Hazeltine's Chapter 2

CHAPTER II
THE CHURCH PROMISED
St. Matthew's Gospel 16:18
The Church Promised: with a harmony of the Old and New Testament Scriptures used by Jesus Matthew 16:13 where Jesus speaks to His disciples at Caesarea Phillipi.
As we read Matthew's gospel, we hear him say, "Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time.. but I say unto you." This was his way of expressing Jesus' teaching to the Jews. (Matt. 16). The phrase, "And I say also unto you," is the key that takes us back to the old ceremony of creating Jewish Rabbis.
Saint Matthew is very particular not to omit the Jewish angle that Christ is using in ordaining Saint Peter as a Rabbi in His new dispensation church.
We read in Matthew, the sixteenth chapter, thirteenth verse, where Jesus gathered His disciples around Him at Caesarea Philippi. Here He showed His princely authority (or His Rabbinical authority) in the founding of His Church. Christ and the disciples were gathered together after a wonderful revival where thousands of people were fed with a few small loaves and fishes. St. Matthew 15:32.
Matt. 16:13
The disciples were still reveling in His last miracle. Christ asked, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"

Matt 16:11
Matthew realized that this question was put to the candidates of old at the temple in Jerusalem. When the ruler of the temple asked the candidate, "Who do men say is God?" the young Rabbinical candidates would reply, "Some say He is the sun, of moon, of stars; of perhaps a cow, of mud turtle (idol)."

MUD RAIN GOD OF THE PUEBLO INDIANS
(A rain god was supposed to come into this pottery image) This rain god tortoise was given to Mary Snyder Hazeltine in March 1881, by Miss Perry, a missionary to the Pueblo Indians of Laguna Pueblo. It had been given to Miss Perry by a converted Indian who had used it as a god to pray to when the land needed rain. It was more than a hundred years old when Mary Snyder Hazeltine got it. (Mary Snyder was one of the first missionaries of New Mexico.) It was given to the author of this book in 1935.
Matt. 16:44
How much this was like the answer the disciples gave Jesus when He asked, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, of one of the prophets."

Matt. 16:16
Then, following the old ceremony, the ruler of the council of ordination would say, "But whom do you say is the God of Israel?" To which they would reply, "She-ma yis rael" of "The Lord, our God. The Lord is One." And when Jesus asked the same question of Himself, "Whom do you say that I am?" Peter, the spokesman for the rest, replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
Matt 16:17
Again referring to the old ceremony of the Jews, the leader would say, "Blessed art thou (Gamaliel of Samuel), for no man showed you this; but the Father in Heaven has revealed it to you, because you are His." And Christ said, "Blessed art thou Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
Thou Art Peter!

Matt. 16:18
" We go back again to the old ceremony at this point where all those assembled at the *Semikhah would chant the name of the candidate saying "Thou art Gamaliel. Thou art Gamaliel.
________
* Shema--Yisroel -- Refer to British Museum letter, next page.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON, W.C.I
Department of Oriental printed Books and Manuscripts

TELEPHONE June 29. 54
Museum 8621

Dear Madam,

The Keeper of the Department of Oriental Printed Books, and MSS. has asked me to reply to your letter of June 16th.
The ceremony of ordaining a Rabbi seems in Rabbinic times to have consisted of the following five stages:
1) the laying on of hands (Semikhah);
2) proclamation of the ordained as Rabbi by word of mouth;
3) his investiture with a special mantle;
4) festivities, including the rhythmical praise of the newly ordained Rabbi by the assembled scholars;
The other stage is the celebration for the young candidate (Rabbi) which included great festivities. We are most interested in the second stage which is the proclamation of the ordained as Rabbi by word of mouth: "Thou art Peter, thou art Peter." (also step 4)

"Thou art Gamaliel." And so we hear Jesus saying in His "Ceremony," "And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter."*
Matt. 16: 18
Again referring to the Jewish ceremony as a pattern for His procedure, we hear the Rabbi say, "Upon this confession that the Lord God is the Rock** will we establish and govern all tribes of Israel." And so we have Jesus Christ saying to Peter, "And upon this Rock (your belief that I am Christ; the Son of the Living God) will I build my Church."

