St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 6b; Do not be alarmed.

Our paragraph topic is: (Christ warns them not to be led astray) Part 5.  

Many will be led astray by false prophets proclaiming themselves as the Christ.  This is what he told his disciples so that they would know when they heard someone proclaiming to be the Christ  that it was not he.  They would hear many things to come.  Many would get excited by what they would hear but he warned his disciples not to listen to all they would hear or see.  He warned them not to believe all they would hear others talking about because many would speak on what they would hear others saying and repeat the scandal of others.

Christ warned them not to be alarmed, not to be swayed by what they would hear.  The words would spread like wildfire over the grassland causing many to panic.  But the disciples were fore warned not to panic, not to be afraid.  Christ told them: "Take care that you do not be alarmed."

They must become the foundations during the storm that others can turn to for support.  For many will be blown away by the rumors and the panic of what they hear and see others doing.  Those that know the disciples and follow the teachings of Christ will know that the disciples have the foundation of his knowledge and his teachings and that nothing will harm them until it is their time.  They are his pillars here on earth for the church that he established and nothing or no one shall come between him and his church.

So there may be rumors and false prophets and teachers proclaiming themselves to be the Christ but he left instructions as to the how and the wherefore of his coming.

Let no one deceive as to the end of time.  It is written for all to see and believe when the end of time will take place.  Pray that you are not here to see or experience 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 22, verse: 12; The Guest is questioned.

Our paragraph topic is:  (One guest is cast out) Part 2.  

The party had started and the king was ready to make his entrance to see all the guest.  He was excited that he finally had the celebration that he wanted for his son and the bride.  So he entered the feast and viewed the guest as they were celebrating and feasting.  Finally he came upon one guest that was not properly dressed for the occasion and inquired how he came to enter.

"And he said to him, ' Friend, how didst thou come in here without a wedding garment?' But he was speechless."  

It is interesting to note that all were invited to attend the wedding feast.  All were told that they were attending a wedding feast and all knew that the proper attire would be a wedding garment for this occasion.  But this guest decided to come without a wedding garment.  It was as though he decided to dishonor the host by coming without one.  

The king wanted all to remember this happy occasion.  He wanted all to talk about this event to everyone they saw.  He wanted the word to spread of the wedding feast that took place so that people would know of this special event.  The king did not want this event to be scarred by talk of one who came without a wedding garment, one who came in disrespect of the king and the bride and the groom.  This was a happy occasion, a joyous occasion, one to remember for many years to come and not one to be talked about with scandal.

So Christ is telling this parable to the people that they will understand how the kingdom of heaven works similar to this wedding feast given by the king.  God our Father wants all to come to the wedding feast.  He invites the good and the bad, but all must come with the proper attire and not in disrespect of his graciousness.  Come one come all let us celebrate the union of the Christ and the Church here on earth for the sacrifice has been made, the price has been paid, and the union of the two will now take place in this grand celebration.


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 13, verses: 41 - 42, The Kingdom of Heaven: Removal of Scandals and Workers of Iniquity.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the weeds explained) Part 3.  

The harvest will take place at the end of time.  Christ has fortold to his disciples that the kingdom of heaven will be cleansed of all the weeds and they will be burned in the fire.  Christ has spoken and he wants his diciples to know.  He wants them to understand the meaning of the parable so that they will clearly grasp the truth of the parable.  They are the disciples that will continue to carry the message after Christ's work is finished.  They are the ones who will carry the message of the kingdom of heaven to the people throughout the world.  So they must know.  They must understand.  They must have the wisdom and the knowledge of the kingdom.

The angels will come and gather the wicked.  They will put them in bundles as it is done today in all farms across the world.  Only this time the bundles will be burned.  This time the bundles will be set afire for all to see.  This time the wicked will burn.  Christ tells his disciples, The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all scandals and those who work iniquity, and cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth. 

The now know of the harvest.  Christ has told them what will happen at the harvest.  He has shown them that the wicked will be gathered up by the angels and put into the furnace of fire.  And there will be great anguish and tribulation at the harvest for there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Tell the people.  Help them to understand.  Let them know of the forthcoming storm that they may prepare themselves for the coming tribulation.  Those who have ears let them hear.  Those who hear let them understand.  Those who understand let them act that they will not be caught up into the furnace of fire where there is no escape.

