalem to Jericho? This story shows what takes place in man’s consciousness, when he leaves the spiritual realm (Jerusalem) for the material (Jericho). Such a change in his thinking and living exposes him to loss of peace and strips him of all the real values of life.
Can man be restored to spiritual life and health after he has lost consciousness of real values? Love is powerful enough to raise the spiritual faculties from the dead and restore them to their first estate. When man becomes material-minded, he is left half dead and only love can revive him.
What is essential to the one who wishes to know eternal life? He must have love for true and enduring values before he can know life eternal.
Name the chief robbers that prey on the mind and body of man and despoil him of peace, satisfaction, and self-dominion. Fear and appetite are the chief enemies of man and rob him of his dearest possessions.
What is gained through constructive thinking and feeling? Thought and feeling control the physical state. When these are constructive, we build up health of mind and body, or live in harmony with the law of life on both the inner and the outer side.
October 7, 1945: Luke 10:25-37
How do we realize eternal life? By loving God and our neighbor wholeheartedly and expressing that love practically and unselfishly.
Do we “inherit eternal life” by virtue of our deeds? We inherit or realize it by keeping the law of love. “Love is the fulfilling of the law,” and we cannot know the life of God except as we express selfless love.
Who is our neighbor? Whoever needs help that we are at hand to give or are qualified to give. We see and understand the need and render the service voluntarily without thought of reward.
What is represented by the man who was robbed, beaten, and left half dead by the roadside? He represents the body fallen under the power of uncontrolled appetites and desires. Instead of being quick with vitalizing life, the abused body is left half dead and unconscious of the regenerative power of the Christ life.
What is symbolized by the priest and the Levite? They are stereotyped religious thoughts such as cause a person to keep the letter of the law without realizing its practical applicability or inner spiritual import.
Are such thoughts fitted to restore the ravaged body to life and strength? The office of religious thought is to concern itself with the divine law and its proper observance. By becoming set, like cement, in a given mold, stereotyped religious thought loses its power to restore or benefit the body.
In what respect do the two great commandments form one? Both are part of the law of love, the first enjoining us to love God, the second to love our neighbor. It is easier to love our neighbor, whom we have seen, than to love God, whom we have not seen. The two laws dovetail in the keeping, and since we are to see God in our neighbor, we also love God there better than in the abstract.
What is the good Samaritan? This is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The idea of the Christ as an indwelling Spirit is not acceptable to the school of thought that conceives of the Christ as a magnified person only. “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”
What is the meaning of the name Samaritan, and in what sense does the good Samaritan of this parable represent the ideal neighbor? A Samaritan is a native or inhabitant of Samaria, a name meaning “watch mountain.” Samaria symbolizes intellectual perception, also a mixed state of consciousness.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 10:38-42
10:38Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 10:39And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet, and heard his word. 10:40But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 10:41But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things:10:42but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
December 17, 1922: Luke 10:38-42
In this text, what lesson is Jesus teaching Martha and Mary? Jesus is teaching the lesson of service. Martha is serving in the outer, while Mary is gaining the spiritual understanding which comes in the quietness and confidence of Christ within.
How may we attain the ability to work under the divine law? We may attain the ability to work under the divine law, when we have learned to receive the thought or Word of the Christ within.
When we are worried and anxious about getting our work done, how should We proceed? We should go into the silence and pray for spiritual understanding, poise of mind, and strength of body.
August 12, 1923: Luke 10:38-42
What do Martha and Mary represent in consciousness? Martha and Mary represent the outer and the inner activities of love in the soul welcoming and entertaining the Christ principle and its manifestation, represented by Jesus Christ.
Define the Martha consciousness. Martha, representing the outer activity of love, entertains the Christ by much serving, or by much outer activity.
Define the Mary consciousness, or the inner love activity. The Mary consciousness is that loving receptivity within us which listens to the inner promptings of Spirit.
Are both of these states of consciousness necessary? Yes. However, care should be taken not to allow an excess of activity in the outer or Martha consciousness, and thus disturb the inner love consciousness. It is in quiet receptivity that we draw our strength and power from Spirit.
Mary sat at Jesus' feet. Explain. The feet represent the understanding which connects us with earthly conditions. Mary sitting at Jesus' feet represents the soul learning the lessons of life from the higher self.
March 15, 1931: Luke 10:38-42
What two important points are especially brought out in this lesson? The first important point is the difference between the soul established in spiritual consciousness and the intellectual man who trusts in self-righteousness. Secondly we see how Jesus, the spiritual man or higher self, proceeds in establishing Truth throughout the entire consciousness.