In Deuteronomy 32:3, 4, Moses said, "I will declare the name of the Lord. . . He is the Rock."
________
* Page 605, Merrivale’s General History of Rome also tells of Victoranius' confession of Christ the Rock. His name was shouted by the witnesses before the church body.
** Deut. 32:3, 4

Matt. 16:18
Going back to the old Jewish ceremony again, we hear the Rabbi say, "No nation shall prevail against you as long as you believe that the God of Israel is the Rock, (Deut. 39:4) and every place the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours." So we hear Jesus say to Peter, "The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." (This Church that I will found.)

Secondly, Others, by this rock, understand Christ; "Thou art Peter. thou hast the name of a stone, but upon this rock, pointing to himself, I will build my church." Perhaps he laid his hand on his breast, as when he said, Destroy this temple (John ii. 19), when be spoke of the temple of his body. Then he took occasion from the temple, where he was, so to speak of himself. and gave occasion to Rome to misunderstand him of that; so here he took occasion from Peter to speak of himself as the Rock, and gave occasion to some to misunderstand him of Peter. But this must be explained by those many Scriptures which speak of Christ as the only Foundation of the church; see I Cor. iii. 11; I Pet. ii. 6. Christ is both its Founder and its Foundation; he draws souls and draws them to himself; to him they are united, and on him they rest and have a constant dependence.
Thirdly, Others by this rock understand this confession which Peter made of Christ and this comes all to one with understanding… [Text from a commentary--Ed.]

[See illustration 33a for letter interpreted below]
Ministere
De
L'EDUCATION NATIONALE Paris le 9 Juilet 1954
MUSEE DE CLUNY

Tel. ODEon 24- 31

Madame,
2 The tabernacle portable in chiseled silver N.cf the Inventory :Cl.12 239 H.O.56size 0.20:depth 0,15. Ste’reotype:photo from Archives.O A A 449 B.
This rectangular Tabernacle with 2 doors either German of Austrian of the l8th century. It also comes from the Strauss collection.3 of the catalogue, and It also figures In the Jewish Encyclopedia. (Vol.II,p.126 This tabernacle contains also the rollers of the Law with a band embroidered by inscriptions. It also has a suitable key, but very simple On the photo O.A.449 B, showing the open tabernacle a part of the embroidered band is visible, and one can see the key in the lock. These two things have not been photographed separately, and it seems difficult to -photograph the whole band because of its length.

Matt. 16:19

At this point the old Rabbis showed the young candidates keys that would unlock the chests that held the Sacred Scriptures. (See picture of key and letter from Paris; also the clipping)

These Scriptures were to be searched in order to know what was right, and what was wrong, according to God's Holy Word. Then the young candidate could unlock the chests and take out a scroll and read it and interpret it. So Jesus said, "I will (a future time) give unto you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven." (Which meant the keys of power by the Holy Spirit to open the understanding of His Word.)
Those scrolls were written and given to the Children of Israel after they had already been written in the books of Heaven and established there. "Thy Word, oh Lord, is settled forever in Heaven," said David. But Jesus said, "I speak only those things that I have heard from my Father." He knew that God had settled His own Word in Heaven and it was written in the Book of Heaven before He gave it to Moses
[The following quotations were taken from a commentary--Ed.]
…whole counsel of God, use these keys well, Acts xx. 27.
Some make the giving of the keys to allude to the custom of the Jews in creating a doctor of the law, which was to put into his hand the keys of the chest where the book of the law was kept, denoting his being authorized to take and read it; and the binding and loosing, to allude to the fashion about their books, which were in rolls; they shut them by binding them up with a string, which they untied when they opened them. Christ gives his apostles power to shut of open the book of the gospel to people as the case required. See the exercise of this power, Acts xiii. 46; xviii. 6. When ministers preach pardon and peace to the penitent, wrath and the curse to the impenitent, in Christ's name, they act then pursuant to this authority of binding and loosing.
(2 ) The key of discipline, which is but the application of the former to particular persons, upon a right estimate of their character and actions. It is not legislative power that is hereby conferred, but judicial: the judge doth not make the law, but only… 233
…is here expressed by the delivering of the keys, and, with them, a power to bind and loose. This is not to be understood of any particular power that Peter was invested with, as if he were sole door-keeper of the kingdom of heaven, and had that key of David which belongs only to the Son of David; no, this invests all the apostles and their successors with a ministerial power to guide and govern the church of Christ, as it exists in particular congregations of churches, according to the rules of the gospel. Clara reyni calorumi in Christ's conference.
B. Petro apostolo cuncti susceptimus sacerdotes --All we that are priests, received, in the person of the blessed apostle Peter, the keys of the kingdom of heaven; so Ambrose De Dignit. Sacred. Only the keys were first put into Peter's hand, because he was the first that opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, Acts x. 28. As the king, in giving a charter to a corporation, empowers the magistrates to hold courts in his name, to try matters of fact, and determine therein according to law, confirming what is so done regularly as if done in any of the superior courts; so Christ, having incorporated his church, hath appointed the office of the ministry for the keeping up of order and government, and to see that his laws be duly served; I will give thee the keys. He doth not say, " I have given them." of "I do now"; but " I will do it," meaning after his resurrection, when he ascended on high, he gave those gifts, Ephes. iv. 8; then this power was actually given, not to Peter only, but to all the rest, ch. xxviii. -19, 20; John xx. 21. He doth not say, The keys shall be given, but, I will give them; for ministers derive; their authority from Christ, and all their power to be used in his name, I Cor. v. 4.
Now, 1. The power here delegated is a spiritual power; it is a power pertaining to the kingdom of heaven, that is, to the church. [Text of the commentary ends here--Ed.]