Do you understand the parable?  Do you heed its warning?  Christ will come and clean his fields.  Christ will come and gather up all workers of iniquity and scandals.  They will be removed from the kingdom of heaven.  They will be set aside.  They will be burned in the furnace of fire.  And the darkness will be removed from the fields of the kingdom and the just will shine forth.  Do not let the veil of the world blind you from the message.  For the world willl tell you that this will not happen.  The world willl tell you, it did not happen yesterday.  The world willl tell you, it did not happen today.  So, the world willl tell you, it will  not happen tomorrow.  This is what the world will tell you. 

The world will tell you not to worry.  The world will tell you to go back to sleep and continue to work iniquity.  The world will tell you to go back to sleep and continue to walk with Scandal.  The world will tell you to continue to paly with the toys that it provides.  The world will tell you to continue to seek its riches and not the riches of the kingdom of heaven.  But the storm is coming.   The weather man predicts the coming storms and the dangers that they bring.  Christ has fortold the coming of the harvest.  Let all who believe prepare themselves.  Let all who know get ready.  Let all who seek the kingdom understand the forcast given by Christ.  The storm is coming.  Are you prepared?  

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verse: 25, They sought Division.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ refutes them) Part 1. 

They sought to divide.  They sought to bring doubt.  They sought to create fear.  They sought to bring Scandal to turn the people away from Christ.  The Pharisees have proclaimed that Christ cast out demons by the prince of devils, Beelzebub.  They want to scare the people.  They want to cast doubt upon Christ.  They want to bring Scandal upon his name.  But Scandal does not come.  Doubt is in hiding.  And fear cannot erase love for the people.  These are the tactics that they use against Christ.  The battle continues.

Christ knows of their desire to scatter the people.  He knows of their desire to cast doubt upon his name.  He knows of their need to bring fear into the people to prevent them from following.  But he deals with their tactics.  He tells the Pharisees,  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand."   Christ demonstrates to the Pharisees and the people a simple rule which they all are aware of and know as truth, a divided house does not stand.  

History has revealed that a divided husband and wife will not stay together.  History has revealed, a divided kingdom with father and sons pulling in different directions will not last.  Treachery and deceit will eventually take over and the house will fall.  History has been written of great cities and towns that have withstood the test of time but fell from the division within its wall and not from the attacks from outside its walls.  Deceit and treachery and larceny and greed take hold and the kingdom falls.  How is it then that the Pharisees speak of Christ as a member of the house of evil when he brings the message of the kingdom of heaven?  The Pharisees do not understand the source of his power.  They do not know how he is able to perform such miracles.  They do not believe that he is the one greater than they, the one who came down from heaven.  For the Pharisees were full of pride.  The Pharisees were full of vanity.  The Pharisees were so drunk with power and authority that they feared loosing it.  And they clung to their positions of authority, refusing to recognize the change that was taking place before their eyes.  The battle continued, they fought for their positions, and they accepted the reasons of the evil one.

On the verge of starvation, Christ was tempted.  On the verge of death Christ was offered the life and riches of this world.  On the verge of separation from his physical body Christ was offered to separate from His heavenly Father.  He was offered division.   Are you divided from God today?  Are you divided from your spouse and do not know how to stop the division?  Are you divided in your church taking sides with others allowing division to come into the church?  Division comes to scatter.  Division comes to separate.  Division comes and brings with it confusion, doubt, fear, anxiety, and loss, spirits of even greater evil.  Christ is one in the Father.  Are you one in Him?  Do you know Christ?  He seeks to know you, if you would only let go of the world and come into His world.  Are you afraid to let go?  If you only knew the difference, you would have no fears, no doubts, no anxieties.  Your joy will be complete.  Your peace will be fulfilled.  Your love will abound and overflow.  For in Him, and through Him, and with Him, we become one with the Father and there is no division!  He fulfills all!

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verses: 10, John the Baptist, the messenger.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ's witness concerning John) Part 2. 

Christ has called John the Baptist a prophet, a great prophet, in order to dispel Scandal that was brought by the disciples of John.  The disciples of John brought to Christ the question, using the name of John as their authority, asking if Christ was the Messiah or should they look for another one.  Christ sent them away with an offering of salvation.  He sent them away with the message of his miracles.  He sent them away with a blessing that they not be cursed in Scandal.  For the disciples of John sought to become known again by bringing John back into the picture and seeking to take Christ out of the picture.

