Once again how much truth is lost in translation?
Whereas translating words so people can understand the true meaning is of the utmost importance, what happens when the wrong word is chosen by the translator or committee of translators? Well, then the mind imagines an entirely different image and remembers something that is partly true, and in so doing, misses the deeper meanings in the Word.
The word tekton is Greek for “craftsman”. This word can be used for one who works with wood as a carpenter, metals as a black smith, or stone as a mason. It is written that Jesus was a tekton. So why did they choose carpenter in that translation? What were the King James Theologians trying to hide? Or were they just illiterate?
It’s time to look between the decisions of translating, at least that one word for that one word makes a huge difference in how we see the teachings of Jesus and what they mean in scripture for us today. The translation was made by men at a time of great turmoil in debates over truth as men tried to understand what had been hidden from them for centuries of a very dark age of evil dictates by what we would call today…lizard people. The deciders at that time, decided Jesus as a tekton was to now mean Carpenter. The matter was settled… and now they would herd the masses to say it is so and get everyone on the same page so to speak. Especially, since at that time stone builders were still infiltrated and divided with various reputations among those who knew the craft.
And so after coming through such dark ages, at the time of King James, now people will all have access to the Word of God and so now they must all teach the same thing. Or so that was the consensus after ending the reformation where the Word was all written in Latin and no one understood it except the theologians who interpreted it, or shall we say promoted man-made rituals and things like confession, and spent most of their time deciding if someone was a heretic or in good standing with the church and its rules.
It was at the end of the age of protesting and punishing those who didn’t comply even burning them at the stake… or was it? It was still a day of bloody deaths bearing false witnesses for just about anything. Witchcraft was a good thing to blame on anyone who knew or said too much. Many confessions were made in torture chambers after cruel and inhumane punishment, the likes that no one wants to even look at today, let alone admit even took place. Did that all just stop and go away with the new declaration to have all the theologians merge the scriptures into one agreed upon book?
Ponder that a moment. Even to this day disagreements ensue and the result of the regimented one way of teaching from one set of rules has evolved into over 40,000 denominations and who knows how many different church covenants and man made rules for their congregations. It can all be confusing if you look to man for your truths and answers. Need I say what was said by the apostles… read the scriptures for yourself and let no man interpret for you. And when you do, there will come a point where the Holy Spirit leads you to translations to seek what the options for a word you are pondering really were and which one was chosen and what else could have been chosen and how by selecting a different word from the choices the entire message could have either a different meaning, or a different depth of understanding. You may even be led to read for yourself a few unorthodox books.
So that being said, we once again look at the word English translators chose for the Greek word Tekton which means a craftsman or one who works with wood (carpenter), metals (smith) or stone (mason).
When we look at the buildings in the day of Jesus, we see they were most all made of stone, and building with stone was common and the intricate work was boasted about by all of the craftsman who cut the stones for the Temple. Other stone work less amazing, but just as important were found in other structures from synogues to every day homes. Stone and brick was the most used building material and wood homes just weren’t a thing. Not like in today’s world of building homes. Today stone is used in the common house as more of a decorative use to dress up the front of the wooden structure, to enhance the façade.
But at the time of Jesus the stone cutter or mason trade was needed and common people worked that trade. As we see that Jesus and his father Joseph were not Aristocratic families to the eyes of men, but workers of craft. Lowly carpenters? Or lowly masons, stone cutters and layers? Which is more common and which is more head scratching for the elite of the day… is this not the son of a mason? Or is this not the son of a carpenter? The most common work considered blue collar was mason work. Using masses to quarry and then to carve the stones into just the right squares and or fit the raw ones perfectly… now that was much needed and it was said that Jesus’s father Joseph was a lowly tekton, (craftsman). What craft was deemed the most common, the most lowly? How many lowly men died building stone towers for men? From the tower of Babylon we read that the lost of a stone was considered more costly than the loss of a tekton.
In fact there are only two places in the Bible that tekton was translated as carpenter… and that was done at the time of the King James Bible translators who chose the word carpenter. In verses Matt. 13:55 – “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?” and in
Mark 6:3 – “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?”
Jesus used so many word pictures and parables of things that both He and others were familiar with, and yet He never once gave a parable based on wood and making something from wood. Other than take the beam out of your own eye first before you try to take the splinter out of anothers. Instead we see in the Bible that Jesus used building with stones as examples and images:
Matt 7:24-26 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
Why would a carpenter use stones and mason work to describe his mission, and to relate to the people of whom all knew the same ins and outs of the most common work and craft? Why would he not use trade secrets of wood working and wood building? Even as rare as that would have been, so were the teachings of Jesus but I don’t see any scriptures telling people that he is the beam that supports the ministry… but rather he is the cornerstone. And those who follow are all living stones.
A carpenter would relate to beams, boards and furniture… but then again he did say I stand at the door and knock…and that would most likely be wood… but I only bring that up because someone will think it as to question the reasoning in what was said.
We have the prophets referring to stones, and the cornerstone, the one who is coming… the foundation all directed at our Lord and savior. Daniel saw a STONE uncut by human hands that hurled at the statue striking the feet and toes of miry clay bringing all of it down and in its place building a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. Indeed he was the worker of stone so declared to come. The same stone was and is our savior. Why didn’t the scripture refer to a great beam made of cedar to identify our carpenter?