and also to Christ. That is why Jesus referred to His Words as the authority of the Kingdom of Heaven. And that is why He said to Peter, "I will give you the Kingdom of Heaven," which really is the ability to unlock the hidden meanings of His Words.
Going back in the old ceremony, the next step is where the young Rabbi is handed the keys to the chests that hold the Torah*, with authority to unlock the chest and take out the precious scroll. He removes the cloth wrapper and finds the scroll bound with a band, which he removes. This is to "loose" ** the scroll. The scroll is placed on the reading stand and then opened to the place where the law is written that

________
* Word of God to Moses. First five books of the Holy Scriptures.
** Jesus said of Lazarus and. "Loose him and let him go," for he was bound with grave clothes.

will judge right of wrong. When the search is finished and judgment is made, the young Rabbi gives his decision from the old scroll. Then he rolls the scroll together and takes the binder of a strong cord of ribbon, and with this he binds the scrolls, signifying that the decision is made. The next step is to wrap it up in a piece of linen of other cloth, meaning that the case is settled. "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples."*
________
*Isaiah 8:16

Harmony of the Old and the New Church Practices of Ordaining Religious Leaders
St. Matthew 16--Founding Christ's Apostolic Fellowship, that would govern the New Dispensational Church

The old ceremony of obtaining teachersOld and young men sat in two rows. The old Rabbis in one and the young men chosen to study for the priesthood in the other. When a seat was vacated by an old Rabbi. one of the young men as chosen and ordained to that chair. He was consecrated in a de finite ceremony.The Rabbinical body that consecrated the Rabbis was composed of the High Priest and the Sanhedrin. The new dispensational ceremony of ordaining teachers Jesus with His disciples at Caesarea Philippi. Jesus was the 'High Priest' of the new dispensation.

CEREMONY

The Candidate is questioned by the High Priest Q. Who do men say is God?" A. Some say the sun, moon, stars. Others say a beast or snake or a mud turtle. etc. Jesus the High PriestQuestions: Q. "Who do men say that I the Son of Man am?" A. Some say that thou are John the Baptist, some Elias and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Q "Whom do you say is God ?" A. She ma yis reel.* (The Lord our God. the Lord is one.)________* She ma yis reel--"The only Jewish confession of faith found among all classes and sects of Jews."—Webster Q. "Whom say ye that I am?" A. Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.

High Priest says:Blessed art thou Samuel or Gamaliel for no man has revealed this to you. You have seen God do miracles like parting the sea, bringing water from the rock, making the sun stand still, etc. This is how you know He is God. Jesus says:Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven.

High Priest says:I say unto thee that "Thou art Gamaliel, thou art Gamaliel." And the 12 Rabbis repeat "Thou art Gamaliel. Thou art Gamaliel." (Calling the name of the newly ordained Rabbi.) Jesus says:"AND I ALSO . . . And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter." I also am conducting my ceremony. "I also say unto thee, thou art Peter."

