St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 8; One Master.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 6.  
These were the times in which the people lived.  The Scribes and the Pharisees were the caretakers of the people of Israel and the Jews.  It was their job to see that the law was taught and understood by the people.  They were the teachers.  They were the learned.  They were the authority for the people.  And the Romans were the authority over them.  

The Scribes and the Pharisees considered their job description to include binding heavy and oppressive burdens for the people.  They had to make sure that the people suffered so that they would follow the Law and not rise up against the ruling class.  They loved the front seats in the synagogues, the first places at suppers, and to be called Rabbi.  But Christ told the people:  "But do not you be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your Master, and all you are brothers."

It was important that the people understood the significance of Master.  God created all men equal in his image and likeness.  We are all children of light, one not more or less than another.  We live in a world that makes distinctions of who we are.  We are subconsciously given to categorize each other.  One has more money than another.  One is prettier than another, one is more athletic than another, more intelligent, more witty, more loving, more etc...  This is how and where we live.  But we all are the same, children of our Father in heaven, who sees us all as the same.

Christ came to teach us how to live, how to love, and how to see who we are.  He is our example in life.  He brings peace to those who understand who they are in him.  We have life.  We have love.  We have protection and guidance and provision for everything that we need in life.  And we have joy and fulfillment in the transformation of this life to that which we are in heaven.

Our life is simple.  Carry the message.  Live the life of peace.  Show the love that is freely given you to your brothers and sisters.  And for those who are of darkness, fear not what they may do.  For you are a child of the most high and life is yours.  They are lost souls who are blinded and deceived by evil.  However, they were once also created in his image and need love to awaken from the darkness.

Love is the key to open the doors of heaven.  Love is the life that is given us from our Father.  For his love fills completely and satisfies all desires.  He is our be all and end all.    

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: 4; Heavy Burdens.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 3.  
Christ now teaches the disciples and the people about the Scribes and the Pharisees.  He tells them to follow the rules and the regulations that proclaimed by the Scribes and the Pharisees because they have taken the Seat of Moses.  He wants them to obey the laws.  He wants them to understand the difference in what it means to be a Scribe or a Pharisee and the actions of leadership they take.

We follow our leaders and look up to them as examples.  We practice their ways and model their speech and actions.  But Christ tells the people:  "And they bind together heavy and oppressive burdens, and lay them on men's shoulders; but not with one finger of their own do they choose to move them."  

We follow those who lead us.  They are the ones we look to, to give us direction and understanding of purpose.  We listen to their speeches.  We believe in their actions.  We obey the rules and laws that they pass down to us because they are our leaders.  We are solders who do without question the commands that are given us.  We do not question their actions even though we may think that the commands we are given are wrong.

Christ wants us to see, to understand that the actions of those who lead us determine who they are.  Their actions speak to the person that we follow.  Their actions show us the contradictions of those that we follow.  Our eyes must see and know the difference in what we hear and what we see.  We should not be blind following those who would lead us to destruction.  

Observe and do but do not act according to their works, he tells the crowd and the disciples.  He came that we would have life and not death.  He lived that we would know of a Father who loves us.  He died that we could be justified as a people from the sins of the world.  He ascended that we would know that he is in heaven waiting for us to come home.  He is the example to follow.  He is the guide.  He is the Lord of all who seek to know his passion for us.  

The Lord is with us in every situation that we encounter.  He is our support and our shoulder in our time of need.  Seek him and you will find your answer to the why of life.  Follow him and he will lead the way.  Trust him and he will give you peace.   

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: 3; Their works.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 2.  
Jesus has spoken to the Pharisees, now he speaks to his disciples and to the crowd.  He tells them about the burdens that they face from the rules and regulations made by the scribes and the Pharisees.  Moses was their leader and he made judgements from the judgement seat.  But since his death the scribes and the Pharisees have taken over the judgement seat of Moses and declared many new rules and laws.

So Jesus tells the disciples and the crowd to obey the commands given from the judgement seat of Moses because it is a sacred chair.  He tells them:  "All things, therefore, that they command you, observe and do.  But do not act according to their works; for they talk but do nothing."  

What examples do we have today of all talk and no action?  Who gives us instructions on how to do something but no practical examples of how we may go about it?  We try to follow the example but fail to have the success implied.  We do everything that is given us but still without the results that we are shown.  Get rich!  Follow my lead!  Do it this way; I have laid out all the step by step instructions.  Pay this amount and you will get these results.  They have figured out how to do it or at least tell us that it can be done.

Christ was a doer and not a talker.  He came, leaving his high throne and his crown.  He walked among us.  He talked with us, danced with us, drank with us, suffered oppressions with us, and died for us.  He didn't just talk the talk, he walked it also.  He left the disciples with us as witnesses of the truth that he brought.  They saw it all, witnessed it all, and spoke to us about it all.  These books of the testament are not just writings of the disciples about some fictitious events that they saw.  They are the writings of the word of God become man.

He is our example of how we should become in this time and age.  We should be doers and not just talkers.  We should show our faith in the works that we do for others.  If there is love in our hearts for Christ, then there should be love in our hearts for others.  We are children of God, all are the same.  God is our Father who gave us life.  Christ is our Lord who restored us to life.  The Holy Spirit is our guide who leads us through life until we reach our home in the kingdom of heaven.  

Be not like the Pharisees and the Scribes who do nothing.  Live the life of Christ.  Follow his example and spread the love that is so freely given to you.  Let your heart be filled with that which comes from heaven and pass it own to everyone you meet.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that we might have life eternal with him.  Help others to have it also.

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.