What lesson was Jesus teaching Martha and Mary? Jesus was teaching Martha and Mary the lesson of service. Martha represents the outer activity of the soul in receiving the higher self; Mary represents the inner receptivity of the soul. Martha desires to show her love by service; Mary shows hers by learning at Jesus' feet. Both these activities are necessary, but we must take heed that in our desire to serve we do not forget our times of communion with our indwelling Lord.
How may we attain the ability to work under divine law? Mary's sitting at Jesus' feet represents the soul's learning the lessons of the law of life from the higher self. When the purpose to acquire ability to work under divine law is given first place in consciousness, the activity or service that follows becomes simple and easy.
October 9, 1932: Luke 10:38-42
In the last verses of our lesson, what do Mary and Martha represent? Martha represents the outer activity of the soul in receiving the higher self, which desires to show its love by service. Mary represents the inner receptivity of the soul, which shows its love by learning at Jesus' feet, or learning the lessons of life from the higher self.
Jesus explained to Martha that Mary had “chosen the good part.” Please explain. When learning the lesson of life, understanding love (Mary) is given first place in consciousness, the activity or service (represented by Martha) is secondary. An understanding of Truth must precede all real and effective service.
August 18, 1935: Luke 10:38-42
Name the two phases of soul activity dealt with in this lesson, and show which is the more important. The outer or executive phase of the soul, represented by Martha, has to do with appearances and the world of form; the inner phase, the deep subconscious action of thought and aspiration, represented by Mary, connects man with the one Mind. Both are necessary, but the inner phase is more important than the outer, because the inner is in touch with true reality.
What connection subsists between these two phases of the soul? They are in close relation in man's life. The inner phase of soul action conceives the thoughts of Divine Mind and the outer phase translates them into appropriate action. Mary and Martha were sisters.
How does a person gain understanding of spiritual truth? He does so by giving his undivided attention to spiritual things and seeking to use in a practical way the measure of understanding that he already has.
Mention one practical result that comes from the habit of communing with God in silent meditation and prayer. The habit of meditation and prayer, in addition to the spiritual satisfaction it affords, trains one to concentrate the mind and control the attention.
What underlies the power to do good work? True repose of mind and soul forms the immediate basis of this power. Repose in turn comes from an understanding of the fundamental principles of life.
Was this what Mary was learning as she sat at Jesus' feet? Mary was giving her full attention to the first principles taught by Jesus and was trying to fix them in her mind.
Why did not Martha also seek this understanding? Martha felt the need of greater understanding as an aid to increased efficiency, but she sought help in the external instead: “Bid her therefore that she help me.”
December 10, 1944: Luke 10:38-42
As spiritual beings what is our responsibility? Chiefly the establishing of ourselves in the Christ consciousness. We do this by holding the thought of our rightful place in the divine plan, even while we go about our temporal duties. All that we do is to be done in the spirit of glad acceptance of our place in the universal plan.
What is the “one thing ... needful” in homemaking? Keeping the atmosphere of the home Christ-like. This does not interfere with the running of the home in a practical, efficient manner. Instead it perfects the operation of the home and makes our duties easier by enabling us to perform them in the right spirit.
Is it easy for us to overlook our spiritual gifts? It is, because most of our time and attention are given to temporal duties and interests. We sometimes need to be reminded of the “gift of God” that is in us, to keep temporal interests from absorbing all our attention.
June 2, 1946: Luke 10:38-42
Which form of service, that to the outer man or that to the inner is more essential? Service to the inner man has greater value and is therefore more essential than service to the physical man alone. Divine love is the highest service, for it enables us to embrace a new and higher conception of life for the body.
February 17, 1952: Luke 10:38-42
How do we identify ourselves? Through the I AM. We can choose to identify ourselves with the divine, or with negation and futility. Our habitual use of the I AM in connection with our thoughts and words establishes for us the conditions in our life.
On what is a true home founded? On love. The soul (represented by Martha and Mary in its two phases) is centered in love, and the inner spiritual teacher (Jesus) guides and instructs both Martha (outer activity) and Mary (receptivity or inner activity).
What is signified by Jesus' going to the house of Martha and Mary? The I AM (here represented by Jesus) enters into the soul consciousness to bring it illumination and spiritual instruction.
Which phase of the soul is the more receptive to Truth? The inner or devotional phase (Mary). The outer or practical (Martha) is too preoccupied with externals to be aware of the inner needs. “Bid her therefore that she help me.”
How do we gain understanding of Truth? By giving our attention to spiritual things in meditation and prayer, and by putting into action what we gain in communion with God.
Can externals be dispensed with? No, they are essential to the smooth running of life, and no one can be comfortable without them. The only precaution we must take is to hold them to their place of relative importance, and not allow them to usurp all our time, attention, and interest. Martha expressed her love in unselfish service but without spiritual understanding and power, and her service therefore became a burden instead of a joy.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-24-2014
