Our paragraph topic is: (Their persecution of religion) Part 5.
Christ is speaking directly to the Scribes and the Pharisees on how they are destroying the religion of the people. The things they are doing and the rules and the laws they enforce have little to do with increasing the faith of the people but instead destroying their belief in their God. Why is it so difficult on the people at this time in their lives? Why do the leaders proclaim so many laws that they have to follow? Why are they treated like slaves where every move is watched over by the religious leaders to make sure they are doing no wrong? Why is there no mercy in the Lord?
God heard the cries and sighs of his people and sent his prophets to warn the leaders of their harsh treatment of the people. He sent messengers to the Pharisees to tell them of their wrongs. The prophets proclaimed in the streets the message of God but the leaders would not have them stirring up the people with a different word than that which came from them. To put an end to the messenger they killed the prophets, spilled their precious blood. And the people were left without the message. The new leadership followed in the same footsteps as their fathers maintaining the same rules, persecuting the religion as their fathers before them.
When Christ confronted them about their fathers, they tried to escape their heritage but they only convicted themselves by their own words. He told them that they can not deny: "That you are the sons of those who killed the prophets."
They, indeed, were the heirs of their fathers who killed the prophets. As much as they might try to hide from that fact it would be part of their heritage. Their fathers trained them, taught them how to rule the people. They taught them the ins and out of leadership, and getting ride of the opposition was one of the key tools handed down to the children. This was how they ruled the people. Keep everyone in line.
We see this even today, in every corner of industry, government, management, finance, business, etc. As long as you stay in line with your leaders and do as they ask, keep your head down, don't make trouble, no matter what, you will be fine. If you see something wrong, ask too many questions, speak up at the wrong time, you are subject to find yourself at the back of the line and out the door. These are the rules of our society and they are enforced down to the man.
Ask yourself, where do you want to be in life? On the inside or on the outside? How far are you willing to go to achieve your goals? What are you willing to do to get there? Are you willing to lie, cheat, steal, slander, cause harm, murder, lower your moral standards, whatever? We are driven to get ahead. We are motivated daily to have the things that we see that others have. We want the same things and we will have them! And then there is that little voice that sits on our shoulder that tells us how to get what we want if we only have the guts and the courage to take it. Evil has come full circle.
Christ came to redeem us from the evil in the world. He came to give us a new life, a life rich with all the joy and happiness that this world cannot offer. He came that we might have peace within, knowing that we are already wealthy, rich beyond the worldly material of mankind. Our joy lies with him. Our peace is in him. Our love is from him. We are in him and he is in those who will accept him.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Their persecution of religion) Part 4.
It must have been a great honor and privilege to live in the time of Christ. Though I must admit that compared to today there were many hardships. Many of the conveniences that we have today they did not have. Running water, and toilets, and refrigerators, stoves, and TV's, music, radios, all the modern things we take for granted they did not have. But then they had the greatest gift of all, Christ.
He came to be amongst the people, to walk with them and talk with them, to hear their laughter, their cries, their sighs, their tears, moans and groans. And he gave relief to many. Yet he saw the cause of much of the sorrow and pain of the people, the evil and the fear that came from the misdirection of the religious leadership of the people. For years the religious leadership had persecuted the people. The Scribes and the Pharisees ruled over the people as though they were slaves and not the people of God whom they were to love. They killed the prophets and the messengers sent by God because they wanted to maintain their positions of power. Christ told them: "Thus you are witnesses against yourselves."
The Bible tells us that our words will be our witness against us on the day of judgment. Every word we speak will be written in the book of judgment and on that day will be used to judge who we are. Speak good or speak evil, it will all come out on that day. The truth will be known as to who we are. Are we a tree that bears good fruit or one that brings forth bad fruit? The mask will be taken off and the truth will be known.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Their persecution of religion) Part 3.
