Our paragraph topic is: (Tribute to Caesar) Part 2.
The Herodians began by setting the tone of the discussion with Christ and the nature of his character. They sought from the beginning to set a trap by characterizing him as a man of certain traits upon which they could build a foundation which they could use to tear him down. What they did not know was that Christ knew what they were doing and saw where they were taking their scheme.
They sought to build him up. They sought to give him certain features. They sought to make him out as a man who had boundaries and limits upon which he would not cross because of his character. So they started out by saying, "Master, we know that thou art truthful, and that thou teachest the way of God in truth."
They were the smart ones of their group. They had studied the ins and out of deceit. They knew how to bring down kings and prophets so they used the same tactics on Christ. They wanted to create a trap for him. Little did they know or believe that he was the Christ, the Messiah. He was the one foretold of old who would come and redeem the sins of the people. He was the Son of God who would come and walk among the people.
Fear ruled the leaders of the people. There was excitement in the land. There was talk of a new king, a new ruler, a Messiah. And the existing rulers did not like the sound of what they heard. Also the Romans did not like the idea of unrest in the people so order had to be maintained. And it was up to the existing rulers to maintain that order or be replaced by Roman rule or Roman brute force. So there was intense fear in the land.
Christ did not come to overthrow the existing government. He did not come to challenge the rule of the Romans. He did not come to create unrest in the people. Instead he came to forgive sins, to cure the sick, to heal the blind and the lame, to make the broken straight again and to show the people what the love of God could do for them. He was living proof that there was a God. And most of all he came to sacrifice himself for the sins of mankind that we may have life again and not death.
That was our time to rejoice, our time to see, our time to believe, our time to be free from the bonds of slavery from the world. For Christ came to reignite a new light within each of us that was given us from birth. We have a choice. We are free, or we can continue to be bound. That choice is up to us, individually. This is what Christ has given us, the freedom of life or death. Choose well, where you will be. We are all created in God's image and his love extends to each and everyone of us. But the decision is ours to make. Love God and Love one another.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ . The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
The Herodians began by setting the tone of the discussion with Christ and the nature of his character. They sought from the beginning to set a trap by characterizing him as a man of certain traits upon which they could build a foundation which they could use to tear him down. What they did not know was that Christ knew what they were doing and saw where they were taking their scheme.
They sought to build him up. They sought to give him certain features. They sought to make him out as a man who had boundaries and limits upon which he would not cross because of his character. So they started out by saying, "Master, we know that thou art truthful, and that thou teachest the way of God in truth."
They were the smart ones of their group. They had studied the ins and out of deceit. They knew how to bring down kings and prophets so they used the same tactics on Christ. They wanted to create a trap for him. Little did they know or believe that he was the Christ, the Messiah. He was the one foretold of old who would come and redeem the sins of the people. He was the Son of God who would come and walk among the people.
Fear ruled the leaders of the people. There was excitement in the land. There was talk of a new king, a new ruler, a Messiah. And the existing rulers did not like the sound of what they heard. Also the Romans did not like the idea of unrest in the people so order had to be maintained. And it was up to the existing rulers to maintain that order or be replaced by Roman rule or Roman brute force. So there was intense fear in the land.
Christ did not come to overthrow the existing government. He did not come to challenge the rule of the Romans. He did not come to create unrest in the people. Instead he came to forgive sins, to cure the sick, to heal the blind and the lame, to make the broken straight again and to show the people what the love of God could do for them. He was living proof that there was a God. And most of all he came to sacrifice himself for the sins of mankind that we may have life again and not death.
That was our time to rejoice, our time to see, our time to believe, our time to be free from the bonds of slavery from the world. For Christ came to reignite a new light within each of us that was given us from birth. We have a choice. We are free, or we can continue to be bound. That choice is up to us, individually. This is what Christ has given us, the freedom of life or death. Choose well, where you will be. We are all created in God's image and his love extends to each and everyone of us. But the decision is ours to make. Love God and Love one another.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ . The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
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