St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 26a; Blind Pharisees!

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their hypocritical purity) Part 3.  

The God of all truth and knowledge came to them.  The God of all wisdom was in their presence.  The God of all creation walked with them, talked with them, attempted to give them insight into his understanding and the mysteries of the universe but they could not see.  They could not hear.  They could not understand what was transpiring before them.  They were lost in their own beliefs and desires.  They were lost in their own religious purity.

We can look back upon all this and wonder how frustrating this must have been, the king of wisdom dressed as a pauper seeking to give wisdom to the wise men who are supposedly learned beyond all wisdom.  The wise men are so puffed up in their own knowledge that they have no room for the wisdom of a simple pauper who has the wisdom of all ages.  Christ called them: Thou blind Pharisee!"  For surely they were without spiritual sight and could not see what and who was before them.

Are we the same today, blind without sight?  Can we not see the truth of who we are?  Do we not know our own nature or are we just asleep with our eyes open not able to see what is within.  The darkness prevails if we look.  But we are given the knowledge to look deeper beyond the darkness in search of the light of life given to us by Christ himself.

He came down from heaven that he might show us how to live a new life.  He came down from heaven that he might walk with us, talk with us, eat with us, laugh with us, dance with us, cry with us, feel the emotions of our sorrows and our pains.  He brought joy and happiness to those whom he healed and restored physically.  He touched the hearts and minds of those who were with him day in and day out throughout his life.  What a joy and a pleasure it must have been to be in his presence during those times.

Yet evil creeps in and takes hold of those on the fringe of life.  It corrupts and distorts the meaning of life.  It steals the life light within and covers it with darkness such that one looses the way and walks in darkness.  Time passes and life becomes meaningless except for those moments when carnal pleasures takes one deeper into darkness.  The light of life is snuffed out unless the call of God is heard through some tragedy.  

God is loving and forgiving.  He is merciful.  He knows we are week and because he is full of mercy he is willing to forgive if we are honestly seeking his forgiveness.  His love is boundless.  His mercy is endless.  His patience is enduring.  He loves all his children he created.  He wants all to be with him in his heavenly kingdom.  Come!  Take your place.  Seek his forgiveness and it will be 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: 25b; Robbery and Uncleanness.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their hypocritical purity) Part 2.  

They knew they were correct in their beliefs, their teachings, and their preaching to the people.  They had years of experience.  They had years of knowledge.  They had years of teachings from those who came before them to guide them along the way.  Did they heed the messages from the prophets handed down from God?  Did they completely understand the mysteries hidden in the writings of the Gospels?  Had they strayed away from the true meaning of the message of love given by Christ?  Were the Scribes and the Pharisees deserved of the critical scorn given by Christ? 

Something was truly wrong for them to have such public scrutiny made of their character and honor.  What had they done?  What was wrong with them?  The people did not really like them.  They knew that something was wrong because of the harsh treatment that they received, but did not know why.  But Christ looked deep beyond the surface of their exterior and saw the ugliness of what was inside.  He told them: "Because you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but within they are full of robbery and uncleanness."

They were full of robbery and uncleanness inside.  The things they did while no one else was looking only Christ could see the ugliness inside and the uncleanness that they carried which made them hypocrites.  

What lessons can we learn from them today?  Are we living the same hypocritical lives as the Pharisees?  Do we dress up the outside and leave the inside full of ugliness and uncleanness, full of robbery and iniquity?  We dress up on Sunday and go to church to sing and shout to God in praise and then go out on Monday through Saturday and do the same iniquities all over again.  What are we living for?  What do we go to church for?  Truly we are human and week in our sins but we have a God who is forgiving if we are truly seeking forgiveness hoping to try not to commit the same sin again.  We want to clean the inside that we may present ourselves presentable to our Father in Heaven.

We acknowledge that we are sinners.  We accept that we are week.  We ask for help and the strength to withstand the trials and temptations of evil for surely they will come daily.  But we must assure ourselves that with the help of our Father and the help of his Holy Spirit that we can overcome the temptations we face.  He will guide us.  He will walk with us.  He will show us the way.  He will carry us until we can walk for ourselves.  And when we gain our strength and can stand on our own, he will empower us to fight with him to show others how to become one with him.  For together we are one spirit, one body, one person in the Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us the spirit of new life eternal.

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: 25a; Hypocrites.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their hypocritical purity) Part 1.  

Once again Christ called the Scribes and the Pharisees out in the public eye.  He wanted the people to know who they were.  They acted as though they were pious religious leaders, but instead they were wolves in sheep's clothing.  To the public they were revered.  They were honored by the people.  But to Christ they were masquerading as something else. 

They talked the talk and walked the walk some of the time but behind closed doors the masks came off and the talk was completely different.  They looked down on the people.  They were arrogant and unbelieving in what they preached to the people.  They thought the people were fools, unlearned, and could not discern the truth.  They were deceitful and this is why Christ called them out: "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"   

Is this a warning to our religious leaders today?  Are they the same as the Pharisees of old who were hypocrites?  We see from time to time where preachers have transgressed the line and committed sin, had some affair with another woman while married, molested children, robbed from the church, even committed murder and attempted to cover it up.  

