St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verses: 29; The Power of God.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ's answer) Part 1.  

They came with their question about marriage and the issue of heirs.  Hidden in it was the question of the resurrection.  They did not believe in the resurrection but they wanted to know the answer from Christ.  They wanted to know his thoughts on the resurrection so that they could trap him.  

He saw them coming.  He knew of their deceit.  He knew of their lies and their plans to trap him.  Each group came with their questions hidden with their traps.  Yet they did not understand who they were speaking with, who they were talking to.  They knew not, they thought not, they perceived not.  But Jesus answered and said to them, "You err because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God." 

They had read the scriptures.  They had read them over and over again but they knew them not.  They did not understand them.  They did not truly comprehend the depth of the knowledge of what they had read.  For the power of God was in the scriptures and was far greater than their imagination could conceive.  They did not believe in the knowledge of what they read in the scriptures.

The scriptures tells of the many miracles wrought by God for his chosen people.  He brought plagues upon those who were against the Jews.  He brought death to the first born, he fought battles to save the people.  He parted the waters of the Red Sea and crushed the Egyptian army to save the Israelites.  Yet they did not know the scriptures and the power of their God that he would do anything for his people.

They brought a question of conflict to Christ because this is how they perceived it.  Who will the widow belong since all the brothers had her?  This would create conflict on earth, but not in heaven.  

This was conflict on the physical plain not on the spiritual.  For we are spiritual beings in a physical body.  When we leave the physical we continue in the spiritual and there is no conflict in the spiritual.  There are no physical ties in the spiritual.  We become free from the physical plain.

Christ is our guide, the first born.  He leads the way, he opens the doors to the kingdom of heaven to the spiritual realm.  When we leave the physical realm we move to the spiritual realm to be with him and all those who have gone before us.  We rejoice in the union of our past and are filled with the spirit of life from the heavenly realm of God.  The path is ours.  The choice is ours.  Come!  Choose!  Do not Err!

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: 16b; The Opening discussion.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Tribute to Caesar) Part 2. 

The Herodians began by setting the tone of the discussion with Christ and the nature of his character.  They sought from the beginning to set a trap by characterizing him as a man of certain traits upon which they could build a foundation which they could use to tear him down.  What they did not know was that Christ knew what they were doing and saw where they were taking their scheme.

They sought to build him up.  They sought to give him certain features.  They sought to make him out as a man who had boundaries and limits upon which he would not cross because of his character.  So they started out by saying, "Master, we know that thou art truthful, and that thou teachest the way of God in truth." 

They were the smart ones of their group.  They had studied the ins and out of deceit.  They knew how to bring down kings and prophets so they used the same tactics on Christ.  They wanted to create a trap for him.  Little did they know or believe that he was the Christ, the Messiah.  He was the one foretold of old who would come and redeem the sins of the people.  He was the Son of God who would come and walk among the people.

Fear ruled the leaders of the people.  There was excitement in the land.  There was talk of a new king, a new ruler, a Messiah.  And the existing rulers did not like the sound of what they heard.  Also the Romans did not like the idea of unrest in the people so order had to be maintained.  And it was up to the existing rulers to maintain that order or be replaced by Roman rule or Roman brute force.  So there was intense fear in the land.

Christ did not come to overthrow the existing government.  He did not come to challenge the rule of the Romans.  He did not come to create unrest in the people.  Instead he came to forgive sins, to cure the sick, to heal the blind and the lame, to make the broken straight again and to show the people what the love of God could do for them.  He was living proof that there was a God.  And most of all he came to sacrifice himself for the sins of mankind that we may have life again and not death.

That was our time to rejoice, our time to see, our time to believe, our time to be free from the bonds of slavery from the world.  For Christ came to reignite a new light within each of us that was given us from birth.  We have a choice.  We are free, or we can continue to be bound.  That choice is up to us, individually.  This is what Christ has given us, the freedom of life or death.  Choose well, where you will be.  We are all created in God's image and his love extends to each and everyone of us.  But the decision is ours to make.  Love God and Love one another.

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, verses:31b; The publicans and harlots.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the two sons) Part 4. 

