contents. Therefore in the literal meaning divine truths are rarely
naked; instead they are clothed and are called apparent truths. There
are many things in the literal meaning that are adapted to the grasp of
simple people who do not lift their thoughts above the kind of things
they see before their eyes. Some things seem like contradictions,
although when the Word is viewed in its own spiritual light there is no
contradiction. Furthermore, in some passages in the Prophets there are
collections of names of people and places from which no meaning can
be extracted. Since this is the nature of the Word’s literal meaning, it is
clear that it cannot be understood without a body of teaching.
[ 2 ] Examples may illustrate. We read that Jehovah relents (Exodus
32 : 12 , 14 ; Jonah 3 : 9 ; 4 : 2 ); and we also read that Jehovah does not relent
(Numbers 23 : 19 ; 1 Samuel 15 : 29 ). These passages cannot be reconciled
without a body of teaching. We read that Jehovah inflicts parents’ sins on
their children to the third and fourth generation (Numbers 14 : 18 ). Yet we
also read that parents are not to die because of their children nor children
because of their parents, but all die in their own sin (Deuteronomy
24 : 16 ). A body of teaching brings these passages out of disharmony into
harmony.
[ 3 ] Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
if you keep knocking it will be opened” (Matthew 7 : 7 , 8 ; 21 : 21 , 22 ). With-
out a body of teaching, people might believe that we are all going to
receive whatever we ask of anyone. On the basis of a body of teaching,
however, we know that it is whatever we ask of the Lord that we will be
given. The Lord in fact teaches this: “If you live in me and my words live
in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you” (John 15 : 7 ).
[ 4 ] The Lord says, “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of
God” (Luke 6 : 20 ). Without a body of teaching, we might think that
heaven is for the poor but not for the rich. A body of teaching instructs
us that this means the poor in spirit,for the Lord says, “Blessed are the
poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens” (Matthew 5 : 3 ).
[ 5 ] Furthermore, the Lord says, “To avoid being judged, do not judge.
The judgment you use to judge others will be used on you” (Matthew 7 : 1 ,
2 ; Luke 6 : 37 ). Without a body of teaching we could be convinced that we
should not judge that an evil person is evil. On the basis of a body of
teaching, however, we are allowed to judge as long as we do it justly. For
the Lord says, “Judge with just judgment” (John 7 : 24 ).
[ 6 ] Jesus says, “Do not be called teacher, because your teacher is the
One, the Christ. Do not call anyone on earth your father, for your father
is the One in the heavens. Do not be called governors, for your governor
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