These are just a few of some of the stories that have come to the public's attention.  Christ was telling the Scribes and Pharisees back then they had a greater responsibility to the people as do the preachers of today.  We are all human and subject to failure, but those who take up the calling to become messengers and preachers are governed by a higher standard.  They are given a special blessing from God to carry his message to the people.  

I pray each time that I write that the words that come from me are not mine but come from the spirit through me.  I seek not glory in these words but only to complete a commitment made upon become a new person, a new me.  My awareness was so strong that I wanted to do something to let anyone know that they too could experience what was given to me, a new life, a new beginning, an awakening.  I know forgiveness.  I know love.  I know eternal life within.  I know the light of life that Christ has awaken within me.  I know God's love. 

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: 24; The gnat vs the camel.

Our paragraph topic is:  (They overstress the nonessential part of religion) Part 5. 

They were so concerned about the minutiae of the Law so they looked for every little detail they could find to burden the people.  The Scribes and the Pharisees were the police of the people.  They were supposed to be the religious leaders, helping the people understand their God, giving praise and glory.  But instead they policed the people in every way they could, making sure that no one transgressed any small detail of what was written or spelled out.

Christ came and called them blind guides because they knew not what they were doing.  They had no idea where they were leading the people.  They thought they were doing the right thing but instead they were moving the people in the opposite direction away from God.  Christ told them they were:  "Blind guides, who strain out the gnat but swallow the camel!"  

They were zealous in their desire to do right for the Lord and their Synagogue.  They wanted to impress their leaders, the high priest, and the Roman rulers to show that they were in control of the people to maintain their positions of power and influence.  

These were hard times for the people.  They were oppressed all around.  For years they had known no hope, only fear and oppression.  But times were changing and a new wind was in the air.  A prophet, John the Baptist, was calling for repentance saying that the Messiah was coming.  This gave the people hope that change was coming.  Maybe the Messiah would come and bring about a change to the oppression of the Roman rule and the oppression of the Scribes and the Pharisees.

What do we look for today?  Are we happy with our current condition or do we seek change?  The nation cries out for a change in the gun laws.  The immigrants seek asylum.  The people seek jobs that pay a living wage.  The students want education without lifelong debt.  The elderly seek the promise of security in retirement with medical care.  What do you seek today?  Does it all matter?  

Will it all make sense to cry out about those things that we need to those who may not care about our needs?  Why do we suffer and worry about what tomorrow will bring when we have a God who will take care of all our needs?  Why are we not at peace?  Why are we not like little children, joyous about today?  Do we trust?  Do we know?  Do we believe?  If we put our faith in him who promised to provide for us, him who promised to be with us throughout all time, what worry do we have?  If we live, if we die, if we suffer, we suffer in his name.  We suffer for his name to demonstrate our love, our faith in him who loved us first.  God is ever-living.  Christ is our savior.  The Holy Spirit is our guide.  Live in peace and joy. 

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: 23d; Things you ought to have done.

Our paragraph topic is:  (They overstress the nonessential part of religion) Part 4.  

They were blessed to have known their God.  He spoke to them through the prophets.  He sent messengers to the leaders giving directions and instructions.  He guided them through hard times and he chastised them when they did not listen to his words of wisdom.  Yet they were a hardened people, prone to their own ways.  They had the Law handed down to them by their forefathers to guide their daily lives.  But they had the desires to live in a world of riches like other men.

The Romans ruled over them so they had to obey Roman Law.  They had to keep the peace or suffer the heavy hand of Roman justice or punishment.  Some of the people did not like it and would have rebelled.  But it was up to the leaders of the synagogue to keep the people in line and prevent any uprising.  So the Scribes and the Pharisees, out of fear, found every way to clamp down on the people to keep them in line.  Christ called them hypocrites because they did not believe in their faith.  They only knew the positions of power they wanted to keep.  They did whatever was necessary to rule over the people to keep the Romans happy.

They had a God who created the universe and yet they feared the Romans.  They had a God who separated the Red Sea for their people to cross over yet they gave up their belief and faith in him for fear of the Romans.  They had a God who brought plague upon the Egyptian nation but they stopped having mercy and forgiveness as their God had instructed them.  Right judgment was a thing of the past in the face of the Imperial Roman Cohort even though their God was the God of all mankind.  Christ told them:  "These things you ought to have done, while not leaving the others undone."

Faith, right judgment, mercy Christ tells us are an essential part of our religion, what we believe.  Despite all that happens in the world around us today, we should have a solid foundation in the knowledge and belief that we have a God and Father who cares for us.  He will provide and protect us no matter what happens in the world.  If all else fails, if the world comes to an end, if the sun explodes and the moon crashes into the sea, we will always have our Father to rely upon to take care of us.  We are his children and he is our Father and his love is ours to count on.

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.