St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 23c; The Weightier matters.

Our paragraph topic is:  (They overstress the nonessential part of religion) Part 3.  

These were the times of the Scribes and the Pharisees.  The Romans were the conquering rulers of the Jews so they had to abide by their laws.  Yet the Jews had their own religious Law they had lived by for centuries which did not conflict with Roman rule.  But they did not want to have any problems with the new rulers since the Romans were known for their harsh treatment of the nations they conquered.

But the Scribes and the Pharisees went overboard in their efforts to demonstrate to their new rulers they were willing to cooperate.  They found every means to levy new laws upon their people to demonstrate their eagerness to work with the Romans.  They went over and above the law to collect tithes on all manner of goods and services so that they were able to stay ahead of what ever the Romans would ask of them.  

So the basic tenants of their religion went out the window and the people were given new rules to show their appreciation of their God.  They forgot about loving neighbor and helping one another.  It became more about each one for himself.  This is why Christ told the Scribes and the Pharisees they had forgotten about the weightier matters of religion like:  "Right judgment and mercy and faith."

These are the weightier matters of our religion today.  They are the essentials that should be a part of the life of all who call themselves Christians.  Faith is not something that we hear in church on Sundays.  It should be with us everyday, 24 hours a day, everyday of the week, when we are asleep and awake.  It should be in our bones that we have as a part of who we are.  We believe in our God and know that he is ever-living.  He is life and has given life to us through his son Christ Jesus.  This is our faith and what we believe.

Mercy is from the God that we know because he has forgiven us our sins and had mercy on us, just as we should have mercy on those who trespass against us.  Vengeance is his says the Lord and not ours to take.  So we should forgive those as he has forgiven us.

Right judgment is something that we all wish that we had and should prey for daily, for we are but human and subject to mistakes.  It is only through the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we can obtain a right judgment in all things.  For he is our guide, our helper, our protector, our provider that our Father has given us to watch over and keep us.  Through his love we are able to rely on his protection from the trials and tribulations of evil that we will face daily.  It is his love and his protection and his guidance that will lead us down the road to the narrow gate to the kingdom of 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.

St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 23b; Paying Tithes on nonessentials.

Our paragraph topic is:  (They overstress the nonessential part of religion) Part 2.  

They wanted to control everything the people did, every aspect of their lives, so they could collect taxes and tithes.  So they conceived of different ways they could create rules to control the people.  They stressed the nonessential parts of religion as being important in the lives of the people.  The more a person adhered to the nonessentials the more a person was made to believe they were special to God.  And yet this was not what God wanted from the people.

Where was their faith?  Where was their belief in the God who created them and gave them life?  Where was their trust in the one God who provided for them on a daily basis?  Why were they not grateful for the many graces that were given to them on a daily?  Instead it was:  "Because you pay tithes on mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the Law."

What is important to us today?  Are we taught to observe just the nonessentials of our religion, go to church on Sunday and holidays, give tithes if we can, send our children to Bible study?  Are these the essentials for us today?  Or is there more that we should do?  Do we really believe in what we hear in church?  Do we know that we have a God in heaven that loves us and provides for us?  What happens when we have a love one who is taken away and we have to suffer the pain of loss?  Do we blame God for our loss, our pain, our suffering?  

Our knowledge and belief is more than just words that we hear repeated in church.  It has to become a part of who we are, an understanding of the knowledge of our God and his love for us.  Our belief has to become us, who we are inside and out no matter what happens, life or death.  We are more than just flesh and blood.  We are more than just body.  We are soul, spirit, created in the image and likeness of our Father.  Our life is eternal if we choose to accept who we are.  And the life here on earth is only a spec in the cosmic time of eternity.  That is our belief.  That is our knowledge.  That is our truth, our faith in the trust given us from the promise of Christ Jesus.  He came to give us new life and now that new life is 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.

St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 23a; The Hypocrites.

Our paragraph topic is:  (They overstress the nonessential part of religion) Part 1.  

They were zealots in their desires to control the people.  They believed that every part of the Law must be applied to everyday life or else the people would find ways to get around the Law.  So they created rules to cover every possible way to keep the people in line and to limit any way that would allow outlets for them to get around the Law.

This is why Christ called them out on all the unnecessary rules they placed upon the people.  These were not rules in the Law.  They were only rules put in place by the Scribes and the Pharisees.  This is why Christ admonished them: "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"

Again he called them hypocrites in the face of the public that all would know them for what they were, and again the Scribes and the Pharisees were angered at being publicly humiliated.  But they could not see.  They could not understand.  They could not comprehend that this was an opportunity for them to realize who they were and what they had done to the people.  It was an opportunity for them to become open and be healed of their evil influences.  But this was not to happen.

Instead, as we know today, they were too far gone.  They were pawns in the game of chess between good and evil being played out for the prize of mankind.  Christ came to save us from the forces of evil that had held mankind in its grip since the garden of Eden.  Death was born and brought forth into the world and reigned until Christ came and conquered it.  He is the first of the new born.  He is the master and savior of the new man.  

All now have the chance at life instead of death.  All now have the opportunity at eternal life if they choose.  For the life here on this earth is only temporary.  But the life hereafter is for all eternity.  The comparison of life now to life eternal is but a speck of sand to the entire beach of sand.  Yet that choice is ours to make and we each must come to the awareness of who we are and why we are here.  Choose life eternal and not death.

Life is not about how much money you can make or your status, your home or car, or your clothes, or job.  Life is about life, and that is already given to you if you choose it.  Live a good life.  God will provide all that you need.  Trust in his love for you and he will provide.  Do not be anxious about tomorrow for you have a Father in heaven who knows what you need and he will take care of you.  He is loving and caring, protecting and providing.  All we need do is thank him for the saving grace he gives us.  Amen. 

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 23, verses: 22; The Throne of God.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their distorted religion) Part 13.  

You see, it had come to this, gold and silver, precious metals, and jewels were more valuable in the eyes of the religious than the kingdom of heaven.  They did not place much value on the temple and the sacred items in it.  They did not value the altar but they placed value on the gold and silver placed on the altar.  They did not place value upon the temple itself but on the gold that the temple was made of which is how their religious beliefs had become so distorted.

These were the leaders who taught the people what to believe!  How wrong could they be?  They despised Christ for telling them that their beliefs were distorted and that they had it all wrong.  This is why he had to tell them also:  "And he who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits upon it."

They had no idea that they were swearing by God himself.  They had no idea that they were telling their followers that their bond with God was nothing when they swore by the temple.  They had no idea that they were encouraging the people to break their vows that they were making with God himself, thereby bringing forth the wrath upon themselves.  The people only knew that they were following the rules and the laws that were handed down by their religious leaders.

They were sheep being led by their shepherds.  And we prey today that God has given us a true shepherds to lead us along the right path to the kingdom of heaven.  Of course the ultimate choice is up to us to follow.  The ultimate decision is within ourselves if we want to believe what we hear each Sunday.  And the choice is up to us if we want more than what we hear each week.  If our hearts desire to know more about our heavenly Father, it is up to us to seek him out.  If our hearts yearn to feel the truth of his love it is up to us to delve deeper into the knowledge that is available for us.  All we have to do is knock on the door to have it opened to us.  

And if we truly want to know him all we need do is get on our knees and ask him.  We have to be patient to get his response.  We have to listen quietly to hear his voice.  We have to know that he speaks when he calls us in that soft voice that fills us with joy and happiness.  We have to rejoice in his presence when he comes to us with the gifts that he gives us each and every day through the spirit of his heart.  For he is a loving Father, and he is a devoted Savior, and they have an everlasting Guide that will be with you until your time to return home.

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.