What was religion in those times? God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and Moses gave them to the people, the Israelites. They traveled through the desert with the Arch of the Covenant until they reached the promise land God gave them. Their religion was then the Ten Commandments and the writings of Moses and the leaders that followed. There were many situations that came up requiring resolution. Those resolutions required new rulings to be handed down. Thus as time pasted many more rulings were added to the commandments which became the Law for the Jewish religion.
Often times leaders went astray and prophets were sent by God to give warnings and guidance to the leadership to get back on the right path. Many did not listen. Many prophets were killed for the message they brought. Yet God continued to send those messengers to his people that those who would listen would heed his warnings and return to their true God.
Centuries went by without any messengers and now Christ comes to save mankind from sin. The Scribes and the Pharisees have spent years persecuting the people, keeping them in line for the Romans, fearing they would loose their positions of power and prestige. They cared not for the religion of the people, only for their personal glory. Christ called them hypocrites, they build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the just: "And say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their accomplices in the blood of the prophets.' "
Blood, is the essence of life. It flows within and through every human being on this planet. We are different on the outside, but our lifeforce is the same on the inside, blood. The precious blood of the innocent children was shed for the Christ child that he might avoid the swords of Herod. The precious blood of the prophets was shed to bring the message to the people of Israel to repent and change their ways. The innocent blood of the lamb of Christ was shed for all mankind for the sins we have committed. His blood cleansed the earth giving everyone new life, the opportunity to eternal life.
The Scribes and the Pharisees persecuted their religion, seeking to control the people. Christ came to release the people from death that they might have new life. For those who believe it is there for the seeking. For those who want it is there for the asking. For those who know it is there for the seeing. The path is there for those who want to find it. He has given us the way, the truth and the light. All we need to do is reach out and grab it.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Their persecution of religion) Part 2.
Years had come to past as all this took place. God gave his people the ten commandments to live by. He gave them the leaders to guide them along the way while they lived in the land that he promised. He sent prophets to instruct them when they went astray. But just as when they were in the desert, the Jews had their own way of thinking and evil had slowly crept into their mist.
God warned them of the evil that was among them. He told them of the wolves that were growing in the flock. But they were not aware, they did not see, they did not understand until it was too late. It had come to the time where the evil had grown to the point of taking over the leadership in the highest order of the synagogue and now the Scribes and the Pharisees were turning against and persecuting their own religion. They were the ones Christ told: "You who build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the just."
They were the ones who built the great sepulchres to the prophets and set special days to celebrate the just. Yet they persecuted the people for the very nature of religion. God sent the prophets and the just to warn the leaders to change their ways, to eradicate the evil that was taking over the people. And yet the prophets were killed for their message, persecuted, scourged, crucified because they brought the truth from God to the people.
Are we no less the same today? Do our leaders rock the boat or do they go with the status quo? It is said that for evil to triumph all it takes is for good men to do nothing. Yet if one good man rises up and speaks out against the evil that is present he is put down, castrated, tarnished, scandalized, or even killed. This is the nature of the times that we live in and God's will be done.
He told us to ask and it shall be given, to seek and we shall find, to knock and the doors shall be opened. What if we as a collective asked him to bring us home with him? What if we as the human race got together and sought peace, knocked on his heavenly door seeking to end this earthly reign in order that we might begin our heavenly spiritual life with him? Would he grant us that wish? Would he open the doors of heaven and let us in? Would he give us our hearts desire and end the final hold of death over us all? Let us ask and we will see!
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Their persecution of religion) Part 1.
Christ cries out for the Scribes and the Phatisees for they still did not understand the serious nature of their crimes. Evil had taken hold of them and possessed their inner souls so deeply they were unable to comprehend the cry of the Lord for them. He calls them hypocrites in the public eye. He cries out for them as one would cry out for a lost child, a lost soul who does not know the way.
