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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 5.
The Scribes and the Pharisees walked among the people. They talked to the people. But they considered themselves above the common people. They were learned. They had knowledge that was not available to the common man. So they portrayed themselves as better than everyone else. They expected recognition from the common man.
They liked to be seen and acknowledged in the markets and on the streets. They liked to be heard in the synagogues. They wanted first places at table. They were above everyone else. As Christ told the people: "For they widen their phylacteries, and enlarge their tassels, and love the first places at suppers and the front seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the market place, and to be called by men 'Rabbi.' "
All their works they do to be seen. This is what Christ was telling the people about the Scribes and the Pharisees. He told them all things that they command you, observe and do, but do not act according to their works. For they do everything to be seen, to bring praise to themselves, to gain recognition to their position.
And we can see examples of this behavior today. We can find many in our circle of experience who seek to be seen and heard. Humility is not a trait to practice. Pride is their moto. Recognition is their game. Persuasion and influence is the rules by which they operate for it is required for them to succeed. This is the picture that Christ wants the people and the disciples to see, to open their eyes that they might understand how not to be.
Yet it is a natural tendency for us to observe and to emulate those who seek to be seen. We want to be like them. We want to be liked. We want to be loved so that we can have the front seats, be recognized, be called by all. For we are but human and we do what we see. But Christ wants us to have another example to follow, another example to see. He wants us to know that despite what we see, as a model to follow in life, this is not the road to travel.
We are all sisters and brothers, born from the same father. All are alike in the same spirit. We are all sinners in the eyes of God, seeking forgiveness, acceptance, justification, and sanctification. Christ came that we might be transformed in the eyes of God. He came to be our example. He came to be our sacrifice. He came that we can have new life instead of death. He came because of his passion and love for all mankind.
His love is overflowing. His love is ever forgiving. His love is fulfilling. Tread not the ways of the world but the path of Christ. For he will lead you. He will guide you. He will protect you and provide for you all the days of your life. Open the door 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 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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Application of the parable) Part 3.
The leaders, the priest, and the elders are being told by Christ their fate. Those who would corrupt the fruit for their own desires are being given a warning. They are the ones who were put in charge of the vineyard. They are the ones who were supposed to till the soil and trim the weeds so that the fruit would grow uninhibited. But they saw the fruit as their own. They saw the fruit as an opportunity to fulfill their own dreams of wealth and power. So they cultivated and prepared the fruit so that it would provide them with the desires of their heart, all in the name of the Lord.
Israel was a chosen people. They were special in the eyes of the Lord. He came down from heaven to provide for them, to care for them, as a mother hen would care for her chicks. Yet they rebelled. They decided their own rules and laws contrary to the laws given them by the Lord. Their leaders became filled with power and pride and considered themselves above the Law of the common man. So Christ told them: "Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you."
Our religious leaders have a special place in the heart of God. They are the ones we look up to. They are the ones that we turn to for guidance. They provide us with our daily lessons that instruct us how to live. We follow their example in all that we do. We are the sheep and they are the shepherds. We hear their voice and we follow. God has called them to lead us and to guide us along the way. He has given them special training and leadership skills. And they are the vine-dressers that bring forth the fruit from the vineyard.
Do we know who we are? Do we know that we are the sheep? Do we believe that our leaders are the shepherds that we are to follow? Or are there doubts as to who leads us and the example that they give? Pray that you may know the truth of who you are. Pray that your eyes may be opened as to who leads you and how you follow. Pray that you may see the light that is within you and know that you are the beloved of God. Then you will know the truth of who you are and where you belong.
God will send you the Advocate. The Advocate will lead you and guide you to find the place where you belong. He will show you that place where you can grow and become the fruit that your Father has planted within you. You are a child of God and his love is within you. He will provide. He will protect. He will show you the way to a new path in life that you may live according to the abundance that he has given you. Look around you and see. Is this the place that you want to be? Do you yearn for something more? Pray that he will guide you! Pray that he will show you the way! Pray and listen for his guidance for he will hear 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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Humility according to Christ's example) Part 8.
Christ wanted his disciples to understand his humility. He wanted to give them an example that they could believe in and follow, an example that they could accept. For he had told them that if they wanted to be great they had to become servants. He told them that if they wanted to be first then they would have to become slaves. He told them that even though he was lord and teacher and Messiah, he came that he might serve and not be served.
Christ had power. He had influence. He had all that they wanted to become. They believed that he would take over the existing rulers and establish a new kingdom of which they would become a part. This is why the mother of James and John came forward and spoke the words of sitting on high at his right hand and his left. They believed that they would become rulers with him. But contrary to all that they believed, Christ was a humble man. He was a meek man. He was a man with a purpose. And he told them that he came: "To give his life as a ransom for many."