Christ called John a prophet because John spoke of one, coming after him, who is greater than he.  John told the people to repent for the kingdom of God was at hand and the Messiah was coming.  John spoke the truth to the people about Christ and he was a prophet.  Christ continued to speak about John and to tell the crowd about the John the person.  John was not s soft man.  He lived in the desert and feasted upon locus and honey and the people respected and loved John.  But Christ came into the picture and John left the picture.  John told the people of Christ and now Christ was telling the people about John the Baptist, the person.  

Christ told the crowds,  "This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall make ready thy way before thee.' "   John the messenger was written about in the scriptures and most Jews knew of his coming.  But Christ tells the people that John was the messenger that came before him to make ready his coming.  As it was written John was the messenger of God who came before Christ.  John brought the message to the people to repent.  John was a bold man who had no fear because he was God's messenger.  If the crowd knew anything about John the Baptist, they knew that he was anointed of God and that he brought a message that was spread throughout all of Judea.

So Christ was reinforcing the beliefs of the crowd by demonstrating that John was a prophet and a messenger that pointed towards his coming and that they should not allow Scandal to enter into their minds.  For Scandal wanted to come.  Scandal wanted to be heard.  Scandal wanted to spread.  But Christ repelled her.  Christ would not allow her to come.  Christ sent her running for she could not find a corner to hide, a rock to crawl under, a hole to jump into.  And Christ would not allow the name of John the Baptist to be used as a vehicle for Scandal to ride in.  So he reminded the crowd of the faith that they had in John.  He reminded the crowd of the prophecy about John.  And he reminded the crowd that John pointed the way to his coming.

Are you a messenger for Scandal?  Are you a soldier for her lies and deceits?  Be not deceived. Become a messenger for Christ, a messenger of truth, a messenger of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.  You will be rewarded greatly.     

St Matthew, Chapte 11, verses: 7-9, The Scandal of John the Baptist.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ's witness concerning John) Part 1. 

The disciples of John leave Christ after he has dispelled the lies of Scandal.  Christ would not allow Scandal to come forth.  He would not allow doubt to rear its ugly head.  He would not permit the lies and deceit that Scandal brings to come into his mist.  Instead he offered the disciples of John redemption.  He offered the disciples of John salvation.  He reached out a hand to them and told them to be blessed.  He told them that when they do not find Scandal in themselves that they would be blessed.  For they wanted fame.  They wanted notoriety.  They sought to be restored to their position with John when he was the main attraction in the desert.  Then Christ came along and changed all that.  He became the main attraction.  

Christ performed miracles.  Christ healed the sick.  Christ made the lame walk.  Christ raised the dead.  And these acts put him in the center of attraction.  The word spread of his deeds.  Many talked of seeing, first hand, the performance of his miracles.  They were the news anchors who spread the word of Christ, the miracle healer, the all powerful, the Messiah has come.   And many came from miles around.  Many came to hear his words of freedom.  Many came to hear his words of justice.  Many came to touch him, to be near him, to see him.  Faith was in their hearts.  Hope was in their minds.  And belief of a new beginning was in their needs.  They had lived a life of pain and suffering with no idea of any presence of hope.  They had lived a life of desperation.  They had lived a life of despair.  And Christ came to lift them up.  Christ came to give hope.  Christ came to help their belief.  He came to show them the way and the truth and to provide light that they might see.

Christ witnessed to the greatness of John the Baptist.  For the crowd had heard the question of the disciples of John.  The crowd knew them of former fame.  The crowd had once believed in them.  But now Christ was here and the disciples of John wanted to regain their fame.  Christ put a stop to the spread of Scandal.  He testified to the greatness of John and the mission that he performed.  Christ asked the crowd, '' What did you go out to the desert to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?"    He tested their memories of John.  He created a picture of John in their minds.  John was not a soft man.  John was a man raised in the desert.  He was a strong man with outspoken beliefs.  He did not wear fine clothes or soft shoes or speak with proper language.  John was bold.  He was daring.  He was loud and he spoke of the coming of the Messiah to the people, telling them to repent and make way for the coming of the Lord.  He was a prophet in the true sense.  