His cries only fall on deaf ears for they cannot hear. They cannot understand. They can only feel the anger from inside that comes from the hatred of evil against him. The people look on in amazement. They do not understand the nature of what is happening between Christ and the Scribes and the Pharisees. If it were anyone else they would be immediately arrested, jailed, and beaten for the things they said. But this was the Christ, the miracle worker, loved by the people, the prophet, the Messiah. He was the one to come and no one should touch him. So he cried out and called to them: "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"
Strong words indead for someone to use even today, to be called a hypocrite. Imagine going to church and having a preacher give his sermon on hypocrisy. It might be quite a shock to the parishioners to listen to such a speech. Some may even take it to heart, get up and walk out in the middle of the sermon. But this was the strength of the sermon Christ gave to the Scribes and the Pharisees on that day they came to question him.
They came in the guise of curious, inquisitive learners with the hidden agenda of a viper to bite in the end. But Christ knew their intentions. He knew the intent of the evil within them. He knew their desires, their wants, their anger, and their hatred. Yet he allowed them to question him that he might have them open themselves up to him. He wanted the opportunity to heal them. He wanted the opportunity to open their eyes. He wanted the chance to maybe pierce the shield of evil that they might be wounded and stop to think of the consequences of their actions.
Yes, sometimes it takes a hard knock, a wound to be opened up, to stop and think, to reconsider the consequences of our actions. What if my life was ended? What if I had lost a leg or an arm or some other part. I was luckie this time. There may not be a next time. I need to stop and think how fortunate I am to be alive now. I need to stop doing those crazy things and get my life together before I loose it.
These thoughts and others are the kind of thoughts that we have after we have a tragic event happen to us or to someone near to us. And it is these events that open us up to hear the voice of God in our lives to put us on a different path to turn our lives around. We can repent. We can change. We can do better. We can be a better person, a loving person, a believing person, a God fearing person. Christ died for all who would believe in him. His love transcends all. His heart is open to all.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Their hypocritical purity) Part 8.
Christ came down from heaven to walk among mankind that he might experience the depth of life we live as humans. He came with a purpose to do his father's will and save mankind from the sin committed by Adam and Eve from the beginning. No one else was able to do so. Yet his choice was made at a cost of his life on the cross, a horrible cost of pain and suffering for our sins. He did not have to pay such a cost but because of his love, his passion for mankind, he wanted to give us a second chance to have life eternal.
He came and he saw the horror and the iniquity that existed from the evil that had come forth upon the people. They cried out for his help, begged for his assistance, had assurance in his power to heal, believed in his words of faith. Yet there was still darkness in the shadows that hid from his brightness. He saw what men could not see. He looked beyond the outwardly appearance into the inner heart and soul of those who were full of evil and sin. He heard the inner thoughts of the influence that evil worked upon those of power and prestige and knew their deepest thoughts and feelings. He told the Scribes and the Pharisees: "So you also outwardly appear just to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."
You could say he had x-ray vision because he saw what men could not see. He saw the true filth of who they really were on the inside. Outwardly they appeared like great men, but inwardly they were filled with dead men's bones and all sorts of ugliness. Yet these were the men that the people honored and praised. These were the Scribes and the Pharisees they saw everyday in the market place and the synagogue and places of worship. These were the men that they idolized and wanted to imitate. Yet Christ saw the other side, the inside and he called them out. He told the people who they were. He let the people know that they were not all they were held up to be.
Faith goes deep within the soul. It is either there or not there. It is either believed or not believed. It is either a part of you or not a part of you. Sure it can be faked. It can be put upon like a mask and taken off like makeup. But real faith, real belief is in the skin, in the bones, in the marrow, in the heart and soul of a person. They know who they are because they are real. It does not need to be preached on the corners to have substance. It does not demand that it is shared with others from a door to door campaign to be real. It just needs to be lived that others may see the light from which it shines within.
Let your light shine. Open your heart to the love that Christ has for you and you will know the truth of the living faith within.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Their hypocritical purity) Part 7.