Jesus used stones to describe his ministry and the building of God’s living temple of people who believe on Him. His entire ministry was built on the rock and the chief cornerstone was Himself.
Matthew 21:42-43 42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Mark 13:1-2 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
It was the great structure of the stones of the buildings and their construction that was pointed out to Jesus as in waiting to hear what he had to say about the craftsmanship. Why if he was a carpenter would they seek to hear what he had to say about the mason work?
And what do we do with the other scriptures that point to the Lord as our great builder and rock? The chief cornerstone that the builders rejected?
Jesus said: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” (John 2:19) and Mark records His accusers as stating Jesus said: “I will destroy this temple which is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.” (Mark 14:58).
Hebrews 3:3-6 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
“It was Solomon who built a house for Him. However, “the Most High does not dwell in houses and temples made with hands; as the prophet says, Heaven is My throne, and earth the footstool for My feet. What house can you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest? Was it not My hand that made all these things?” (Acts 7:47-50).
“As Jesus was coming out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, Look, Teacher! Notice the sort and quality of these stones and buildings!” (Mark 13:1). If Jesus was a builder and had worked with stones, then this comment makes a lot of sense; the disciples would have thought that He would be interested in the architecture and material of the temple because of His occupation! And the reply Jesus gave is so typical of Him, instead of admiring the architecture and the work of man’s hands He instead says “You see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be torn down”! He CAME OUT of the temple made with hands and was not impressed by what was made with human hands.
Mathew 8:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
So indeed our master builder has everything needed to complete the task that was started for all of the living stones. And the Chief Cornerstone uncut with human hands… will hurl at the feet and the toes of miry clay and smash the entire world beast system to pieces and set up a kingdom that shall have no end…it shall be established FOREVER AND FOREVER.
Fear not and look beyond the shroud of wicked darkness and peer into the light of the Lord and all God’s promises for these are sure and these are fastened tight. Nothing can stop what God has put into motion.
So just as wicked men have mocked God and delivered false testimonies against the truth, so have they snuck in words that do not represent the best option in translations. Any decree that demands that man’s falible interpretation be law of the land and blasphem further that his edits are somehow ordained by God when God never said it, and further more tragic is ever give agreement to any bearing false witness for it is abhorred by God to do so and goes against His commandments to all his people.
For just these reasons the Lord said in Ezekiel 34, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat, and you clothe yourself with the wool, you kill them that are fed: but you feed not the flock. The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.”
When the Lord speaks of those that need special care and instruction and tending to, he refers to them as sheep. When he is referring to those who have been given much he says much is required. He told Peter… feed my sheep. His great commission to go into all the world and spread the gospel which means good news that Christ has come, was put to death and has risen…was given to all of his disciples and apostles. It was a task of love and serving God for from the onset it was just as Jesus had said, a time of trouble and tribulation. For it wasn’t long and the first followers of the way of Jesus were persecuted, arrested and slain.
God has never forgotten about any of His sheep who need a good shepherd. And many false shepherds have gotten fat off of God’s good sheep. Gotten fat means gained wealth. As he clearly points out in Ezekiel as well as other scriptures of the prophets.
And we are living in the day when the Lord declared that he would both search for HIS SHEEP AND TEACH THEM HIMSELF!
The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-6; John 10:1-21)
Ezekiel 34:11-16 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
God is going to destroy the fat and the strong ones who have lied, cheated, and gained wealth (gotten fat) off of God’s children whom he calls sheep! Sheep because they are gentle and obey the shepherd. Many have been lied to and it is the false shepherd that God holds responsible for this. For as it is written, to whom much is given, much is required and many there are who are wolves dressed in sheep and shepherds clothing who have entered in to see who they can devour and get fat off of. Those days are over… they are coming to an end for God is not mocked!
But as for the sheep of the flock… he is yet to hold them accountable as Ezekiel tells us:
Ezekiel 34:17-24 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
Ezekiel speaks of the Covenant of Peace. It sure sounds like we are now transitioning into that age of peace… not the RESET wiles of the wicked lizard people. They have had their reign of terror long enough!
Ezekiel 34:25-31 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
Which bring us to the Knights Templar who were rejected by the Papacy and State any funding and had to become self sufficient in their endeavor to guard the pilgrimage of those who paid homage yearly to the Holy Land of Jerusalem.
Those who guarded the secrets of Solomon and took guard beneath the temple in the stables of Solomon. Taking upon themselves the burden of guardians and using the stone cutters words to share the truths in a message of secrecy for to share it openly would be death by proclaiming the truth. Even death by association of it. Perhaps they found the secrets of the Holy Grail… or perhaps they found the biggest secret, the one where we find, “Our Lord Was and yet is, “The Master Builder” The Greatest Mason of all.
In 1 Peter 2:4-5 we read: “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Jesus is the Master Builder, shaping and carving out the features strong and bold of each individual and lending strong purpose to their lives, incorporating those lives into living stones that make up the Temple of our Lord God, the Architect of all creation… and coming to the knowledge of all truth in the building of our Lord’s true Church which means those called out. A new brother and sister hood of living stones… those who are called, chosen and faithful. The most Holy Children of God.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God… it is He the MASTER BUILDER, THE BUILDER’S SON who will be building the “new Jerusalem” (Rev. 3:12; Rev. 21:2,10) and the “new heavens and new earth” (Rev. 21:1).
Even so Lord come.
Keep on pressing into the Kingdom of God. Press, press, press!
Dianne