After telling them the parable of the two sons, Christ asks them the question:  "Who did the father's will?"  They answered, the first son.  He gave them the opportunity to understand this simple parable on their a level that they were familiar with.  He wanted them to know.  He wanted them to understand, to have the knowledge and the opportunity for their eyes to be opened that they might be healed.

This parable led them down the path to that knowledge.  They had to open the door.  They had to see.  They had to allow themselves to come to know what was right in front of their eyes.  Could they do this?  Were they open enough?  Could they break through the darkness that blinded them?  So:  Jesus said to them , "Amen I say to you, the
publicans and harlots are entering the kingdom of God before you." 

And there it was, right in front of their faces.  They were so blind that they could not see what was happening.  Others were accepting and entering the kingdom but they were not.  The kingdom of heaven was at hand.  The kingdom of heaven had come to them here on earth.  The kingdom of heaven had come down from heaven and was now here on earth that all might have the opportunity to see and believe.  But the chief priest and the elders could not see.  They could not understand.  They could not hear the truth of the word.  They were blind.

Are we blind today?  Are those with the wisdom and the knowledge unable to see the opportunity?  Has the knowledge of the world so influenced their inner life that it is dimmed and turned to darkness?  Can they not believe?  Can they not see?  Can they not know that we are human beings but more than that we are spiritual beings created in the image and likeness of God himself.

He gave us life.  He created us from dust.  He provided the earth, the air, the water, the sun that we might have the right environment to grow and prosper.  Yet we in our finite wisdom have converted the truth to our own interpretation and liking, that it might make sense to us.  Yet we, not knowing, can not comprehend the knowledge and wisdom of our Father who created us.  Even more we are not supposed to understand but to take a leap beyond our own wisdom and knowledge to exercise the wisdom and knowledge of the spiritual being within us.

Christ came that we would have the truth.  He came that what was lost through deceit could be regained through truth.  We were dead, without a spiritual being, according to God's decree.  Christ came to give us life again.  And that life is open to all who seek it.  It is open to all who want to know the truth.  It is open to the young and the old, the wise and the dumb, the sick and the able, it is open to all.  Let us become like the publicans and the harlots, regain our spiritual light, and enter into the kingdom of heaven, now.

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, verses:31a; The Father's Will.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the two sons) Part 3. 

Christ continues his parable to help open the minds and the hearts of the chief priest and the elders.  He gave them the opportunity to understand but they were filled with deceit.  So he now tells them this parable to give them a second chance to see, to understand, to open their eyes that they might be saved.

The two sons each were told by their father to go to work in the vineyard.  One said that he would not and later regretted his answer and went to work.  The other lied to his father and told him that he would go to work but later did not.  Christ asked them:  "Which of the two did the father's will?" They said "The first." 

The first did the father's will being obedient to his request.  Most of us come of age knowing the authority of a father or a father figure.  It is in his will that we find our own.  It is in his will that we come to know who we are.  It is in his will that we have our example to follow through life.  And it is in his will that we have a model to reshape our own authority in life.

Where does this authority come from?  Who gave it to our fathers and their fathers and their fathers before them throughout history?  Did it just come of its own?  Did it just evolve into itself without the help of anyone or anything?  Or were we given the authority from our Father on high and passed it down from generation to generation?

Fathers are protectors.  Fathers are providers.  They are the rule makers to the young and the givers of love and comfort to the children who do not know for themselves.  Fathers come with mothers and together they make the home in which we grow and develop.  They form us from the womb, give us our character and guidance through life.  They are our patterns, our examples in life.  We carry the genes of generations of learning passed down to us from our mothers and fathers.  They have gone before us, experienced life that we have not, and survived with a knowledge that we can inherit.

Do the Father's will for he was here before us.  He knows that which we do not.  He teaches that which we have yet to learn.  His is the love that filled his heart from the day we came into this world.  He knew us in the womb.  He rejoiced with our every kick, our every turn, our every move.  He is the ultimate love and protection that comes to us, if we accept him.  He comes to those who had an earthly father and for those who did not.  God is our Father and the authority is with him.  Do the Father's will and all will be well. 

