St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 33b; Judgment of Hell.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their persecution of religion) Part 8.  

Here they were the religious leaders of the people standing before the Word of the Living God, still not knowing, not believing, not understanding their fate.  So bold were they.  So arrogant were they.  So caught up in their own importance of honor and prestige that they could not see or hear the truth of the Son of Man.  He call them a brood of vipers.  And that still did not shock them enough to make them think of who this Christ was.

They had seen the miracles, heard of the demons that were cast out, knew of the people that were cured of illnesses, seen those who they knew were lame or blind or cripple or diseased.  Yet in their minds it was all a hoax, all unreal.  They were lost, the Scribes and the Pharisees, unable to change their behavior.  Evil had fully taken over.  They had become the persecutors of their own religion.  Christ knew they were lost, yet he offered opportunity for redemption.  Yet he questioned:  "How are you to escape the judgment of hell?"

They were lost, completely engulfed in the prison of their evil spirits.  Darkness had taken over in their souls and there was no escape.  Where are we today?  Are we in the same boat?  Are we following the same path?  Do we have the opportunity for redemption?  Can we be saved from the evil that may be within us or around us or in our society?  What must we do to remove ourselves from the bonds of evil?

Everyday we are faced with opportunity to do wrong.  We are tempted to do just the little thing that wont hurt anyone.  Daily those little wrongs add up until we become immune to wrong and we can rationalize doing something a little bigger something a little more daring, something a little more evil.  And it is that path that we allow ourselves to travel that leads us down the road to more and more wrong until we do not recognize the difference.

Our God gave us a conscience that tells us when we do right and when we do wrong.  He gave us commandments to guide us in our daily lives.  It is those commandments that help us as children to stay safe from evil.  We do not know the many ways of evil.  We are not of the same spirit as evil but of a human nature, far less than those who seek to turn us against the will of our Father.  It is the love of our Father in heaven and Christ Jesus that keeps us in his grace.  It is his loving mercy and forgiveness that opens the door to bring us back into his love when we commit wrong.  It is the spirit of his love that guides us daily when we seek to know his will in our daily lives that helps us stay in the grace of our Father.  

We are blessed to have this opportunity to know who we are and to know the truth of the love of God for us.  It is that truth and that love that we can carry with us in our daily affairs to show others what God has to offer and what he gives to those who know him.  Spread the word.  Show the love.  Let the spirit of his love shine in 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 23, verses: 30; In the days of our Fathers.

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

What was religion in those times?  God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and Moses gave them to the people, the Israelites.  They traveled through the desert with the Arch of the Covenant until they reached the promise land God gave them.  Their religion was then the Ten Commandments and the writings of Moses and the leaders that followed.  There were many situations that came up requiring resolution.  Those resolutions required new rulings to be handed down.  Thus as time pasted many more rulings were added to the commandments which became the Law for the Jewish religion.

Often times leaders went astray and prophets were sent by God to give warnings and guidance to the leadership to get back on the right path.  Many did not listen.  Many prophets were killed for the message they brought.  Yet God continued to send those messengers to his people that those who would listen would heed his warnings and return to their true God.

Centuries went by without any messengers and now Christ comes to save mankind from sin.  The Scribes and the Pharisees have spent years persecuting the people, keeping them in line for the Romans, fearing they would loose their positions of power and prestige.  They cared not for the religion of the people, only for their personal glory.  Christ called them hypocrites, they build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the just: "And say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their accomplices in the blood of the prophets.' "  

Blood, is the essence of life.  It flows within and through every human being on this planet.  We are different on the outside, but our lifeforce is the same on the inside, blood.  The precious blood of the innocent children was shed for the Christ child that he might avoid the swords of Herod.  The precious blood of the prophets was shed to bring the message to the people of Israel to repent and change their ways.  The innocent blood of the lamb of Christ was shed for all mankind for the sins we have committed.  His blood cleansed the earth giving everyone new life, the opportunity to eternal life.

