There is another Old Testament Saint who, in my opinion, is a type of Christ. His name is Jesus the Son of Sirach. He wrote a book of proverbs in Hebrew in about 195 B.C. In about 130 B.C., his grandson translated this book of proverbs into Greek. Most of the Hebrew original has been lost. Only about two-thirds to three-fourths of it have survived. The book he wrote is called the Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach. It is also called Sirach or Ecclesiasticus.
Jesus wrote in the first chapter of his book:
The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but godliness is an abomination to a sinner. (Ecclesiasticus 1:25)
Jesus Christ told parables to explain various truths to His followers.
In the eleventh chapter of his book, he wrote:
There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward: whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die. (Ecclesiasticus 11:18,19)
This passage of his book reminds me of the Parable of the Foolish Rich Man in St. Luke's Gospel.
And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (St. Luke 12:16-21)
There is a definite similarity in the teaching of these two passages of Holy Scripture. In another place in Ecclesiasticus, it says:
Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest. (Ecclesiasticus 28:2)
Jesus Christ taught the same thing in St. Mark's Gospel.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses. (St. Mark 11:25,26)
On the subject of forgiveness, Jesus the son of Sirach continued speaking with these words:
One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord? He sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins? (Ecclesiasticus 28:3,4)
Jesus Christ taught the same thing. He used a parable to illustrate it though.
Therefore is the Kingdom of Heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (St. Matt. 18:23-35)
Another similar teaching found in Ecclesiasticus and the Gospels is this one from the 28th chapter of Ecclesiasticus.
Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty. Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost. Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold. Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction. It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear. (Ecclesiasticus 29:9-13)
Jesus Christ taught the same thing. He said that we should lay up treasures in Heaven and not on Earth.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon Earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (St. Matt. 6:19-21)
He said that one of the ways that we do that is by giving to the poor.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the Heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (St. Luke 12:33,34)
In the 48th chapter of this book, there is a prophecy about Elijah (Elias). He is supposed to restore the tribes of Jacob in the end time.
Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord’s judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. (Ecclesiasticus 48:10)
Jesus Christ, likewise, said that Elijah (Elias) would come and restore all things.
And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. (St. Matt. 17:10, 11)
Elijah will be one of the two witnesses that comes and preaches to the Jews in the end time. (Rev. 11:3-6; compare James 5:17, Ecclesiasticus 48:3, and I Kings 17:1; 18:1, 41-46, with Rev. 11:6. Elijah had power to shut up the heavens so that it would not rain. He is one of the two witnesses.)
Jesus the son of Sirach and Jesus Christ have the same name. Both are called Jesus. They also have similar teachings on certain subjects. Both are wise men, although the Lord Jesus Christ is, of course, far wiser than the son of Sirach. Jesus the son of Sirach is a type of Christ. His life and teachings pointed to Christ.
Steve
Jesus wrote in the first chapter of his book:
The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but godliness is an abomination to a sinner. (Ecclesiasticus 1:25)
Jesus Christ told parables to explain various truths to His followers.
In the eleventh chapter of his book, he wrote:
There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward: whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die. (Ecclesiasticus 11:18,19)
This passage of his book reminds me of the Parable of the Foolish Rich Man in St. Luke's Gospel.
And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (St. Luke 12:16-21)
There is a definite similarity in the teaching of these two passages of Holy Scripture. In another place in Ecclesiasticus, it says:
Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest. (Ecclesiasticus 28:2)
Jesus Christ taught the same thing in St. Mark's Gospel.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses. (St. Mark 11:25,26)
On the subject of forgiveness, Jesus the son of Sirach continued speaking with these words:
One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord? He sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins? (Ecclesiasticus 28:3,4)
Jesus Christ taught the same thing. He used a parable to illustrate it though.
Therefore is the Kingdom of Heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (St. Matt. 18:23-35)
Another similar teaching found in Ecclesiasticus and the Gospels is this one from the 28th chapter of Ecclesiasticus.
Help the poor for the commandment’s sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty. Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost. Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold. Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction. It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear. (Ecclesiasticus 29:9-13)
Jesus Christ taught the same thing. He said that we should lay up treasures in Heaven and not on Earth.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon Earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (St. Matt. 6:19-21)
He said that one of the ways that we do that is by giving to the poor.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the Heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (St. Luke 12:33,34)
In the 48th chapter of this book, there is a prophecy about Elijah (Elias). He is supposed to restore the tribes of Jacob in the end time.
Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord’s judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. (Ecclesiasticus 48:10)
Jesus Christ, likewise, said that Elijah (Elias) would come and restore all things.
And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. (St. Matt. 17:10, 11)
Elijah will be one of the two witnesses that comes and preaches to the Jews in the end time. (Rev. 11:3-6; compare James 5:17, Ecclesiasticus 48:3, and I Kings 17:1; 18:1, 41-46, with Rev. 11:6. Elijah had power to shut up the heavens so that it would not rain. He is one of the two witnesses.)
Jesus the son of Sirach and Jesus Christ have the same name. Both are called Jesus. They also have similar teachings on certain subjects. Both are wise men, although the Lord Jesus Christ is, of course, far wiser than the son of Sirach. Jesus the son of Sirach is a type of Christ. His life and teachings pointed to Christ.
Steve
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