St. Matthew, Chapter 21, verses: 43b; The fruit of the Kingdom.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Application of the parable) Part 4. 

It was accepted by the people of Israel that they were a special people.  They lived by the Law because it was given to them by their priest and the elders.  The Law was written for the people and handed down from God so that they would have principles to live by.  Their history was written for them to study and learn and was read to them each Sabbath to remember.  But throughout their long history up to this point when Christ came, the people became disgruntled and objected to the implementation of the Law.

Over the years much was added to the simple commandments handed down to Moses for the people.  And so the Law became oppressive to keep the people in line.  God sent many prophets to warn the people and their leaders that they must change.  Yet the messengers were brutalized and killed.  And when time was completed Christ came  just as it was written in the Torah and foretold by the prophets.  But the rulers could not see.  They could not understand his words.  They were unbelieving of the miracles he performed.  So they missed the opportunity to change.  Christ told them:  "Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people yielding its fruits." 

They were the first people chosen by God.  He led them out of the wilderness and gave them a promised land.  He protected them.  He provided for them.  He loved them as his own.  But they were a disobedient people.  A willful people who were determined to make their own way, even though they had seen the power of the strong arm of the Lord.  They knew that he watched over them.  They knew that they were special to him.  Yet they were led astray through the whims of their leaders and the evil that was in the world.

We are the people of yesteryear.  Our ancestors go back to the time of the Jews and the Gentiles.  We are a part of that culture, a part of that history.  That was two thousand years ago and this is today.  And a long time has passed since that history was written.  Do we continue to believe in the words that are written in those ancient texts?  Do we continue to follow the commandments?  Do we continue to follow the traditions handed down to us by those who came before us?

We have the world of today and the world of yesterday.  What we see, hear and believe of today is more exciting and compelling than the world of yesterday.  The commandments tell us to live one way and the world of today tells us to disregard yesterday and live for today.  Party!  Live life to the fullest!  Do whatever it takes to make it to the top!  There is no tomorrow or afterlife so one must enjoy what is here today.  These are the precepts that we hear and see daily.  Yet are they the truth, are they enough to bring joy and happiness into our lives?

The truth be told we struggle to find the truth.  But for those who seek it, their eyes will be opened, their minds will believe, their hearts will be given a new life that will bring peace and joy.  For those are the ones who will know that God lives.  Those are the ones who will be able to see his miracles worked in their lives.  Those are the ones who will know his love for them and have no doubts about what lies beyond the death of the body.  He said: "My sheep know me and they hear my voice."  He calls to all.  But only his sheep hear!

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: 34-35; The Vine-dressers I.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the vine-dressers) Part 2. 

We continue this parable where Christ is telling the chief priest, the elders, and the scribes a story about a topic that they can relate to.  He talks about a householder, a home owner, who remodels his home to accommodate a vineyard.  The owner wants to have grapes that grow and pressed into a wine that he can enjoy.  He is not able to oversee the entire process of the growth of the grapes and the pressing into wine, so he leases the vineyard out to workers who will be paid to manage it for him.

He goes on a long far away journey for business that keeps him away from his vineyard for some years while the grapes are growing and the wine is being pressed.  Christ tells this story because he wants the rulers of the day to understand how it relates to them.  They are the vine-dressers who were supposed to manage the vineyard for the householder.  But when the fruit season drew near, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his fruits.  And the vine-dressers seized his servants, and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 

Surely this was wrong on the part of the vine-dressers.  They were hired to work the vineyard and to prepare the wine when the grapes were ripe.  They were hired to watch over the vineyard and prepare the fruit for the householder's return.  They were given the charge to provide and protect the householders property for which they were being paid.  Why did they turn on the householder?  Why did they beat and torture the householders servants?  What motive could they have for doing such?

Did they consider themselves in charge?  Did they consider themselves as owners?  Did they desire to have the fruits of the vineyard for themselves, knowing that it belonged to another?  What motive could have persuaded them to take such heinous actions?  We turn around and see some of the same actions today?  Crime is rampant in the streets.  Burglaries, robberies, theft, break-ins, all sorts of actions that indicate the same behavior taken by the vine-dressers of the past are still here today.

Why do we have to steal?  Why do we have to rob?  Why do we have to take by force that which does not belong to us but to others?  We see, we want, and we take, seems to be the motto, irrespective of who it belongs to.  There is the thrill of it all.  And the chase to get away from being caught becomes a thrill to be remembered and repeated until caught. 

If we only knew who we are.  If we only knew what is given to us.  If we only believed that we are already rich beyond our wildest imagination then we would know that we do not have to steal or take that which does not belong to us.  More than anything of value on this earth, Christ has given us life anew and this is the most precious gift anyone can give to us.  The rest is dirt.  All the diamonds and jewels, and money and fame cannot compare to the treasures stored in heaven for those who love the Lord.  Nothing can satisfy the hunger, the want, the desire that burns within, except he who has given us life.  And it is he who has prepared a place for us in his kingdom.  Take not!  Steal not!  Rob not!  Be not that one who believes that he has not when he has all.  Christ awaits with open arms to provide for you.  Christ awaits with open heart to forgive you.  Christ awaits with open spirit to love you with a love that no earthly gift can fulfill.  Open your heart, open your mind, take the leap of faith and he will come and be with 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 20, verse:20b, A Mother's request.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The mother of James and John) Part 2. 

The mother of James and John, sons of Zebedee, came to Christ with a plan.  She knew what she wanted.  She knew that it had to be spoken.  So she came to the one who her sons followed and believed in.  She had heard the word.  She knew what was being spoken of him throughout the villages.  And she knew that he was the Messiah.  So she came with her request just as all the others had come to ask to be cured of illness, to ask to walk, to ask to see, to ask to hear.  All the others were drawn to him with their needs and he fulfilled them.  But hers was different.

Mother came to ask for her children.  She came on their behalf not on her own.  She wanted to know that her sons would be taken care of.  She came to ask her own special request of the Messiah, the Chosen One who came down from heaven to walk with men.  And worship-
ping, she made a request of him.

What would your mother do?  Would she act on your behalf?  Would she plead your case before the ruler of the universe?  Would she show her concern for your future, the same as the mother of James and John?  Some would say yes.  Some would hesitate.  Some would say no.  What this tells us is the character of the children?  Are they worthy of a mother's love, a mother's concern?  For surely a mother loves her children.  Surely a mother who gave birth to her children, nursed them through early childhood, watched them stumble and grow to stand on their own, saw them through trying years and adult years; surely this kind of loving mother would speak for her children.  

For what is a mother other than one who came before.  What is a mother other than one who loves, one who cares, one who sees the struggles and pitfalls that their children will face.  What is a mother other than one who provides, one who nurtures, one who teaches, one who guides and directs, one who's heart is the same heart as her children.  And when her work is done she can retire and watch the fruits of her labors in her children and her grand children and all those little ones that come after her. 

The mother of James and John came and made her request.  She worshipped him, bowed down before him and spoke for the ones that she loved.  She spoke that which was in her heart to the one who had the power to grant her request.  Mothers of the world make your requests.  Mothers of the world come before him and worship, knowing that he can fulfill all needs.  Mothers of the world he is your provider, your protector, your deliverer.

Worry not.  Fret not.  Do not be concerned for what tomorrow has to offer.  Only know that today he is with you.  Today he watches over you.  Today he provides for you.  Today, your children will run and laugh and play without a worry because he is with the Father and the Father is with him and all things are possible.  Just as she came and made her request you too can do the same for your children, today and tomorrow and for all eternity.  The Lord is with you and all is at 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 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.