Christ told the people, "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet."   For John indeed was a prophet who spoke the coming of the kingdom of God.  And the people believed in John because he was a true prophet.  What the prophets speak about, come to pass and Christ wanted to emphasize this fact in the minds of the people.  He wanted to refresh in their memories the affection that the people had for John and his prophesies.  He wanted to dispel Scandal that was brought by the disciples of John.  John spoke of the coming of the Messiah.  John spoke of repentance to the people so that they would be prepared to receive the message of the Messiah.  And the Messiah was here.  The Messiah that John preached about was speaking to them just as John had spoken. 

There are many voices in the world.  The world itself calls us everyday, of which we cannot escape.  Yet Christ has given us defenses to negate the voice of the world.  Scandal calls us also to become her voice and her messenger.  We must beware the snares that she places in our paths, that we do not become her spokesperson as is accepted in the world today.  Seek the voice of the prophet.  Listen for his words.  Seek the justice of a just man.  For he walks with Justice and is her child.  Seek the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit and you will be blessed all the days of your life.  For the Holy Spirit will teach all things.  The Holy Spirit will guide you through the traps of the world.  And the Holy Spirit will lead you down the narrow path to salvation.  Do you seek the voice of the Holy Spirit?  Do you know Him?  Many will speak the words of Christ for their own glory and edification.  But few will lead to the Holy Spirit.  For what does it profit to hear a few words of wisdom when Wisdom calls you herself.  What does it profit to teach verses of understandings when true understanding awaits your call.  Teach the whole Gospel.  Preach the complete word of Christ and point to the understanding of his words and you will understand.  Read the whole New Testament Bible and receive Christ.  These are the only words that should fill ones mind daily and not partial verses.  Encourage others to read.  Spread the word.  The Holy Spirit awaits your call.

St Matthew, Chapte 11, verses: 4-6, The Scandal of John the Baptist.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The Baptist's deputation) Part 2. 

Now we know how scandal is spread, through the mouth of others.  Those who have been bitten by Scandal will desire to tell others of the news and thereby pass it on to others.  And the flame spreads, the flame of scandal.  Christ was able to see Scandal for what she is, a witch clothed in partial truths and lies.  And he saw it in the disciples of John the Baptist.  Christ knew that John did not doubt his origins.  John had baptized him and witnessed the heavens open and the descent of the Holy Spirit.  John knew Christ even when he was in his mothers womb, so how could he allow Scandal to take hold of him.  Yet his disciples wanted to regain their position.  They wanted the fame that they had when John preached in the Jordan and thousands came to see him from the surrounding territories.  They missed their main attraction.  

When the disciples approached under the guise of a question from John, Christ saw Scandal approaching.  They asked their question allowing Scandal to come forth doubting the origin of Christ.  But Christ closed the door and prevented Scandal from taking hold.  He told the disciples of John,  "Go and report to John what you have heard and seen: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise, the poor have the gospel preached to them."   This was something that they already knew.  They had reported to John while he was in prison all the miracles that Christ performed.  They had stirred up this hatred for Christ and brought forth the doubt in their minds of his origins.  John listened to all of their issues until he could stand no more.  So he sent them to the one who would cancel their doubts.  He sent them to the one who would destroy their fears.  He sent them to the one who would lock Scandal in a prison and not allow her to run loose.  

You see, Scandal had to have a platform.  She had to run on the name of an authority.  She had to have someone of notoriety to pitch her claims.  And she used the disciples of John and the name of John the Baptist to start her campaign.  When she approached through the disciples of John Christ saw her coming.  He told the disciples to carry the message back to John, but he also told them, "Blessed is he who is not scandalized in me."   This is a better statement than cursed is he who scandalizes me.  For this is what the disciples of John sought to do by asking the question and allowing doubt and thereby Scandal, to come forth. 

Christ opened the door for the disciples of John to gain salvation.  He stopped Scandal from coming forth.  He offered the opportunity for the disciples of John to be blessed, a far better choice than Scandal offered.  Christ offers us the same choice today to be blessed.  Scandal wants you to be cursed.  Scandal wants to spread her rotten lies and deceits to destroy those who hear them.  She wants to pull down those who would be exalted and crush their dignity and character.  She wants to bring shame and dishonor.  She wants to destroy.  Her tools are the one thing that we use easily and most often, our mouth.  It is the one thing that speaks often without our having control, only because she has placed her web of lies within us to be passed on to others. 

