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.
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.
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