St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 13c; You do not go in.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 3.   

Christ continues to scold the Scribes and the Pharisees on the error of their ways.  They shut the doors of heaven to those who want to enter, he tells them.  They put up barriers to prevent men from obtaining the kingdom of heaven.  In their minds they believe that it is their duty to enforce the law to keep the peace according to Roman rule.  But in actuality Roman rule has nothing to do with the kingdom of heaven.
Christ tells them that they shut the doors of heaven against men:  "For you yourselves do not go in."  You see, theirs is the role of leadership.  Theirs is the role of authority.  Theirs is the role of example for the people and they cannot lead a pious role, one that they do not believe in.  The people will know.  The people will see.  The people will not respect their authority if they were pious leaders.

So they have taken on a dual role in their society.  They have become pious on the outside and scandalous on the inside.  They tell the people one thing but they do another.  They enforce the law to the latter with the people but have special circumstances with themselves and their friends.  

God is not a cruel god.  God is not unmerciful.  God is not unforgiving.  God is not hateful.  Yet these are the qualities that were portrayed by the Scribes and the Pharisees to the people.  They enforced the laws of God upon the people with no mercy or forgiveness, with no love or compassion.  And Christ came and showed compassion, and love, and mercy, and forgiveness.  

He did things that were against the enforcement of the law according to the Scribes and the Pharisees.  He showed the people that they were loved by their God.  He performed miracles to make the blind see and the lame walk and raise the dead.  He walked on water, change water to wine, open the mouths of babes to praise God.  Yet they spat on him, beat him, and crucified him on a cross all for the sins of mankind that we might be free.  He did all this that we might have life again, for we were dead according to God's command from the garden of Eden.

We have a choice today.  We can choose to live or we can choose to die.  It is just that simple.  We either live in this physical life and die in the spiritual or we choose to die in this physical life and live in the spiritual.  The journey is ours to make, ours to walk, ours to believe, ours to see and know.  Knowing is the truth of the matter for once you know then your entire life changes.  You become a new person and you walk a new path in life.  There will be challenges to turn back, but you have a guide along the way and others to walk with you.  May God be with you and the Holy Spirit be your guide.

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: 12b; The Exalted.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 11. 

We end this paragraph topic about the Scribes and the Pharisees but this entire chapter of Matthew revolves around them.  They came together at the end of chapter 22 to challenge Christ since they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees.  Christ used this opportunity to speak directly to all of them since they had come together to challenge him.

This was his chance to give them instructions while he was with his disciples and the people.  Yet even more so, it was an opportunity to open their minds that they might see the truth of who they were and the influence of evil over them.  He had told them that he who is the greatest among you shall be your servant which was contrary to their sense of belief that they would be servants to anyone.  He further tells them:  "And whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."   

These statements were spoken to the Scribes and the Pharisees but were also meant to instruct the disciples and anyone who listened.  The Scribes and the Pharisees certainly were not humble by any means.  They sought recognition.  They sought praise.  They sought honor and fame because of their positions among the people.  They believed that they were above the laws they imposed upon the people.  And their beliefs did not encompass humility.

The disciples were being trained by Christ to follow in his footsteps.  This statement was an instruction to them also.  Do not exalt yourself above the people but follow a humble path.  Follow his example of humility and you will be exalted by the Father.  He is the son of the most high God, first born above all creation, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Princes.  Yet he humbled himself, discarded his crown of glory and became a servant to the people.

Here is our example today of how to live a humble life.  Be of service to one another.  Help where help is needed.  Show compassion on the lowly and the needy.  Give with a loving heart and God will give to you.  We are all from one body, created in the same image and likeness, all the same brothers and sisters.  Let us not go astray from ourselves.  Let us not divide ourselves.  Let us not make comparisons that bring jealousy and envy.  We are all one in him who created us and gave us life.  Christ is our savior.  He is our Lord.  He is the architect of the life we have today.  Be the example.  Live the life he has given us in peace and harmony with our brothers and sisters.  For we are from one God, one Father, one Lord.  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.