The Scribes and the Pharisees persecuted their religion, seeking to control the people.  Christ came to release the people from death that they might have new life.  For those who believe it is there for the seeking.  For those who want it is there for the asking.  For those who know it is there for the seeing.  The path is there for those who want to find it.  He has given us the way, the truth and the light.  All we need to do is reach out and grab it.  

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: 21; The Oneness of Him and the Temple.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their distorted religion) Part 12.

You see they had no idea what they were doing.  They were led by their intuitions, by their instincts, by the influences of the world around them which would have them maintain their positions of power and influence.  They were the rulers of the time.  They had positions of power and prestige that they did not want to lose.  And Christ came along and questioned their positions by calling them blind guides in the public eye which challenged their authority and prestige.  Any other person they would have had the temple guards arrest and thrown into jail or beaten.

This was Christ, however, the miracle worker.  He had cured many of the sick and the lame and the blind and the cripple.  There were many followers who believed in him and his teachings.  So the Pharisees and the Scribes and the Elders had to think of another way to capture him so that they could silence him for good.  But they did not realize who they were dealing with.  They did not know the storm that was brewing behind the scenes and the parts they were playing.  Christ had to stir the hornet's nest.  He had to take them to task.  He had to show them up to the people so that everyone would know who they were.  This is why he told them:  "And he who swears by the temple swears by it, and by him who dwells in it."

You see they didn't know.  They were being influenced by the evil in the world, like pawns on a chess board.  To swear by the one who dwells in the temple is to swear by Almighty God.  And to swear by Almighty God is a bond that must be kept, a bond that must not be broken.  Yet here the Scribes and the Pharisees were telling the people that to swear by the temple it is nothing.  How foolish they had become.  How distorted they had rationalized the truth of their religion.  How broken were they making the people against the God of their fathers.

Two thousand years ago Christ came down from heaven to walk among mankind.  He gave up his majestic robe, his kingly spirit and became human that he might experience the truth of humankind.  He walked with us.  He talked with us.  He danced and drank, and eat with us.  He laughed, cried, smiled, sighed, felt human emotions as we do.  He lived a full life with us and he left his legacy for us to know that he was here with us.  And lastly he fulfilled his promise for which he came; he gave his life to pay for the original sin committed in the garden.  

For his life and for his passion we have life again.  We have a new soul.  We have but to believe in him who came, him who is, him who guides and saves our life is anew.  The choice requires daily renewal and confidence for there is one who will test that belief, that faith, that trust of the soul within.  But there is one also that will renew and guide and support and walk with you every minute, every hour of the day to be the light in the darkness that comes.  Keep the faith.  Know the love.  Trust in the truth of the light of life that is within 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 23, verses: 11; The Greatest.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 9.  

Honor and prestige they sought.  Dominion they practiced over the people.  They were the law makers.  They were the enforcers.  They were the eyes and the ears of the law.  Everyone must obey or suffer the consequences of punishment.  Respect was what they needed and the Scribes and the Pharisees demanded it.

They were out in the public everyday watching the people to make sure that the rules were followed.  They had spies who reported to them the what and wherefore of the people.  It was a hard time for the people and they resented the rule of law.  But the Scribes and the Pharisees sought to be great among the people.  And Christ turned the tables upon them.  He told the people and the disciples:  "He who is greatest among you shall be your servant."   

Indeed, he was the servant of the people; he came to serve mankind.  He was greatest among them.  They did not know.  They did not believe.  They did not see who he was.  Their minds could not comprehend the truth of the statement.  Even the evil that dwelled within them knew who he was and paid tribute to him.  But he would not have his identity known until it was his time.

The Scribes and the Pharisees hated him.  They wanted to get rid of him because he exposed them to the people.  He removed the masks so that the people could see who they really were.  Christ taught the people the truth.  He taught them who they were and how to live with one another in peace and love.