Christ gave them an example they could understand. He spoke of the grave. He spoke of what happens to man's body after death when it is buried and laid to rest in the grave which most could understand and visualize. In those times one could smell the stench of death before seeing it. The wind carried it for many miles to let people know they were approaching death. People often died in the open wilderness without being buried. And in those times the Romans crucified people on the cross and left their bodies to rot and decay on the cross as a warning to the people of what could happen to them if they did not obey the Roman laws.
So the people had ample opportunity to see and smell what happened to the body after death. One could imagine the same thing happened inside the grave as took place outside of the grave. Christ calling the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, calling them whited sepulchres was very graphic for them to imagine. He wanted them to understand the true nature of their sins. He told them: "But within are full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness."
They looked good on the outside but on the inside they were full of rotted flesh and dead men's bones. They were nasty, filthy, unclean. They were not worthy to be near. One should be able to smell them from afar as with rotted flesh and dead flesh. Christ wanted to be graphic. He wanted to shock. He wanted to open peoples minds and souls so they would see and believe his message. He even wanted the Scribes and the Pharisees to have the opportunity to change, to hear the new message of forgiveness and repentance. But they were unforgiving. They were lost. They were blind and deaf and could not nor would not hear or see the change that was happening before their eyes.
Where are we today? Are we the same? Are we blind and deaf to the change that is taking place before us. Are things happening that we should be aware of that is going to affect our souls, our beliefs, our faith, our hope in the promise given us by Christ. We have the words of the one true God who does not lie. We have the words of the Son of Man who came down from heaven to walk with us that he might show us how to live, how to love, and how to be free. We have the guidance of the Holy Spirit that lives with us every minute of the day to help us walk the narrow path to the kingdom of heaven. What more could we ask for?
Some believe. Some do not believe. Some will question. Some will ask. Most will continue to walk the path of the world not knowing or believing that there is a God who loves them and wants to provide for all their needs. Yet here we are walking through the phases of life seeking to grasp the riches of the world which are already given to us. We are wealthy beyond all imagination. We are rich beyond all worldly means. We are loved beyond all the love that can be given us from all the people in the world. Yet we believe that we are not. God forgive us. God touch us. God awaken us to know that you are ours and we are yours.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Their hypocritical purity) Part 6.
They had come together to trick him, to trap him in lies and deceit so that they could bring him before the chief priest and accuse him. The Scribes and the Pharisees had a plan. They wanted to stop the spread of his popularity with the people. Christ performed miracles, healed the blind, the lame, cured the lepers, raised the dead and taught the people a new way to live, a new way to love. He taught them of the Father, God in heaven, different from the structured manner taught by the leaders of the synagogue.
And the leaders hated him for what he was doing. They did not like that crowds were following him, turning away from them. Everywhere he went the crowds came to listen to his words. The sick and the lame came to be cured. The possessed of demons were released and a new day was coming about that swept through the land wherever he went. But the Scribes and the Pharisees did not like what was happening and wanted to put a stop to this new feeling of joy and happiness. Christ called them hypocrites: "Because you are like whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful."
They were beautiful. They were shinny. They were attractive. They were desirable to the naked eye. This was the appearance of the Scribes and the Pharisees. Their dress, their clothes, their manner, their demeanor, all very attractive. And all the people believed that they were the best of the best to be desired by all. They were to be admired, listened to, followed, and respected in all things. But Christ saw through all of this to what was really on the inside.
Who are we? Do we wear masks in public and the real self in private? We are not perfect beings so everyone has something that they keep from the public eye. But ask yourself if our hearts are open to the public? Do we truly love out neighbor? Do we have love for the beggar sitting on the corner asking for a handout or do we see a drunkard asking for another dime to by his next drink? Where is our heart? Where is our love for one another? Where is our love for God?
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Their hypocritical purity) Part 5.
