St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 16c; Swearing by the Gold.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their distorted religion) Part 3.  

They were worldly in their beliefs.  They valued gold and silver and incents and jewels and all kinds of precious things.  Their eyes and minds were filled with the ways of the flesh and not the spirit of the Lord.  The prophets came to warn them of their transgressions but they did not listen.  The words spoken to their forefathers did not reach them.  For it had been years since the Lord had spoken to them.

The leadership of the people had lost their way.  They had become blinded by the ways of the world as did the Israelites in desert when they fashioned calves of gold to worship as their god.  Their minds were still set on the glitter of gold as having a value greater than anything on earth or in heaven.  This is why they said that: "But whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound."

They were fixated on gold.  They placed it at a higher value than anything else.  And they believed that if one swears by this higher value then one is bound by that value because if one breaks that bond then one would have to pay that bond in gold.  And yet not many had such a value in gold to pay.  

Yet who was to determine if that bond was broken?  Who was to judge if that bond was a just bond or a false bond, one that could be easily broken?  If the bond is broken do we fear paying the price in gold?  What would be the consequences if not paid?  Would it be jail, or a beating, or lashing, or death, or servitude?  What would be the ultimate price that one would pay for breaking a bond of gold?

What would be the price of breaking a bond with God?  Can we swear by him that we will be bound to do what we say we are to do?  Are we confident in ourselves that we can commit to do what we say that we are bound to do?  Is that something that we can swear by?  Is that something that we can keep?  

We are really between a rock and a hard place.  On the one hand we have a god who does not want us to transgress and on the other we have evil that does.  Our Father knows that we will be influenced by the evil that is in the world.  He is willing to forgive our transgressions if we understand that we have done wrong and ask for his help and forgiveness.  We are not perfect beings.  We are subject to make mistakes.  He is perfect and is willing to forgive our mistakes and love us still because he knows that there is evil in the world.  

Christ saw the good and the bad in all mankind and he was willing to sacrifice his life that we might have the chance for a new life.  His passion for mankind is so great that it transcended the pain and suffering that he endured to save us.  Now we each have a decision to make about our lives.  That choice is ours to make.  Open your heart.  Find the true soul of who you are  within.  Christ is waiting for your call.  He will come knocking at the door of your heart.  Will you open it and let him in?

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 21, verses: 44a; The Broken pieces.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Application of the parable) Part 5. 

Christ continues to tell us about this parable of the vineyard and the vine dressers, how they decided to take control of the vineyard and claim it their own.  In comparison as we look back we can find similarities with mankind today.  God our Father created us in his likeness and image and called us his own.  He gave us life out of the love that was within him to share his existence with us. 

Today we claim our existence as our own, devising our life from the ooze that grew from time immemorial.  And so it is that the elders and the high priest of the Jews claim that they are the rulers of the people.  All that has been written of his coming was not recognized or understood.  Yet they are the ones who were most learned and most educated of the Torah.  They could not see.  They could not understand.  They could not comprehend the signs of the time.  So Christ told them:  "And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces." 

And this became their warning, their stop sign.  Do not stand against this corner stone else you will suffer.  And this is our warning today.  Split, broken, pieces, are the results of what we will suffer in our lives.  We are meant to live a life of peace and joy and not a life of pain and suffering.  We seek to reach the top, to be like the others that we see and hear about living a life of luxury.  But in many situations we find ourselves split by pressure and pain, suffering the consequences of our own desires and passions.  Broken we find ourselves.  Wasted, lying on the wayside, forgotten and lost in our pursuit of the pleasures that this life is supposed to give us.

We have forgotten who we are.  We have lost our way.  We are influenced by the consequences of our own minds that constantly change according to the thoughts that we are given on a daily, minute by minute basis.  We are no longer in control of who we are and of our actions.  We are  led by the influences of the world.  Our thoughts tell us that we are not real.  They tell us that the life that is within us is our imagination, it is not real.  Yet Christ Jesus sacrificed his life that we may have life everlasting.

Be not broken.  Be not split in indecision.  Know that you are loved and that your Father lives within you.  You are a child of the living God, a father who provides for you, who protects you, who loves you.  The elders of old had the opportunity.  You have the opportunity today.  Seek to know the truth of who you are and you will come to see, you.