Today we can take a lesson from his teachings.  Serve the people.  Humble thyself.  Live a peaceful life, not one filled with self seeking love, competing to be the best, the greatest.  Be your self.  We all have God given gifts and talents that can be used in service of others.  It is those gifts that allow us to become fruitful.  It is those talents that allow us to multiply the kingdom of heaven.  It is those gifts that will help us to spread God's love to all our brothers and sisters that they too may know the truth of who they are in Christ.  Love one another.  Keep the faith.  God's will be done.

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: 10; One Master.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 8.  
This was a time of extremes when evil walked the land and inhabited men to do their work.  Christ warned the people and the disciples of what they had not seen or heard before.  He knew and could see the presence of evil.  He knew and could see within.  He knew and understood the workings of those that inhabited the souls of men.

The Scribes and the Pharisees were the rulers of the day.  It was their responsibility to keep the people in their place and to keep them subjugated to the Law, while they did not adhere to the Law.  They made sure that the people followed the Law but they themselves did not.  They were called Rabbi, took first seats in the synagogues, first places at supper, did everything to enforce their perceived places of honor and prestige.  


This was accepted by the people, Christ however, wanted the people to see the truth of who they were.  He wanted to remove the blinders from the eyes of the people so they could see the real souls of the Scribes and the Pharisees.  For there was evil and hypocrisy lurking within.  He told the people:  "Neither be called masters; for ONE only is your Master, the Christ."

Master, Father, and other titles were used to address those in authority.  Evil was within and to give honor and praise to evil was against the commandments.  There is only ONE living God worthy of the title Father.  There is only one Lord and Master deserving of the title Master.  Yet the people unknowingly called the Scribes and the Pharisees by these names giving praise to the evil that influenced them from within, an abomination.

We see not with our eyes.  We know not with our minds.  We are not who we appear to be but what we fail to see within.  For we were created in his image.  We are the children of his love.  He is our Father, our protector, and our provider.  Christ is our Lord and savior.  He it is who came down from heaven, walked among us, took on our shape and form that he might show us who how to live.  For we knew not.  We believed not.  We saw not and did not understand.  Yet we have been given the knowledge and the wisdom to see, to know, to believe, and to understand that which we are.  

The heart knows what it knows.  The heart sees what it sees.  The heart feels what it desires to feel that it can be fulfilled.  It is all written for those who seek.  It is ordered for those who want order.  It is given for those who want to give their lives to more than the ordinary day to day life of this world.  The Lord calls.  His voice can be heard if you listen.  Find it.  Seek it.  Cry for it.  Know that it is there for you to hear.  Others have heard and so will you.  The heart will know it's calling.

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:26b, The Great Disciple.

Our paragraph topic is: (Humility according to Christ's example) Part 5.  

When we look back upon the teachings of Christ to his disciples, one must wonder how they felt, how they thought, how they understood his teachings.  They followed Christ because they knew, within themselves, that he was the Messiah.  His miracles proved that.  He did things that no other prophet or other great leader could do.  They were amazed at what they saw, what they heard him say, and what they believed that he would do.  Their hearts and minds were opened to his teachings, his love, his passion, and his will. 

They all wanted what they saw.  They wanted to be powerful.  They wanted his fearlessness. They wanted to be like him because they thought that this would give them leverage over the leaders of their day.  They thought that being like him would make them famous with the people.  They thought that imitating him would give them prestige and privilege like other leaders of the day.  Little did they know or think that what they thought they wanted was completely different from what would be offered.  Christ told them:  "On the contrary, whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant." 

How was that to be?  How were they who sought to be great to become a servant?  A servant was a position that they sought to turn away from.  A servant was a person that they saw with disdain.  A servant in their day and time was a nobody.  Yet here was Christ, their leader, their teacher, their Messiah, telling them that they must become servants.  Certainly this did not go over well with them.  Certainly this did not sound good to them.  Certainly this saying was not immediately understood.

