St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 18b; Swearing by the gifts.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their distorted religion) Part 7.  

He called them blind guides, fools, they did not know what they were doing.  They believed in themselves.  They believed that they had the authority to know, the authority to declare, the authority to be right in their decisions.  But Christ called them fools, blind guides that did not know where they were going.  

They called themselves leading the people.  They called themselves religious leaders, yet Christ said that their religion was distorted, made up, not true, contrived.  They were blind and could not see the truth in their own beliefs that they taught the people.  They told the people that if they swear by the alter it is nothing: "But whoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is bound."

Christ called them hypocrites, fools, blind guides, because they walked in the dark not knowing where they were going and they led the people in that same darkness.  But these were the Pharisees and the Scribes, the rulers of the day.  They were the ones that walked the streets who enforced the rules of the Law to the people.  They saw to it that the people kept the Law or they paid the fines for breaking it.

And then out of the blue came this stranger that no one knew called Christ who taught the people a different way to live, a different way to love, a different way to know their God in heaven.  He walked with them, talked with them, eat with them, drank with them, danced with them, did all the things that a normal person would do even though he was the Son of God.  He heard their cries and their sorrows, and the moans, and the groans of those who were suffering from affliction and he cured them all.  He opened the eyes, and the mouths, and the ears, and healed the wounds of the lepers and raised the dead that all would know that he was sent from the Father from above.

And they still would not believe.  They still hated him.  They still could not see the truth of who he was.  What do you do with a person who faced with all the evidence but still will not accept the truth?  You can not force them to change.  You can not beat the change into them.  What do you do?  You can only love them for who they are and accept that they are not able to change.  God is a god of love.  He loves the good and the bad.  He makes the sun shine and the rain fall on both until that day comes when his judgment takes place.  Where will you be?

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: 18b, Betrayal: The Prediction of Death.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The third prediction of the passion) Part 2. 

Christ has taken his disciples aside and told them of his future.  He is going up to Jerusalem where he will face death.  He is going on a suicide mission because he knows that he is going to die as a result of his trip to Jerusalem.  He clearly understands his mission.  He knows what is at stake.  He has given himself up to the outcome of his journey.  He follows the will of his Father.  And it is that will which he has accepted that will lead to his death.

Christ tells his disciples the details of how his death will happen.  He knows and his disciples know that the powers that be are out to end his teachings and his popularity with the people.  The rulers do not like what he is doing, they do not like his teachings, they do not like his criticism of how they control the people of Israel.  And yet he proceeds to Jerusalem knowing that his life is in danger.  He tells his disciples:  "And the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the Scribes; and they will condemn him to death." 

And they will condemn him to death.  How many of us today would do the same?  How many of us today would do something that we knew would lead to our death?  Quite the contrary most of us would run from death.  Most of us would do anything that would take us out of harms way and preserve the life that we have.  This is only human nature.  This is our natural instinct to protect ourselves, to keep us from harm, to preserve the life that we have.  We are not the Messiah.  We are not the chosen one.  We are not the Christ.  But we are Christ like.

Our father created us in his image and likeness.  He gave us the same life spirit that he himself has.  He took of himself and gave to us.  We are spiritual and physical.  We are flesh, body and spirit.  Yet we do not recognize that part of ourselves that is spiritual, that part of us that is eternal, that part of ourselves that is real and everlasting.  The spirit does not die.  The body is dying everyday, decaying before our eyes.  We all must face death.  It is inevitable.  It is necessary.  It is a part of who we are, part physical, part spiritual.  Why is it then that we treasure the physical more than we do the spiritual?  Why is it that we do not embrace the spirit within us, acknowledging that there is more than just the physical?

Christ came that we would know the truth of who we are.  He came that we would have an example.  He came to teach us the truth of our Father, our creator.  And he gave us a path to follow, a knowledge to believe, a light to help us in our walk in darkness.  We should have no fear of death.  We should embrace the transition of death for it is but a gateway that leads to our true home in heaven with our Father.  Many await our coming.  Those who have gone before us will rejoice at our coming.  Happy is that day that we go home to the Father.  Happy is that day that we meet our maker.  Happy is that day that we see ourselves as we are seen in heaven.  Happy is the day that we are embraced by the all fulfilling love of our Father.  Christ went up to Jerusalem to face his death but he went up to Jerusalem to go beyond death and to go home to his Father.  Come!  Let us understand that Christ awaits our coming home that he may rejoice with us in heaven.

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.