The "sayings" or "reasonings" that were finished were the subject of the end of Matthew 17 through the end of Matthew 18.

The Greek word translated as "coasts" is that of "region".

The Greek words for "region" is similar to the Greek word for "mountain". The ancient Greek word "ὀριο" ≈ "limit,boundary, border" and, in context, "coasts".

• (smooth breathing) "ὄρος" ≈ "mountain".
• (rough breathing) "ὅρος" ≈ "boundary, definition".

Note: The meaning is not determined by the breathing marks. The breathing marks were added to fit the decided meaning.

The Greek word for "mountain" and the Greek word for "definition" are the same (except for breathing marks that had disappeared by the time of Christ).

This is connecting commentary provided by Matthew.

The ancient Greek word "ὄχλος" ≈ "multitude, crown" and may, thorough the Greek digamma, be related to the German word "Volk" ≈ "people" as in "Volkswagen" and to the English word "folk".

The ancient Greek word "θεραπεύω" ≈ "wait on, obey, flatter consult, cure, heal" and is the source of the English word "therapy". The primary meaning is that of attending to or waiting on and not of curing or healing.

More: Greek digamma

The ancient Greek word "πειράζω" ≈ "examine" and is often translated in the KJV as "tempt".

• Ancient Greek "ἄρσην" ≈ "male, masculine" and modern "αρσέν" (ar-SEHN) ≈ "male". The Latin word "masculum" ≈ "masculine" and from which we get the English words "male", "masculine", etc.
• Ancient Greek "θῆλυς" ≈ "female, feminine" and modern "θήλυ" (THEE-lee) ≈ "female". The Latin word "feminam" ≈ "female" and from which we get the English words "female", "feminine", etc.

[Aristotle and definitions]

The "one" may have a special meaning as, reflexively, "you" by way of the one cookie rule.

The ancient Greek word "χωρίζω" ≈ "separate, divide, distinguish" and is the source of the English word "horizen" and is related to the Greek word for "mountain". The Greek word is from "χωρίς" ≈ "separately, differently" or, as a preposition, "without" or "otherwise".

The Greek word for "joined" is that of, literally, "together yoked". The Greek word for "yoked" is, literally, "two going (together)".

More: One cookie rule: good to the last drop

Discuss:

• What "man" or "bird" would try to "separate" a "woman" or "wife" from her "man" or "husband"?
• What "man" or "bird" would try to "separate" the "bride" or "church" from her "groom" or "Jesus"?

What might be the connection between these two ideas? That was the subject of the previous discourse in Matthew 18.

The Greek word for "asunder" is from and has the Greek word for "mountain" in it. The example used in the previous chapter was of a "sheep" going "on" the "mountain" or "definition" to be "great".

Idea pairs:

• Same idea: "join", "glue", "bind", "receive" or "accept"
• Same idea: "separate", "loose", "cut off", "pluck out"

The Greek for "hardness of the heart" is one word in Greek. The ancient Greek word "σκληρός" ≈ "hard, harsh" as in a "hard" heart and is the source of the English word "arteriosclerosis" as a "hardening of the arteries".

The "I say unto you" appears to, in most if not all places, indicate that the next statement has a more literal meaning and another meaning that is the intended meaning.

• Matthew 5: Jesus was talking to disciples (on the mountain)
• Matthew 19: Jesus was answering a question posed by the religious elite (in public)

The Greek word for "fornication", as used by Jesus, has a more general meaning.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus phrased it as the "reasoning" of "fornication". In this context, responding to a direct question of the religious elite, it is just "fornication". Jesus is speaking to those who would be the primary ones to use the "reasoning" of "fornication".

When the disciples do not really understand what Jesus is saying, they tend to ask somewhat strange questions that Jesus then answers.

The KJV translates as "good" the Greek word that means "bring together" and is an example of a counter-factual question. The disciples are asking a question based on the perceived literal meaning of (part of) what Jesus said.

More: Profitable and expedient counterfactual logic

More: Bringing together an expedient analogy

When the disciples ask questions but do not really understand the true meaning, Jesus often provides some enigmatic answers (next verse).

The ancient Greek word "πᾶς" ≈ "all, every" and requires a domain of application, unless clear from context. Later, historically, the meaning would become more of "all" without context.
In the singular, it is "each", "every", "all" of the domain that fits the context. In the plural, as used here, this would be as a "complete" unit. Discuss: Is the context of this verse "all" of mankind or "all" of those in his presence or something else?

Yogi Berra: Nobody goes there. It's too crowded.

More: Yogi Berra

The Greek translated as "saying" is that of "λόγος" ≈ "rational explanation, reasoning". In context, it can mean "word".

When the disciples do not understand and ask a question, Jesus provides an enigmatic answer which theologians, pastors, etc., then try to make doctrine.

• Does Jesus mean that some do not "understand" or "receive" the extended meaning of what was said?
• Does Jesus say that if it is "given" to you, then you can "understand" it? That is, to those who do not entrap or deceive themselves about what Jesus has said.

[Peter wanting hands and feet washed, How can anyone be saved?, etc.]

The ancient Greek word "χωρέω" ≈ "give ground, give way".

☐ All cannot give ground to this saying.
☐ All cannot give way to this saying.

Since the translators (and later commentators, pastors, etc.) could not "give way" to this saying (separate literal from intended meaning), they came up with the word "receive" or "accept" to fit their literal interpretation. This then goes into the Bible dictionaries as the actual meaning intended by Jesus.

A play on words may be with the ancient Greek word "χωρίζω" ≈ "separate, divide, distinguish" and is the source of the English word "horizen". This word was used in Matthew 19:6 (5 verses earlier).

☐ All cannot separate this saying (literal from intended meaning).

The eunuchs appear to be of three sources.

• nature (from the mother)
• nurture (learned from men)
• combination (both from self)



More: Jeremiah 13: Nature and nurture and leopard spots

If Jesus had meant physical and literal eunuchs, then, in the limit of everyone following that advice, the entire world would cease to exist in 120 years.

Note: UNIX is an operation system on which the play on words with eunuchs is often made. Linus Torvalds rewrote the UNIX kernel and that Open Source rewrite became known as Linux.

More: Matthew 11:1-6: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus

More: Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend

Except for the story in Acts 8 of the Ethiopian eunuch, this is the only place where this word is used in the GNT (Greek New Testament). Perhaps Jesus was using this word as a code word with an additional meaning using a play on words.

• "εὐνοῦχος" ≈ "overseer of a harem, eunuch" and, in Christian theology, a person who abstains from sexual relations.
• Play on words: "εὐ" ≈ "good" (prefix) and "νοῦ" ≈ "mind" and "χοι" ≈ "dust, soil, earth" or "και" ≈ "and (also)".

Using the deeper meaning of what Jesus means, this may refer to a person who abstains from deceptions, seductions, etc., of the believers (sheep) of the body of Christ.

Paraphrase: For there are eunuchs [good minds and (also)] that out of the womb of the mother are born (come into being) which and (also) are eunuchs [good minds and (also) that are made eunuchs [good minds divided like] under of men and there are eunuchs [good minds and (also) through the kingdom of the heavens. Those who can (potentially) make room for it, let them make room for it.]]