He had just spoken with them about the honor of sitting at his right hand and at his left in the kingdom of heaven, a position that they all sought.  He had questioned them about the price that they will pay to be his followers.  He had just placed the doubt in their minds and their hearts as to the courage of their convictions being his followers when the time of tribulation came.  Were they ready?  Were they prepared?  Were they strong enough to face that which was in their future?  And now he tells them that they must become servants if they want to become great.

Christ had a way of teaching that cut to the quick, got to the heart of the matter.  He taught in ways that required insight and thought, ways that revealed meaning and understanding with deeper thought.  In our day and time we can look back.  We can read about what happened.  We can study the text and meaning in many different ways and from many different authors.  But beyond all of the literature lies the inner meaning that comes to each of us individually guided by the Holy Spirit. 

In our society today, we strive to be top dog, the lady that stands out in a crowd, the one that gets noticed.  We do not seek to be servants.  We do not seek to be the lowly.  This is contrary to what we are given from birth in our society.  Yet here is the greatest teacher that walked the earth giving us an example of how to be great, how to serve and not how to be served.  He is giving us the example of how to give of oneself and not to take, the example to humble oneself and not to be proud.  This is the example that he brought to us, the example that he gives to us, the example that he left for us to follow.  For he, the king of the universe, humbled himself and came to save us.  Can we not seek to follow his example?

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.

St Matthew, Chapter 16, verse 17, The Rock: The Revelation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Peter's confession) Part 5.    

Simon says that he is the Son of the Living God.  Simon said that he was the Christ.  Simon said that he was the Messiah.  Everyone else said different.  Everyone else called him a prophet.  Everyone else called him Elias.  Everyone else called him Jeremias or John the Baptist.  But no one else would speak what they knew in their hearts but feared to speak.  The law of the Pharisees was upon them.  The punishment of the law would follow them.  The fear of death would walk in their footsteps if they spoke the words that all thought.  

They knew that he was the Messiah.  They knew that he was the Son of the Living God.  They knew that he was the Christ.  But none would speak for fear of death.  None would proclaim for fear of punishment.  None would acknowledge for fear of the law of blasphemy.  Blasphemy had their tongue tied.  Blasphemy had their hearts locked.  Blasphemy had their lips sealed.  But all knew.  And then there was Simon who said.  Simon spoke the words.  Simon opened his heart.  Simon allowed the love of the Father to enter in and the truth came upon him.  Then Jesus answered and said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to thee, but my Father in heaven.   

The truth was revealed.  The truth was spoken.  The truth came forth into the heart of Simon and he put to words that which fear had compelled not to be spoken.  And Christ revealed to all the source of the truth.  Not from his own flesh did the truth come forth, but from the Father himself was the truth revealed.  

What is truth?  If we know the truth will it matter today?  Will we accept the truth if it came to us?  For truth to us is money.  Truth to us today is wealth.  Truth to us today is pleasure, lust, desire, passion, power, prestige.  Truth to us today is what we seek in the world.  We seek to know the things that we believe will make us free.  And yet the things that we believe will make us free will only enslave us, bind us, engulf and overwhelm us into the desires of the world.  Evil awaits us at every turn, every corner, every awaking moment to capture us in its addictive ways and bring us to damnation.

The truth comes to free us.  The truth comes to give us life.  The truth comes to open our hearts to the love that is in Christ Jesus and God our Father.  For it is his love that completes us.  It is his love that provides for us.  It is his love that protects us and guides us in our daily lives.  Be not betrayed by the desires of the world.  Be not misled by what you see and hear in the world.  For you are children of the light.  And light overcomes darkness.  You are not of this world.  You are a spiritual being in a physical body.  Learn the truth of who you are.  Open your heart and let the light of Christ come to you.  Flesh and blood will not reveal this to you but only the father in heaven.  This is how I have come to know that which is truth within me.  Here is my invitation to you from Christ to come follow the path that is set before you and know the truth of who you are. 

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!