Are you a disciple of Scandal?  Do you spread her lies and deceit at will, without hesitation or forethought?  She will destroy both you and the person with which she talks about.  She will shame you.  She will cause you pain.  Yet she tempts you with the momentary pleasure of having spoken her words to your satisfaction.  For in that moment she gives you a sense of power.  She allows you to think that you are in control when you scandalize others.  But this is only a temporary pleasure like taking a drug that gets you high for a moment and then brings you crashing down hard.  Do not allow yourself to become her tool.  Do not accept her false promise of power.  Beware of her deception and lies.  For just as she spreads them about others she will spread them about you also.  Christ said blessed is he who is not scandalized in him.  As a disciple of Christ and a believer, do not be cursed by Scandal.  Are you ready to stop Scandal from taking hold of you?  Be blessed in Christ!!

St Matthew, Chapte 11, verses: 1-3, The Scandal of John the Baptist.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The Baptist's deputation) Part 1. 

Now it came to pass that after Christ had finished instructing his disciples and training them for their solo journey in which they would preach to the lost sheep of the tribe of Israel, he preached through the towns and villages also.  After all this had passed, this verse says that John  the Baptist heard of all that Christ was doing while in prison.  John did not see for himself the miracles of Christ.  He did not hear for himself the words that Christ preached in the Sermon on the Mount.  John had been captured and put into prison by Herod for proclaiming the sins of Herod with his brother's wife.

The disciples of John came to him and spoke to him of all that Christ was doing.  They told him of the healings.  They told him of the cures.  They told him of the dead being restored to life.  They were the ones who brought John the news.  And that news had a way of being transformed, deleted, transposed by the persons bringing it, so that, it may reflect the views of that person.  John knew that Christ was the Messiah.  He had witnessed the heavens open and the spirit of God descend upon Christ when he was baptised.  So there was no doubt in John.  There was no scandal in John.  There was no fear or concern in John about Christ.  But his disciples had doubt.  They had fears, they had misgivings and reserevations in themselves.

Christ had told the disciples of John that one does not place new wine into old wine skins.  He had said to them that one does not place a new patch of cloth on an old garment because the patch will tear and a worse rent will be made than the one before.  Christ had indicated to the disciples of John that they would not become his disciples because he needed new wine skins to carry this new message.  This was not to the liking of the disciples of John.  They had made themselves to be the messengers of the new gospel preached by John.  They had become his spokesmen proclaiming the need for repentance.  And then Christ comes and ignores them completely.  Christ comes  and changes the plans altogether.  Christ comes and they are on the outside looking in.     

So the disciples of John were scandalized.  They were looked down upon by the people.  They were turned away from by those who had looked upon them with favor.  John was in prison, they were turned out by Christ, and the people turned against them.  Restoration was their desire.  Glory was their need.  Fame was their calling.  But John was not there to assist them.  And they were scandalized.  So they brought the news to John while he was in prison.  They told him of the things that Christ was doing.  They filled his ears and his mind with the talk of Christ according to their view and their slant.  For they needed to be restored.  They needed fame.  They needed glory.  So, John sent them to Christ with the question that was on their minds.  The doubt in their minds led them to ask Christ through the words of John, "Art thou he who is to come, or shall we look for another?"

And with these words scandal was released.  Doubt was brought forth.  The question of credability was asked.   Scandal is an aweful witch.  She seeks to destroy subtly.  She weaves lies and deceit in a fine tapestry that seems to create a real picture.  Yet time reveals the gaping holes and the rotted material that is used in its creation.  And it is that same material that is accepted as real, the false beauty of which allows it to be accepted by many.  Scandals today are like wildfire sweeping across a dry field of grass.  It is unstoppable.  It eats everything in its path and sets afire all who receive it.  For the burning is not in the receipt of it but in the unquenchable desire to tell others thereby passing the flame of lies and deceits to others. 

Do you love Scandal?  Are you the first to hear it and the first to spread it along?  Scandal loves you if you do.  She will cling to you like flies to the dead.  You are her messenger.  She will always find you to help her spread her lies and deceit.  Do not be caught with her for she will corrupt you. When she comes leave her.  Do not allow yourself to become her messenger.  Separate yourself from those who would bring her to you.  For they have become her slaves and desire to enslave you also.  They desire to make you a messenger of Scandal.  Spread  not lies and deceit.  Our God is a God of truth and his wrath awaits Scandal and those who are her messengers.  Stop the lies and deceit!  Stop Scandal!