St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verses: 33; The Crowds marveled at his teaching.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ's answer) Part 6.

Here was a man that was different from other men.  The crowds knew it.  They felt it within themselves.  They were not learned.  They could not read, most of them.  They had no books, no schools to go to and learn the rudiments of education.  They were common folks who earned their livelihood in the fields.  Most of the learned men came from the synagogues and they were taught the Law handed down to their fathers.

Christ came onto the scene with no training from the masters of the synagogues.  He was unknown to them.  The teachers and the masters had not taught him, had not seen him, nor had they heard of him before he came on the scene and started his ministry, teaching the people.  The teachers sent their best to question him.  They tried to trap him.  They even sent their scholars to study him, but none could grasp his deep knowledge and wisdom of the ways of God and the kingdom of heaven.  And when the crowds heard this, they marveled at his teaching. 

There is much to learn as we go through life.  Our early years are marked, for most, by the joy of youth, not having responsibility but just growing up and living life.  We reach an age where we go out on our own and we must make decisions that affect our lives, good or bad.  Rules are laid down by authority for us to follow that guide our lives.  We live within the boundaries of this authority or suffer the consequences of the laws.  We grow older and become settled in our lives at which time we take on a partner and began to repeat the process of our parents of having children. 

There is another part of our lives that is taking place also as we continue on the journey of life, the spiritual process.  As we get much older, especially much later in life, 50's, 60's, and 70's, we may find ourselves thinking more of the end of this physical life and what lies ahead.  We never know when that day will come.  It may happen all of a sudden or it may come with our knowledge.  Yet the countdown is there and the clock continues to unwind, the sands of time move ever against us.  What do we do?

Christ's teachings give us a path to follow.  The time of transition comes upon us whether we are ready or not.  We can prepare ourselves or not.  We can participate in the transition, become a part of the process, watch it happen, enjoy the transformation.  By doing so we throw off the world and take on the new, for we can move in the direction of life everlasting.  Christ awaits us as we are preparing to go home to see him and all those who have gone before us.  Let us marvel.  Let us rejoice at the living words that he has given us.  Let us transform.

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.  

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verses: 32; God of the Living.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ's answer) Part 5.  

They came to him for answers and he gave them knowledge.  They thought that they knew about the resurrection.  They believed that there was no life after death, that there was no resurrection so they came to him for an answer.  He told them that they were wrong, that they knew neither the scriptures nor the power of God.  They thought that they knew, but they did not.  They thought they had the answers but they did not.  They thought that they were right in their beliefs but they were wrong in their assumptions and Christ told them so.

He told them that there would be no marriage in heaven.  Therefore, what took place on earth would not be bound in heaven.  Men and women would not be bound to each other in heaven.  They will be like angels of God in heaven.  This was a shocking revelation to the Sadducees because they assumed that the wedding commitment would be bound over at the resurrection after death.  Christ had to correct them on this point also.  God was a God of the living and not of the dead.  He told them what was spoken by God himself saying:  " ' I am God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' He is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 

Where does that leave us today, those who believe?  Do we believe in the living God?  Are we right in our faith, in our hope, in our trust in the invisible God?  Can we act on that which we believe, walk by, live by, and know, that we have a living God that we can call on, in our time of need?  Will he hear us?  Will he respond to us?  Will he care for our needs?  Will he provide for us? 

We indeed are weak.  Yet something inside tells us, talks to us, encourages us to think otherwise.  Something wants us to not be humble, to not be dependent, to not trust in the Lord.  History has taught us that he has been there for us.  He has walked with us, showed us the way, done things for us, brought us far without problems.  So why should we stop leaning on him now.  Why should we stop trusting him now.  He was a plan for us, all we have to do is be patient and enjoy the ride.

Our God is patient.  He is merciful.  He is loving.  He saved us from the deep depression that we were in where those thoughts of ending came upon us.  He gave us new life and new hope.  He show us the way.  He opened the door for us to enter the kingdom of heaven.  He opened our eyes to who we are in Christ Jesus and now we see ourselves in a new light.  The Spirit lives with us and guides us daily.  Thanks be to God.  Thanks be to Jesus Christ.  Thanks be to the Holy Spirit.

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.  

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verses: 31;Resurrection of the Dead.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ's answer) Part 4.  

Christ is patient.  He is loving.  He is merciful.  He is caring.  He is understanding.  He is kind.  He is the kind of teacher who wants all to be able to grasp that which he is teaching.  There are some that will.  There are some that won't right-a-way but, later with time, will come to understand.  Then there are those who just refuse to understand because they are set in their beliefs and refuse to allow themselves to change.  Their eyes are blind, their minds are closed and their hearts are set against that which would bring them joy and happiness.  Instead they cling to that which they have known for years and refuse to allow room for anything else to enter.

God speaks to the heart.  He speaks to the will of those who seek that which is wanting within each of us.  He calls to the need within that would be fulfilled and as yet, has not.  The heart knows.  The heart feels.  The heart yearns.  The heart understands that which comes from the creator and returns to the creator.  Life was given by the creator and returns as it was given, not death.  Death is not of the creator.  Christ told the Sadducees:  "But as to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God?" 

Christ died on the cross to sacrifice for the sins of all mankind that we would not have to suffer the pains of punishment for our sin.  We are sinners.  From the beginning of time we are sinners and were given the punishment of death through the sin of Adam for his transgression in the garden of Eden.  That transgression was never paid for until Christ came down from heaven, became man, and suffered the pain of death for all mankind.  Through his passion and death he lifted the punishment of death for all mankind.  Those who would believe in him as the son of the father and obey his commandments will have new life eternal.

Have you not read what was given to you from the mouth of God himself?  Do you not believe his words?  Do you not understand?  Are you so blinded by today's world that you have no grasp of the consequences of the actions that you take on a daily basis?  God is patient.  God is merciful.  God is kind.  God is Loving.  God is caring.  He knows all and sees all.  I am thankful that he held my hand along the journey of my transgressions.  I pray that he will be patient with you along your journey.  He is the God of the living and not of the dead.  Are you the walking living today or are you the walking dead? 

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.  

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verses: 30b; Angels in Heaven.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ's answer) Part 3.  

They knew not the scriptures nor the power of God.  This is why they erred in their beliefs about the resurrection and life after death.  The Sadducees did not believe in life after death.  But they were curious as to what Christ had to say on the subject.  They were certain of their beliefs.  Their belief is what they had taught and known all their lives but Christ spoke of something different.  He spoke of a father in heaven and life after death that made them curious.

This is why they came to him with the question of the widow and the seven brothers.  They posed a question that would address the question of the resurrection.  Christ told them that they were wrong in their thinking because they did not know the power of God.  He told them:   "But they will be as angels of God in heaven."  

And there we have it from the living word of God himself as to what we will be in heaven.  Christ has given us a picture of the shape and form of our future selves in heaven.  We will be as angels of God. 

Many people wander about the afterlife, what it will be, how it will be, where it will be.  Here in the spoken words of the Messiah himself he tells us what we need to know of our future selves.  A new type of form, other than the physical form.  He tells us of a new being other than the mental.  He tells us of a new type of spirit other than the soul that we know of today, a spiritual form of the angels given by the power of God our creator.  Eye has not seen nor has the mind conceived of the things that God has prepared for those who love him.  This is the power of God our creator.

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.