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<h3>Recommendations</h3>
<p><a href="/books/401-music-store-manager.html">Only Jesus</a> (great song by Big Daddy)</p>
<p><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/jwoogm-20?node=1&amp;page=2">What Did Jesus Say?</a> (2012) - 7 topics&nbsp;</p>
<p>None above affiliated with me</p> </div>
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<h1>Christian Virtues to Pursue</h1>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">If we only had Christ, what virtues would we seek to instill in ourselves? And what are the most important virtues?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">What are those who do not make Christ their primary teacher following instead as the primary virtues?</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-size: large;">Current Pauline Influenced View</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">In Platonic and Aristotelian thought, there were four virtues. These&nbsp;four initial virtues were temperance, wisdom, justice, and courage. With the focus on Paul, three more virtues were taken from Paul's letters --&nbsp;&nbsp;faith, hope, and charity. (See "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_virtues">Seven Virtues</a>," <em>Wikipedia</em>.) Hence, there are said to be seven virtues comprised of Platonic, Aristotelian and Pauline conceptions.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-size: large;">What Does Jesus Teach?</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Virtue #1: Loyalty and Love for God, A Single Being</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">First, the most important command is to believe God is one, and love Him with your whole heart. In Mark 12:28-29, we read:</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><sup>28</sup>One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><sup>29</sup>"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God,<strong><em> the Lord is one</em></strong>.<sup>[<a title="See footnote e" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-24696e">e</a>]</sup> <sup>30</sup>Love the Lord your God with<strong> all </strong>your heart and with <strong>all</strong> your soul and with <strong>all</strong> your mind and with <strong>all </strong>your strength.'<sup>[<a title="See footnote f" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-24697f">f</a>]</sup></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<h1><strong>&nbsp;Virtue #2: Love Your Enemies</strong></h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Jesus gave us a powerful lesson on the virtue of loving people who hate us.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">In<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A43-48&amp;version=NIV"> Matthew 5:43-48</a> (NIV) we read:</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span class="text Matt-5-43" style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">43&nbsp;</span>“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor<span class="footnote" value="[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-23278a&quot; title=&quot;See footnote a&quot;&gt;a&lt;/a&gt;]" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A43-48&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-23278a" title="See footnote a" style="color: #b37162; vertical-align: top;">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23278A&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference A&quot;&gt;A&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span>&nbsp;and hate your enemy.<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23278B&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference B&quot;&gt;B&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</span><span id="en-NIV-23279" class="text Matt-5-44" style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">44&nbsp;</span>But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23279C&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference C&quot;&gt;C&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</span><span id="en-NIV-23280" class="text Matt-5-45" style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">45&nbsp;</span>that you may be children<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23280D&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference D&quot;&gt;D&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span>&nbsp;of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23280E&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference E&quot;&gt;E&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</span><span id="en-NIV-23281" class="text Matt-5-46" style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">46&nbsp;</span>If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23281F&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference F&quot;&gt;F&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span>&nbsp;Are not even the tax collectors doing that?</span></span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</span><span id="en-NIV-23282" class="text Matt-5-47" style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">47&nbsp;</span>And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?</span></span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"></span><span id="en-NIV-23283" class="text Matt-5-48" style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">48&nbsp;</span>Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">If we love only those who love us, God says there is no reward or merit in that. It is easy to do.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Why must we love even our enemies?&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Apostle John stated: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God: and every one that loveth is born of God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. We love Him because He first loved us." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:7-11,%2019&amp;version=KJV">I John 4: 7-11, 19</a>).</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<h1>Virtue #3: Humility</h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23930" class="text Matt-23-11"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">11&nbsp;</span>But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;">12&nbsp;And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.&nbsp;(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%2023:11-12&amp;version=KJV">Matthew 23: 11-12</a> KJV)</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1>Virtue #4: Charity, Helping Poor</h1>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">In Matthew 25, we read:</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24040" class="text Matt-25-31"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">31&nbsp;</span>When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24041" class="text Matt-25-32"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">32&nbsp;</span>And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24042" class="text Matt-25-33"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">33&nbsp;</span>And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24043" class="text Matt-25-34"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">34&nbsp;</span>Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24044" class="text Matt-25-35"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">35&nbsp;</span>For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24045" class="text Matt-25-36"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">36&nbsp;</span>Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24046" class="text Matt-25-37"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">37&nbsp;</span>Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24047" class="text Matt-25-38"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">38&nbsp;</span>When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24048" class="text