Our paragraph topic is: (Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 2.
In this paragraph Christ continues to scold the Scribes and the Pharisees on the wrongs they are committing against the people. He scolds them not to berate them but to show them the error of their ways and hopefully to heal them. He wants to give them every opportunity to change, every opportunity to turn from their evil ways, every opportunity to save their souls from the possession of evil within them.
They are the leaders and pillars of the religious community responsible for the souls of the people. Yet they do not open the doors of heaven. They do not show how to follow the commandments of God, they are not the examples of faith that the people need to return to God. Christ calls them hypocrites: "Because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men."
They knew the consequences of their actions. But they did not care. They only believed in their actions to maintain their own status in society. They were privileged people. They were honored in the public places. They were recognized for their positions. They were believed to be pious and holy followers of the Laws of God. Yet the truth was exactly the opposite. For behind closed doors the piety came off, the beliefs were different and they cared not for the people of God.
We see many examples of this same behavior today. People profess to be one way in public but out of the public eye they are an entirely different person. God sees what we do and how we think. He knows our inner most thoughts. We cannot hide from his gaze, he knows who we are. Yet for those who are true to his sight, those who make an effort to follow his commandments, even though they may stumble and fall, he still loves and forgives.
Our belief in him opens the door to his heart. Our faith in his promise transforms us into his children. Our trust in his glory gives us the guidance needed to walk a path lit by the light of the spirit. Our knowledge of the things that he has done for us, his protection, his provisions, strengthens us to know the truth of who we are in him. Our love for him grows daily with each waking hour because we have the proof and the delight of being able to see his light of life within us as we know who we are.
God is our Father. He is our creator. Christ Jesus is our Lord and our Redeemer. Through the love of God and the passion of Christ we have the choice today to choose. We are not dead. We can have life and have it more abundantly. The choice is ours to make. Open the door and he will come to you. Seek his love and he will touch you. Allow your heart to know that you are loved and you will see the truth of who you are in him. God is love. Christ is our redeemer. The Holy Spirit is our guide. Belief is your key to a new life, eternally.
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.
In this paragraph Christ continues to scold the Scribes and the Pharisees on the wrongs they are committing against the people. He scolds them not to berate them but to show them the error of their ways and hopefully to heal them. He wants to give them every opportunity to change, every opportunity to turn from their evil ways, every opportunity to save their souls from the possession of evil within them.
They are the leaders and pillars of the religious community responsible for the souls of the people. Yet they do not open the doors of heaven. They do not show how to follow the commandments of God, they are not the examples of faith that the people need to return to God. Christ calls them hypocrites: "Because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men."
They knew the consequences of their actions. But they did not care. They only believed in their actions to maintain their own status in society. They were privileged people. They were honored in the public places. They were recognized for their positions. They were believed to be pious and holy followers of the Laws of God. Yet the truth was exactly the opposite. For behind closed doors the piety came off, the beliefs were different and they cared not for the people of God.
We see many examples of this same behavior today. People profess to be one way in public but out of the public eye they are an entirely different person. God sees what we do and how we think. He knows our inner most thoughts. We cannot hide from his gaze, he knows who we are. Yet for those who are true to his sight, those who make an effort to follow his commandments, even though they may stumble and fall, he still loves and forgives.
Our belief in him opens the door to his heart. Our faith in his promise transforms us into his children. Our trust in his glory gives us the guidance needed to walk a path lit by the light of the spirit. Our knowledge of the things that he has done for us, his protection, his provisions, strengthens us to know the truth of who we are in him. Our love for him grows daily with each waking hour because we have the proof and the delight of being able to see his light of life within us as we know who we are.
God is our Father. He is our creator. Christ Jesus is our Lord and our Redeemer. Through the love of God and the passion of Christ we have the choice today to choose. We are not dead. We can have life and have it more abundantly. The choice is ours to make. Open the door and he will come to you. Seek his love and he will touch you. Allow your heart to know that you are loved and you will see the truth of who you are in him. God is love. Christ is our redeemer. The Holy Spirit is our guide. Belief is your key to a new life, eternally.
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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