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 21, verses:30; Not Work in the Vineyard.

Our paragraph topic is (Parable of the two sons) Part 2. 

Some people have regrets.  Some don't.  What makes the difference?  Is it conscience?  Is it guilt?  Is it awareness?  What exactly is it that makes one regret?  We talked about the one son who told his father that he would not go into the vineyard and work but later regretted his disobedience.  This story comes after Christ spoke to the chief priest and the elders about his authority to preach and teach the people about the kingdom of heaven.

He wanted them to know from which he obtained his authority but they were not open to him.  They had no regrets.  They were blinded by their need to control, by their need to be in charge, by their arrogance with their own authority.  So to give them another chance to understand, another chance to be open, he told them this parable of the two sons.  And he came to the other and spoke in the same manner.  And this one answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go." 

The first son regretted his actions and went into the vineyard.  The second son lied and did not regret his disobedience.  The second son had no regrets.  Why did he not have guilt?  Why did he not have a conscience?  Why was he not aware of the wrong that he did against his father when he disobeyed and then lied about his disobedience? 

We all have fathers.  Most of us will become fathers at some point in our lives.  So we understand the authority of the father.  We understand the consequences of disobedience to the will of our father.  In most cases there is punishment.  In most cases there is judgment as to disobedience.  In most cases we may regret our actions and vow to not repeat our actions.  But for some there is no regret.  For some there is a turning point where the conscience is turned against the authority of the father and becomes a stubborn will to disregard that authority. 

We do not talk about those situations where the father is abusive, where the father completely dominates and exacts outrageous punishment that does not fit.  The father of these two sons loves them.  He raises his sons with the teachings and understandings that he has of the world that they too may become knowledgeable of the ways of the world.  Yet some stray.  Some become strong willed and believe that they know more than the father.  Some are influenced by others who tempt them to turn from the authority of the father.  This is the way of the world.  And the world does not care for the consequences of the actions of those sons that turn away.

Christ came into the world that the world may know of the Father.  He came to renew, to save, to give life, and to be a sacrifice for all.  Yet all do not accept.  All do not know.  All do not believe that he is the savior of the world.  We have life eternal if only we accept.  We have love from the Father if only we open ourselves to it.  We have protection from the pitfalls of life if 
only we walk in the way of the spirit.  We have already won.  We have already our reward.  We have already new life if we only see it within us.  Be open to that which is already yours and receive! 

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 21, verse:2, The Instructions.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus sends two disciples into Jerusalem)
Part 2. 

So the two disciples were sent into Jerusalem with specific instructions.  They were given instructions before and knew how to follow them.  He had given them powers before to do his bidding.  He had instructed them before on what to expect and what they would find in their journeys.  So they knew that his instructions were good and that they would find exactly what he had told them.

So they went into the village and followed his instructions.  He:  saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you and immediately you will find an ass tied and a colt with her; loose them and bring them to me." 

So they did as they were told, following his instructions.  Jesus knew the purpose of his instructions to the disciples.  He knew how he would use the ass and the colt, but the disciples did not.  They could only wait patiently until understanding came to reveal itself of the purpose.  They had patience.  They did not have understanding.  They did not have the knowledge of his actions.  They only had his words to them to follow.  And lo more was revealed.

Christ gives us instructions today.  He wants us to follow what he has given us to live by.  Why should we follow these instructions?  Is there some reason that they apply to us today as we live our lives in this world.  Most would say that they do not apply because we live in a different time and place than some two thousands years ago.  Do we even believe in those instructions or even the consequences of them? 

Christ came that we would know.  He came that we would have a reference, an example.  He came that we would not have any excuses of not knowing.  For at the end of our time here on this earth, here in this realm, we will be transformed and will face the consequences of our actions.  He came out of love for us.  He came out of compassion.  He came out of mercy that we might have the opportunity to a new life.  He came that we might not die.  For the jury is instructed by the judge and they will return a verdict.  There is no deadlock.  There is no mistrial.  There is only the verdict that awaits us.  Follow the instructions and get your reward, eternal life.

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 and 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.