He cried for them because he knew their fate. He knew what would happen to them and he wanted to give them the opportunity to change, so he cried out for them. Woe to you, he said, as though they were going to suffer the fate of those men who were beaten, flogged, hung from the cross, or even worse, suffered the eternal flames of hell. Christ knew what would happen to them if they continued on the path they followed.
He used the harshest words that he could think of in the worst way he could use them to affect them in the deepest sense. Did it work? Probably not. Did they change. Probably not. Yet he still wanted to open a crack in their armor so that maybe some light might get through. So he cried out for them: "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"
He called them hypocrites and he did it in the public where everyone could hear. He knew that it would anger them. He knew that it would enrage them. He hoped that it would cause them to question their beliefs, their motives, their faith in their religious behavior. Were they that blind? Could they not see the purpose of what he was doing? Were they so far gone that they had no idea of what was happening around them that they failed to see the obvious?
What is life all about? There are those who are the achievers in life who are in the spotlight. There are those who are talked about all the time in the news, in the media, on the radio, television, and elsewhere. There are those who are our favorite persons that we would like to be like, movie stars, persons of interest, people we would like to know. And there are those who in our immediate circles that we wish we could be like or have the character traits they have so that we can be liked by so many.
The need to be liked, be wanted, to have friends that like us that we can influence is very strong in our lives today. It goes a long way in our everyday life both at work, at play, in the community, in social circles, and in all walks of our lives. We are compelled to be liked, to be known, to be loved, and to do almost anything to gain that attention and to keep it. Compare this to the quiet person who seeks no attention, the person who is just there being who he is without the need to show off or take the spotlight. What speaks of his character, his personality, his wants, his desires, his beliefs, his needs to be known. Are they nonexistent? Or is he at peace with himself as he is without the need for attention?
Where do we want to be in this world? The beauty of the answer to that question is, we are already there. Christ has promised us a new life. He has opened the doors for us. All we have to do is walk in and accept him as our savior. We do not have to fight or struggle to gain his attention. We don't have to put down or trample others to get to him, because he has a place for all who will accept him, all who will love him. We can be at peace in this world because he has already given it to us and more. He has given us more than our hearts can desire if we simply ask to be with him.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Their hypocritical purity) Part 4.
He had to teach them. He had to help them to understand where they were. He had to break through the darkness inside, to open a door so that they might have light to see what was inside. They only cleansed the outside and thought they were pure. But on the inside they were full of dirt and uncleanness. All kinds of iniquities had taken over on the inside and they believed that it was okay to appear this way. This was their purity on the inside and Christ had to teach them to see the truth of what was really inside.
So he called them out. He told them they were impure. He told the Pharisees they were like whited graves full of rotted bones on the inside, painted white on the outside to look clean. This was the religion they practiced. He told them: "Clean first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that the outside too may be clean."
Clean the inside first. Get all the garbage out of the inside. Clean the mind, clean the thoughts, clean the actions, do right, do no wrong, speak good of your neighbors, be at peace with yourself and others, love your neighbor as yourself, hold fast to the beliefs given us by Christ as handed down through his teachings.
There is so much that we must live with in this world in accordance with Christian beliefs. Life does not offer opportunity to live according to the teachings of Christ. There are times when we will be tempted. Times when we will be put to the test to do otherwise. There will be times when we must ask for forgiveness for not having the strength to follow our beliefs. Yet if we can remember our teachings we can come back to the path we are given and seek his mercy to return to his wisdom of life for us.
Surrender to his will and peace will be yours. Seek to know his purpose for your life and you will find your way. He came to unlock the chains of bondage to free us from slavery to sin. He came to teach us how to live a life of peace and love, a life of knowledge and understanding. He came to light the path that we may know the way to his kingdom, the path to the Father.
Seek the knowledge that he has left for us to know. Understand the wisdom that is within you to see. Trust in the spirit that connects you to his love and to the Father, the creator of all things. For he is the fulfillment of all desire and all joy and all happiness and desires of the soul.
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.