Upon your confession of God as the Rock, you may govern the people of Israel. God will guide you and lead you in the way you should go. (Deut. 32:3,4) "I will declare the name of the Lord. He is the Rock."No nation then shall be able to stand before you. And upon this ROCK will I build my Church. and the pates of hell shall not prevail against it. "I will declare the name of the Lord . . . He is the Rock. Deut. 32:4 " The Rock was Christ.'' I Cor. 10:4

The High Priest gives a set of keys to the young Rabbi who is now allowed to unlock the chests of sacred Scriptures. (The arks) The young man takes the scrolls out and removes the wrapper. Then he finds the scrolls have been bound with a thong (binder) which he also looses. He then places the scroll upon the reading stand and unrolls it. The priest says: "You may take the scrolls out and search them for they contain every rule that governs the people of God." After you and the other governors of the sacred scrolls have found the place in the Torah that relates to the offense committed and have come to a decision, you may bind the scroll with the binder. This means that the decision is made from the words of God to us through Moses in the Torah. "And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." (Greek active past. Worrell’s Tr. N.T. ) The keys to unlock the meanings of the Holy Scriptures Key to the Scriptures. Key of Truth.

God had written these words in heaven before He gave them to Moses. They judge all the tribes of Israel. "Thy word is settled forever in heaven." Then you may place the wrapper on the scroll and put it away in the ark. This signifies that the case is settled. And you have the right to use the keys in any future trial of a condemned person. Remember your decisions must be accurate for these words came from the Kingdom of Heaven. Your decision must agree with the words of the Torah. "The words that I speak unto thee, the same shall judge you in the last day." Jesus said. "I speak only those things I hear God speak to me so my words are from the kingdom of heaven, and have already been established there. I speak not of myself."

DEDUCTION
What could a pagan or a philosopher of the third century understand about the revelation of the old Jewish dispensational ceremonies? These had to be explained by a Jew. In the first two centuries when the Jews were Christian disciples they helped the Church to understand the true Gospel the way St. Matthew explained it. It was a sad day for the Church when the Jewish Christians left.

The Candidate is questioned by the High Priest Q. Who do men say is God?" A. Some say the sun, moon, stars. Others say a beast or snake or a mud turtle. etc.	Jesus the High PriestQuestions: Q. "Who do men say that I the Son of Man am?" A. Some say that thou are John the Baptist, some Elias and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Q "Whom do you say is God ?" A. She ma yis reel.* (The Lord our God. the Lord is one.)________* She ma yis reel--"The only Jewish confession of faith found among all classes and sects of Jews."—Webster	Q. "Whom say ye that I am?" A. Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.
High Priest says:Blessed art thou Samuel or Gamaliel for no man has revealed this to you. You have seen God do miracles like parting the sea, bringing water from the rock, making the sun stand still, etc. This is how you know He is God.	Jesus says:Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven.

High Priest says:I say unto thee that "Thou art Gamaliel, thou art Gamaliel." And the 12 Rabbis repeat "Thou art Gamaliel. Thou art Gamaliel." (Calling the name of the newly ordained Rabbi.)	Jesus says:"AND I ALSO . . . And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter." I also am conducting my ceremony. "I also say unto thee, thou art Peter."
Upon your confession of God as the Rock, you may govern the people of Israel. God will guide you and lead you in the way you should go. (Deut. 32:3,4) "I will declare the name of the Lord. He is the Rock."No nation then shall be able to stand before you.	And upon this ROCK will I build my Church. and the pates of hell shall not prevail against it. "I will declare the name of the Lord . . . He is the Rock. Deut. 32:4 " The Rock was Christ.'' I Cor. 10:4
The High Priest gives a set of keys to the young Rabbi who is now allowed to unlock the chests of sacred Scriptures. (The arks) The young man takes the scrolls out and removes the wrapper. Then he finds the scrolls have been bound with a thong (binder) which he also looses. He then places the scroll upon the reading stand and unrolls it. The priest says: "You may take the scrolls out and search them for they contain every rule that governs the people of God." After you and the other governors of the sacred scrolls have found the place in the Torah that relates to the offense committed and have come to a decision, you may bind the scroll with the binder. This means that the decision is made from the words of God to us through Moses in the Torah.	"And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." (Greek active past. Worrell’s Tr. N.T. ) The keys to unlock the meanings of the Holy Scriptures Key to the Scriptures. Key of Truth.