He knew why he came. He knew the journey. He knew the end. And he understood the sacrifice that had to be made to ransom the many. How difficult would it be to live your life knowing the outcome? We all must die, but we expect to die of old age. To live your life knowing the outcome would be like knowing that you are dying of cancer. It would be like
trying to find some purpose to go on living until the end comes. What purpose is there? What meaning is there? What life is there if you know for certain that death waits for you in a month, 6 months or a year? And you can feel your life slowing slipping away. Yet this was the life of Christ who came to be the ransom.
He knew the outcome. He knew of the pain. He knew of the suffering that he would face. Yet he marched forward facing the truth of his outcome. Many make the decisions to give their lives to save others. In an instant, a man will run into a burning building or a home to save the life of someone trapped in the flames. They do this even without fully contemplating the loss of their own life. When an auto accident happens and someone is trapped, we rush to help without thinking that we may risk our own lives in the process. But who would live their life knowing that they would loose it in the process of helping someone else.
And this was the life of our Lord Christ Jesus. He lived. He loved. He died knowing that his sacrifice would save the world. He walked with the disciples and talked with them. He showed them many miracles where he transformed the lives of many. Yet he was humble. He was meek. He was loving and caring. He is our example to follow as to how we should live our lives. He suffered more than we ever will. He willingly came and lived his life that we would have our life eternally. And he paid the price for all who would follow that we may not die but be cleansed from sin.
The choice is ours. The choice is yours. Find the peace that is within you and seek the knowledge that is yours to have. You are a child of God. Your are created in his image and his likeness. You are not flesh and bone but spirit. The light of Christ resides in you. Know the truth of who you are in him and your eyes will be opened, your heart will be filled, and the love of God will guide you on the path that leads to your eternal Father.
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.
Our paragraph topic is:(Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 11.
We all can relate to this parable because it speaks of working and labor. We live in a society where we work to provide for ourselves. Long past has the time gone where we were farmers. Long past has the time gone where we lived on the land and grew our own food. We were simple people then. We are complex people now. We have choices. We have chances. We can be who we want to be.
This was the same opportunity that the parable speaks of in ancient times. They came to the market place to work. They came to the market place to find work. They came to the market place to earn wages so that they could provide for themselves. They came to the market place because the market place provided a better opportunity than work on the farm. They came to the market place because they wanted to get paid. And as Christ spoke of the owner who told his steward to pay them all: "Beginning
from the last even to the first."
So we can conclude that all were paid. The agreement was to work for a denarius and the payment is for a denarius. All will receive their payment, from the very first who agreed to work to the very last who agreed to work in the vineyard. And this is the results that Christ wants his disciples to understand about the parable, you work for the kingdom and you will be compensated by the owner of the kingdom. He will pay. He will abide by his agreement. He is reliable, honest, trustworthy, and true to his promise. He is unlike others who may cheat you. He is unlike others who may not be reliable. He is unlike others who may steal from you or run out on you and not pay. The owner of the vineyard is true to his agreement.
For the agreement is the contract. The agreement is the bond. The agreement is the glue that makes it all work. If there was no agreement then it would all not work. But it is that agreement that brings the two parties together and provides some form of exchange that satisfies both. The question is are we satisfied? Are we in harmony with what we want from the agreement? Are we certain that the other party in the agreement is trustworthy? Will the other party provide all that is agreed to? Will the other party truthfully complete the agreement? Will the other party lie to complete the agreement?
We live in a world of untruths. We live in a world that is filled with many shades of grey. We live in a world where it is acceptable to change the agreement after it has been made or to offer an agreement that is untrue. We are children. We are sheep. We are innocent people seeking to know the truth of who we are. We seek to be all that we are, to see all that we can see, to know all that there is to know, to experience all that is given us to perceive. And we do and accept all that is given us that we may reach those goals. The world is untrue. The world is a lie. The world is a deceit. How can we see through the tainted lenses?
Christ, our lord and savior, came that we would know the truth. He came that we would have an example. He came that we would have an open door to see through. Yet many would only believe that there is no door, that there is no savior, that there is only what we can see, feel, taste, touch and know through our physical senses. And that puts us at the crossroads of life. Which direction do we take? Do we seek the physical or do we believe in the spiritual? Some would say that there is no evidence to demonstrate the spiritual. And yet here we are in the flesh, spiritual beings in a physical body.
Flesh cannot perceive what is meant to be believed. Flesh cannot see what is meant to be known from within. Flesh cannot know what is only open to those who will open the door to their heart and receive the gift of life given us by Christ. Knowledge will not bring it. Works will not pay for it. Gifts cannot buy it. Only desire to open the door to the heart will bring forth the love that Christ has for those who seek to know him. Come! Receive your pay, even from the last to the first. Christ will rejoice in you and you will have peace in him.
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.