Matt-25-39"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">39&nbsp;</span>Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24049" class="text Matt-25-40"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">40&nbsp;</span>And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24050" class="text Matt-25-41"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">41&nbsp;</span>Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24051" class="text Matt-25-42"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">42&nbsp;</span>For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24052" class="text Matt-25-43"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">43&nbsp;</span>I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24053" class="text Matt-25-44"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">44&nbsp;</span>Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24054" class="text Matt-25-45"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">45&nbsp;</span>Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-24055" class="text Matt-25-46"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">46&nbsp;</span>And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<h1>Virtue #5: Treat Others As You Want To Be Treated (The Golden Rule)</h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="text Matt-25-46">In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%207:12&amp;version=KJV">Matthew 7</a>, we read:</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span class="text Matt-25-46"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.</span></span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><b>Virtue Set - #6: List from Sermon on the Mount</b></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">We read in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%205&amp;version=KJV">Matthew 5:1-12</a> a list of virtues which partly overlap with what we already listed:</p>
<p class="chapter-1" style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23236" class="text Matt-5-1"><span class="chapternum" style="font-size: 1.25em; font-weight: bold; position: relative; line-height: 0.8em; bottom: -0.1em; left: 0px;">5&nbsp;</span>And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23237" class="text Matt-5-2"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">2&nbsp;</span>And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23238" class="text Matt-5-3"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">3&nbsp;</span>Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23239" class="text Matt-5-4"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">4&nbsp;</span>Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23240" class="text Matt-5-5"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">5&nbsp;</span>Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23241" class="text Matt-5-6"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">6&nbsp;</span>Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23242" class="text Matt-5-7"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">7&nbsp;</span>Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23243" class="text Matt-5-8"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">8&nbsp;</span>Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23244" class="text Matt-5-9"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">9&nbsp;</span>Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23245" class="text Matt-5-10"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">10&nbsp;</span>Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23246" class="text Matt-5-11"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">11&nbsp;</span>Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-KJV-23247" class="text Matt-5-12"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">12&nbsp;</span>Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="text Matt-5-12">&nbsp;</span></p>
<hr />
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Virtue #7: All People Are Equal and Brothers &amp; Sisters</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="text Matt-5-12">Jesus asked everyone who enjoyed unequal status to resign from that attitude. This is sort of a demand to humility. Jesus thus gives us a practical consequence of humility: hierarchical organizations create inherently improper relations between humans.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Virtue #8: Mean What You Say, And No Need to Swear You Are Telling the Truth (Hypocrisy Issues)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="text Matt-5-12" style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23&amp;version=NIV">Matthew 23</a>, we read:</span></p>
<p class="chapter-2" style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span class="text Matt-23-1"><span class="chapternum" style="font-size: 1.25em; font-weight: bold; position: relative; line-height: 0.8em; bottom: -0.1em; left: 0px;">23&nbsp;</span>Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:</span>&nbsp;<span id="en-NIV-23921" class="text Matt-23-2"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">2&nbsp;</span>“The teachers of the law<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23921C&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference C&quot;&gt;C&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span>&nbsp;and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat.</span>&nbsp;<span id="en-NIV-23922" class="text Matt-23-3"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">3&nbsp;</span>So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.</span>&nbsp;<span id="en-NIV-23923" class="text Matt-23-4"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">4&nbsp;</span>They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other peoples shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23923D&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference D&quot;&gt;D&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 30px;"><span id="en-NIV-23924" class="text Matt-23-5"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">5&nbsp;</span>“Everything they do is done for people to see:<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23924E&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference E&quot;&gt;E&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span>&nbsp;They make their phylacteries<span class="footnote" value="[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-23924a&quot; title=&quot;See footnote a&quot;&gt;a&lt;/a&gt;]" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-23924a" title="See footnote a" style="color: #b37162; vertical-align: top;">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23924F&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference F&quot;&gt;F&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span>&nbsp;wide and the tassels on their garments<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23924G&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference G&quot;&gt;G&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span>&nbsp;long;</span>&nbsp;<span id="en-NIV-23925" class="text Matt-23-6"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">6&nbsp;</span>they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;<span class="crossreference" value="(&lt;a href=&quot;#cen-NIV-23925H&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference H&quot;&gt;H&lt;/a&gt;)" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span id="en-NIV-23926" class="text Matt-23-7"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">7&nbsp;</span>they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by others.</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="text Matt-23-7">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</p>
<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="text Matt-5-12">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">d&nbsp;</p>
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