Our Paragraph topic is: ( Christ refutes the Scribes and Pharisees)
Part 3.
The Pharisees questioned Christ. Within themselves they believed that they had the authority to question him. They believed that they were the enforcers of the law and that it was their duty to demand correction where they saw wrong. For the disciples of Christ had taken food without washing. The disciples had made an error and did not follow the laws and tradition laid down by the Pharisees. So in their arrogance they questioned Christ about the behavior of his disciples.
Christ saw into their hearts. Christ saw into their minds. Christ saw the evil within them that they did not know. Christ knew who they were and he knew the evil that was in them. He knew the evil that persuaded them to come and speak about the behavior of the disciples. For this evil had transgressed the commandments of God before. The evil within them decided that they were to rule mankind. This evil decided that they were to control man and decide his destiny. The evil inside decided that mankind would worship them and not the one true God. The evil within the Pharisees decided that they would turn mankind away from God. So they persuaded the Pharisees to question Christ. But Christ saw their evil and he knew who they were. His question to them was: "And why do you transgress the commandment of God?"
The Pharisees were only vehicles through which the evil worked. The Pharisees were only instruments through which the goals of evil were accomplished. For evil was suggested to them. Evil worked within them. Evil made their plans with the Pharisees and the goals of evil were completed through the workings of men. The Pharisees did not know why they transgressed the commandment of God, but evil knew. The Pharisees did not know why they believed that they had authority to change the laws of God but evil knew. For evil wanted to turn man away from God. Evil hated the commandments of God and evil wanted to deceive mankind so that they could control his behavior and not God. For God said, 'Honor thy father and thy mother '; and, 'Let him who curses father or mother be put to death.'
And so it is today. Loving and godly parents lay down the law to their children. Parents provide for their children. Parents protect their children, care for them, educate them, give the love and nurturing that the body and soul needs to come forth and be a witness to the will of God. But then the world takes over. The world gets into the children. The world draws the children into the darkness and without hesitation they become lost in the world. For as the children grow and become older they rebel from the ways of the parents. The children want the desires and the passions that the world has to offer and regard parents and being old and outdated not in tune with modern times. And the world calls them to their death.
What makes us transgress the commandments of God? How do we decide to go against his will? Do we instantly make the decision to do so? Do we see a lie and decide to lie? Do we know dishonor and decide to dishonor? Do we feel adultery and decide to be adulterous? Or are we the pawns of the evil that is within us? Are we whispered to, talked to, have visions from the evil that comes to turn us away? Are we drawn into the transgression through the simple daily prodding of the world around us? For evil is in the world. Evil is through the world. Evil is the heart of the world and it will not let us go until death comes.
Do not be taken by evil! Do not live in the evil of the world believing that it is the reality of life. For the world is inclined towards death and has no life. The world is darkness and leads to destruction. Christ came into the world to bring life. Christ came into the world that there may be light and not darkness. But we must choose. We must be aware of the darkness. We must awaken from the deceit of the world and open our hearts to the light of Christ. We are not of this world but of the kingdom of heaven. For our treasure is in heaven and not in the world. There lies our home. There, in heaven, will we find eternal peace and the eternal joy that the world cannot give. There in heaven will we see ourselves as we are in Christ.
COME! Find your peace. Find your truth. Find your eternal joy and know the truth of the commandments. For they were given to us to keep us on the path of life, the path that leads us to our eternal home. Be not persuaded by the urgings of the world to transgress the commandments of God. For God is our father, our creator, our protector, our provider. He has prepared great and wondrous things for those who love him. But for those who transgress, the wrath of the justice of God awaits. Turn away from the suggestions of the evil that is in the world and live by the commandments of God. Come! Have eternal life in Christ!
Part 3.
The Pharisees questioned Christ. Within themselves they believed that they had the authority to question him. They believed that they were the enforcers of the law and that it was their duty to demand correction where they saw wrong. For the disciples of Christ had taken food without washing. The disciples had made an error and did not follow the laws and tradition laid down by the Pharisees. So in their arrogance they questioned Christ about the behavior of his disciples.
Christ saw into their hearts. Christ saw into their minds. Christ saw the evil within them that they did not know. Christ knew who they were and he knew the evil that was in them. He knew the evil that persuaded them to come and speak about the behavior of the disciples. For this evil had transgressed the commandments of God before. The evil within them decided that they were to rule mankind. This evil decided that they were to control man and decide his destiny. The evil inside decided that mankind would worship them and not the one true God. The evil within the Pharisees decided that they would turn mankind away from God. So they persuaded the Pharisees to question Christ. But Christ saw their evil and he knew who they were. His question to them was: "And why do you transgress the commandment of God?"
The Pharisees were only vehicles through which the evil worked. The Pharisees were only instruments through which the goals of evil were accomplished. For evil was suggested to them. Evil worked within them. Evil made their plans with the Pharisees and the goals of evil were completed through the workings of men. The Pharisees did not know why they transgressed the commandment of God, but evil knew. The Pharisees did not know why they believed that they had authority to change the laws of God but evil knew. For evil wanted to turn man away from God. Evil hated the commandments of God and evil wanted to deceive mankind so that they could control his behavior and not God. For God said, 'Honor thy father and thy mother '; and, 'Let him who curses father or mother be put to death.'
And so it is today. Loving and godly parents lay down the law to their children. Parents provide for their children. Parents protect their children, care for them, educate them, give the love and nurturing that the body and soul needs to come forth and be a witness to the will of God. But then the world takes over. The world gets into the children. The world draws the children into the darkness and without hesitation they become lost in the world. For as the children grow and become older they rebel from the ways of the parents. The children want the desires and the passions that the world has to offer and regard parents and being old and outdated not in tune with modern times. And the world calls them to their death.
What makes us transgress the commandments of God? How do we decide to go against his will? Do we instantly make the decision to do so? Do we see a lie and decide to lie? Do we know dishonor and decide to dishonor? Do we feel adultery and decide to be adulterous? Or are we the pawns of the evil that is within us? Are we whispered to, talked to, have visions from the evil that comes to turn us away? Are we drawn into the transgression through the simple daily prodding of the world around us? For evil is in the world. Evil is through the world. Evil is the heart of the world and it will not let us go until death comes.
Do not be taken by evil! Do not live in the evil of the world believing that it is the reality of life. For the world is inclined towards death and has no life. The world is darkness and leads to destruction. Christ came into the world to bring life. Christ came into the world that there may be light and not darkness. But we must choose. We must be aware of the darkness. We must awaken from the deceit of the world and open our hearts to the light of Christ. We are not of this world but of the kingdom of heaven. For our treasure is in heaven and not in the world. There lies our home. There, in heaven, will we find eternal peace and the eternal joy that the world cannot give. There in heaven will we see ourselves as we are in Christ.
COME! Find your peace. Find your truth. Find your eternal joy and know the truth of the commandments. For they were given to us to keep us on the path of life, the path that leads us to our eternal home. Be not persuaded by the urgings of the world to transgress the commandments of God. For God is our father, our creator, our protector, our provider. He has prepared great and wondrous things for those who love him. But for those who transgress, the wrath of the justice of God awaits. Turn away from the suggestions of the evil that is in the world and live by the commandments of God. Come! Have eternal life in Christ!
