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 22, verses: 31;Resurrection of the Dead.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ's answer) Part 4.  

Christ is patient.  He is loving.  He is merciful.  He is caring.  He is understanding.  He is kind.  He is the kind of teacher who wants all to be able to grasp that which he is teaching.  There are some that will.  There are some that won't right-a-way but, later with time, will come to understand.  Then there are those who just refuse to understand because they are set in their beliefs and refuse to allow themselves to change.  Their eyes are blind, their minds are closed and their hearts are set against that which would bring them joy and happiness.  Instead they cling to that which they have known for years and refuse to allow room for anything else to enter.

God speaks to the heart.  He speaks to the will of those who seek that which is wanting within each of us.  He calls to the need within that would be fulfilled and as yet, has not.  The heart knows.  The heart feels.  The heart yearns.  The heart understands that which comes from the creator and returns to the creator.  Life was given by the creator and returns as it was given, not death.  Death is not of the creator.  Christ told the Sadducees:  "But as to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God?" 

Christ died on the cross to sacrifice for the sins of all mankind that we would not have to suffer the pains of punishment for our sin.  We are sinners.  From the beginning of time we are sinners and were given the punishment of death through the sin of Adam for his transgression in the garden of Eden.  That transgression was never paid for until Christ came down from heaven, became man, and suffered the pain of death for all mankind.  Through his passion and death he lifted the punishment of death for all mankind.  Those who would believe in him as the son of the father and obey his commandments will have new life eternal.

Have you not read what was given to you from the mouth of God himself?  Do you not believe his words?  Do you not understand?  Are you so blinded by today's world that you have no grasp of the consequences of the actions that you take on a daily basis?  God is patient.  God is merciful.  God is kind.  God is Loving.  God is caring.  He knows all and sees all.  I am thankful that he held my hand along the journey of my transgressions.  I pray that he will be patient with you along your journey.  He is the God of the living and not of the dead.  Are you the walking living today or are you the walking dead? 

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:14; The Healings.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Anger of the Jewish leaders) Part 1. 

He cast out the money changers.  He overturned the tables used for the buying and selling.  He proclaimed the iniquity that was being practiced in the house of the Lord and told the people that it is written that the temple is a place of worship and prayer, not a den for thieves.

The Jewish leaders were astonished at his actions.  They had allowed the buying and selling in the temple.  They were the ones who didn't think that it was wrong for thieves to practice their skills in the temple.  They were the ones who were embarrassed by the actions of Christ Jesus, the man they saw as a threat.  He came to pray.  He came to give worship in the temple.  He came to give honor to his heavenly Father and he saw all this taking place in this holy place.  So he cleaned house that he could be at peace in this place of worship.  And the people came to hear the word and be set free.   And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 

Come one, come all and be healed.  Come to the church, the place of worship, the place of healing, the place of forgiveness and find your new self in the Lord.  Christ has paid the price for our transgressions.  Christ has passed the test and bought a new life for all those who believe.  Come one, come all and be healed.

The world is the place where we live.  The world is the place where we work.  The world is the place where we eat and breathe and love and hate and seek and die.  The world will deceive you.  The world will corrupt you.  The world will turn you away from that which was freely given you at birth.  Life is ours to have.  Life eternal is ours to hold.  Physical life of the body is not ours for eternity but only that for a fleeting moment.  It is that which is within which is eternal and the world wants to take that away from us.  The worlds wants death.

Christ can heal us.  He can forgive us our transgressions.  He can give us a new life, a new purpose, a new beginning.  There are pleasures in the world, and riches, and desires to fulfill but none can truly satisfy like that which Christ offers.  In him there is completion, fulfillment, peace.  For he provides all that the heart desires and fills, with over running capacity, the hole that worldly life leaves.  We are children of the creator, the Father in heaven.  And he loves all that he has created.  He is the judge and jury, and all injustices will be dealt with.  Today we learn of his words given us through the Holy Spirit.  Tomorrow we see and hear the completion of those written words brought to fruition.  For it is written.

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.