Our paragraph topic is: (Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 7.
The Scribes and the Pharisees were worshipped in their day and time. They were thought to be high priest by the people because of the way they carried themselves and the respect they demanded. Yet Christ wanted the people to know that their worship of the Scribes and the Pharisees was wrong and out of place.
There was only one person that they should worship and he is in heaven. There is only one master whom they should show respect and that is the Christ. One is the Father and there is not one else. No one should not be placed above the One Father. He told them: "And call no one on earth your father; for one is your Father, who is in heaven."
What is the difference? Why the distinction? Christ helped the people to understand the true meaning of Father in the highest and greatest expectation of the word. For we have but one. All others are less than and do not deserve the highest connection with the title of Father.
We call our male parents father. We call our priest father out of respect for their spiritual position as shepherds of the people. We give the title to those who have gone before us and have been a part of our heritage. But not one deserves the highest meaning and understanding of the word than our Father the creator. One should not confuse this distinction. And this is the understanding that Christ wanted the people to know.
For they praised the Scribes and the Pharisees. They worshipped them as though they were indeed the lords of all knowledge and understanding without having any knowledge of the true Father in heaven, a concept that we must not confuse today. We call our leaders in different fields of study father i.e., father of physics, or father of modern medicine, or father of aviation, because they were the first to discover principles in certain fields of study. And we revere them because of their knowledge and expertise in their field.
It is important that we realize that we are all brothers and sisters created in the image and likeness of the One. He alone is the object of our praise. For from him and through him and with him we have life. Without him we are nothing. He is our be all and end all and with him we have everlasting peace that surpasses all understanding.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Tribute to Caesar) Part 12.
So finally they heard the words from Christ as to whether one should give tribute to Caesar. You see they thought that if Christ said that Christians should give tribute to Caesar then that meant that they should worship Caesar as their god. They believed that Caesar was a god and that there was no other god except him. But Christ was teaching that there was one and only one God above all including Caesar. So they wanted to hear his words on this matter so that they would have ammunition for their case against him.
They did not know the truth of who he was. They were indeed learned. They were indeed learned in the scriptures, in the Jewish Laws, and text handed down from the time of Moses. But they did not have the wisdom of God within them. They did not have the insight of the Holy Spirit upon them that they could interpret the truth in the scriptures. They only had the words before them and the directions of those who wanted to destroy the living word of God. Christ spoke his words to them. And hearing this they marveled, and leaving him went off.
He set them on a different course. They wanted him to be on one course with Caesar at the head as one god. But he separated the course and gave them two to follow: Caesar or the living God. The Jews knew the living God. He had walked with Abraham, guided Moses, lead them through the desert and into the promised land. He had protected them and fed them through the forty years, fought the Egyptians to protect them from slaughter. So they knew their God and what he could do. Yet they lived under the rule of the Roman Empire and they knew what the Emperor Caesar could do.
They were fearful. Their rulers sought not to know but only to maintain the status quo, to go along with what was being handed to them through the rulers of the Roman Empire. The Son of Man came to walk among them and the everyday people felt his presence. They saw his miracles. They heard his words. They walked with him, touched him, lived with him, breathed the same air that he did. His presence was upon them and they knew. But the rulers did not.
Each day we live is our trial. We wake to carry our cross, to be tested as to if we will or will not give way to the temptations that we face. Will we waver, will we doubt, will we give up hope? The light within flickers and shines less bright. Yet we must carry on. We must not falter. We must find the strength, the courage, to believe, to know, to trust that we are not alone. We must know that the sacrifice of love and passion was not for naught. One light shining from a distance can barely be seen, but many shining together light up the universe. Remember, we are not alone. He is with us each day, each hour, each and every minute of the day. We must seek him out and hear his voice within us. Christ is with us.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (The king's anger) Part 5.
The king wanted to have a party. He had made preparations to have a wedding feast and that was what he was going to do. But no one came. So he had to find people to attend. He sent his servants out to the crossroads of the town and invited all that they saw, all that they met who were passing by the town, to come to the celebration. There was a party going on. There would be wine, and music, and food, and dancing, and laughter, so stop by on your journey and refresh yourself at this joyous event.
This was the message that was told to those that were met on the crossroads of the town. They were greeted with this great celebration so that they would take a detour and come to the party and the king would have his celebration. "And his servants went out into the roads, and gathered all whom they found."
The king wanted to celebrate the wedding feast. Christ is telling this parable so that the people will understand the kingdom of heaven. God our Father wants to have a celebration and he wants to invite all to come. He will send his servants out to all parts to gather all those that can come to the feast. His love for all determines to what lengths he will go to make sure that all are included and no one is left out.
He has already made the invitation to those that he thought were special. They refused his invitation and killed his messengers. They did not want his message to spread to the people so they tried to stop it from spreading. He sent his army out and burned their village and killed all involved. He now invites all those who were not special, the common man, those on the crossroads of life, those who have not heard of the celebration, those who are not a part of the town where the king reigns, the outsiders.
This king is generous. He is loving. He is kind. He is just. This wedding feast is important to him because it is his son that is being wedded to the bride. And that is something that is very important for him that he wants all to know and recognize. Come to the wedding feast and see the bride. Come to the wedding feast and celebrate the union of the two who will be joined together for life. Come to the wedding feast and recognize your part in honoring the bride and groom. For this is your future. This is your past. This is your place of worship and peace. This is where you belong in this house, in this building, in this sanctuary with your brothers and sisters alike. They await your coming. They welcome you with open arms. They greet you with a holy kiss. They are yours and you are theirs. Come!
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.
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.
