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.
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.
