Epistle of Barnabas 19 - Simple in Heart; Rich in Spirit

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Barnabas 19:1
This then is the way of light, if anyone desiring to travel on the
way to his appointed place would be zealous in his works. The
knowledge then which is given to us whereby we may walk therein is as
follows.

---After explaining the Angel of Light and the Angel of Darkness in the last Thread, Barnabas goes on to show us how to seek the Light. Where is our appointed place?

Matthew 18 tells us where we are now in relation to what we are entangled to. See this thread: Egypt: Matrix of Mankind. How are we connected to our higher self above, yet walk in the feet below? Read the link regarding the true meaning of the Matrix, then read the path Barnabas prescribes leading us back home.

Barnabas 19:2
Thou shalt love Him that made thee, thou shalt fear Him that created
thee, thou shalt glorify Him that redeemed thee from death; thou
shalt be simple in heart and rich in spirit; thou shalt not cleave to
those who walk the way of death; thou shalt hate everything that is
not pleasing to God; thou shalt hate all hypocrisy; thou shalt never
forsake the commandments of the Lord.

---Be simple in heart and rich in Spirit. As we learn from earlier chapters, this involves removing our double-mind. Duplicity is the cause. A true Heart sees good as its own reward. Follow natural law. Remove hypocrisy (double-mind). What is a double mind? Do you seek good to receive reward? Do you seek good to avoid punishment? What is the true aim? To preserve self. Instead, give it to others.

Barnabas 19:3
Thou shalt not exalt thyself, but shalt be lowly minded in all
things. Thou shalt not assume glory to thyself. Thou shalt not
entertain a wicked design against thy neighbor; thou shalt not admit
boldness into thy soul.

---Do unto others. Be Humble like Barnabas.

Barnabas 19:4
Thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not commit
adultery, thou shalt not corrupt boys. The word of God shall not
come forth from thee where any are unclean. Thou shalt not make a
difference in a person to reprove him for a transgression. Thou shalt
be meek, thou shalt be quiet, thou shalt be fearing the words
which thou hast heard. Thou shalt not bear a grudge against thy
brother.

---All of these are resolved if we love others. All of these end the life of the soul above if we continue in our sin. Repentance is what the water is for. We are all sinners. To put on the name of Christ, we must first take on that character or the name is taken in vain. Again, we are all sinners needing to accomplish this goal.

Barnabas 19:5
Thou shalt not doubt whether a thing shall be or not be. Thou shalt
not take the name of the Lord in vain. Thou shalt love thy
neighbor more than thine own soul. Thou shalt not murder a child by
abortion, nor again shalt thou kill it when it is born. Thou shalt
not withhold thy hand from thy son or daughter, but from their youth
thou shalt teach them the fear of God.

---Abortion? I wonder why this book was not included in by the Church. The corruption of the child is a primary sin of the Roman Catholic Church. Is it any wonder that this document survives for our comparison. Again, we are all sinners. Repentance is possible in the water with confession. Even the Church of Rome can confess. Will they?

Barnabas 19:6
Thou shalt not be found coveting thy neighbors goods; thou shalt not
be found greedy of gain. Neither shalt thou cleave with thy soul to
the lofty, but shalt walk with the humble and righteous. The
accidents that befall thee thou shalt receive as good, knowing that
nothing is done without God. Thou shalt not be double minded nor
double tongued.

---Again, our benchmark is the Catholic Church. Light reveals what it hit. We are ALL sinners. No need to condemn the church until we set our own houses in order. Truth is has two edges.

Barnabas 19:7
Thou shalt be subject unto thy masters as to a type of God in shame
and fear. Thou shalt not command in bitterness thy bondservant or
thine handmaid who set their hope on the same God, lest haply, they
should cease to fear the God who is over both of you; for He came not
to call with respect of persons, but to call those whom the Spirit
hath prepared.

---Again, what of these rules from God (reflected by Barnabas) are untrue? Which are necessary if we love others. Love covers over a multitude of sin.

Barnabas 19:8
Thou shalt make thy neighbor partake in all things, and shalt not say
that anything is thine own. For if ye are fellow partakers in that
which is imperishable, how much rather shall ye be in the things
which are perishable. Thou shalt not be hasty with thine own tongue,
for the mouth is the snare of death. So far as thou art able, thou
shalt be pure for thy soul's sake.

---We own nothing here. We think and move only. All belongs to the one that gave it. Give it away as a mirror of God's will for our lives. This does not mean we abandon our livelihoods. It means we live simply, keeping surplus for those in need. Giving is done by our actions more than our possessions.

Barnabas 19:9
Be not thou found holding out thy hands to receive, and drawing
them in to give. Thou shalt love as the apple of thine eye every
one that speaketh unto thee the word of the Lord.

---Love those who love the Lord. Give to support the family of God here on Earth.

Barnabas 19:10
Thou shalt remember the day of judgment night and day, and thou
shalt seek out day by day the persons of the saints, either laboring
by word and going to exhort them and meditating how thou mayest save
souls by thy word, or thou shalt work with thy hands for a ransom for
thy sins.

---Can you hear what he is saying? Seek the person that is working and labor together. Do not work against the person who is giving you food. Food is knowledge.

Barnabas 19:11
Thou shall not hesitate to give, neither shalt thou murmur when
giving, but thou shalt know who is the good paymaster of thy reward.
Thou shalt keep those things which thou hast received, neither adding
to them nor taking away from them. Thou shalt utterly hate the Evil
One. Thou shalt judge righteously.

---The evil one was explained in the last two chapters. This chapter is devoted to the Angel of Light.

Barnabas 19:12
Thou shalt not make a schism, but thou shalt pacify them that contend
by bringing them together. Thou shalt confess thy sins. Thou shalt
not betake thyself to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the
way of light.

---Follow this on ATS.