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:27a; The Response to the Question.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The authority of Jesus) Part 7. 

Deceit had taken over.  Cunning was waiting in the wings.  And evil was ready to pounce.  They were back and forth among themselves and with Christ.  Yet he knew the outcome.  He saw their deceit.  He knew of their cunning.  And he was very much aware that the influence of evil had taken control of the chief priest and the elders.

They wanted an excuse.  They sought a way in.  They continued to set the tricks and traps for Christ hoping that he would fall into one of them so that they could have their way with him.  They had their way with the people.  They influenced and controlled them.  They taught them their ways and not the ways of God.  They transformed the Law and made it into their law and their rules, and their practices so that the people would not see what they were doing.

Could they answer the question?  Yes!  Would they answer the question?  No!  The simple answer would lead to their incrimination and their conviction.  So they chose not.  And they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." 

So they chose not to answer the question.  They chose not to respond.  They chose to deny what they knew was the truth even though they knew the answer that John was from heaven.  They were the learned people.  They were the scholars of the Law the keepers of the history of Israel.  It was written in the books they studied all their lives, the books that they read and memorized from childhood.  Yet they chose not to answer it.

Most children grow up in some form of spiritual background.  They receive their beliefs and spiritual leaning from their parents, and relatives, and spiritual leaders that they encounter in their environment, be it Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhism, or what ever form of spiritual system in their environment.  We all believe in something.  And then there are those who profess to believe in nothing but themselves, the here and the now.  They believe that we are here today and gone tomorrow and after this there is nothing else.

So we are swayed by our spiritual background and influenced by our social living.  If we believe that there is no tomorrow then we live only for today, only for the moment, and anything goes.  If we have some spiritual background then we have some rules or some code to live by.  We have the law that guides us through life.  What guides you?  What set of morals do you live by?  Do you believe in tomorrow, an afterlife?  Where do you stand on the spiritual scale of life?

The chief priest and the elders attempted to be neutral, zero on the spiritual scale.  They did not want to answer the spiritual question concerning John the Baptist, "Is he from heaven or from the people?"  Was he spiritual or was he just physical?  Was he a man of God or just a man from the people?  And this is the question that we are faced with today.  Are we from heaven or just physical?  Are we of a spiritual being or just flesh and bones?  Did we originate through evolution or were we created from the breath of God?  Simple question, simple answer.  There is no neutral, no zero position.  We are or we are not.  Where do you stand?

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:13a; It is Written.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Cleansing of the Temple) Part 3. 

Christ entered the temple with anger, horror, and frustration at what he saw.  They were selling and buying of gifts for sacrifice.  They were changing of monies and lying and deceiving the purchasers of their money, money that is meant for the purchase of gifts for the praise of God.  The thieves and the robbers had entered the holy place used for prayer and thanksgiving and Christ was horrified at what he saw.

He saw evil.  He saw those who were influenced by evil practicing greed and deceit.  Their only goal was to make money and revel in the praise of mammon for the wealth that it brought to them.  They were not concerned that it was a house of prayer.  They were not concerned that it was a house of worship to the creator.  They were only concerned with greed and deceit, how much could they cheat the customer out of their money meant for God the Father.  And he said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'." 

The word is written for all to see.  The word is patient for the time for completion.  The word is fulfilled for all to know that the time had come.  And it came to pass that evil was overturned in the temple.  It came to pass that evil would not take by force the house of God.  It came to pass that the time for redemption was at hand and no longer would evil be allowed to rule the day.

He came to walk among us.  He came to show us his love.  He came that we would have a witness as to the truth.  He came that we would have forgiveness and a new life.  He came and he is our Lord and Savior.  The word is written.  The word is truth.  The word awaits for completion.  The word will be fulfilled.  The choice is ours to believe.  The choice is ours to accept.  The choice is ours to know the truth of who we are in Christ.

Let not the world deceive you as it did me.  Let not the world turn you away from the truth of who you are.  Let not the world turn you away from the life that is freely given you by the sacrifice of his love.  It is written for you to believe.  It is written for you to accept freely.  It is written for you to see and know him in truth and honesty.  The word will be fulfilled.  The word will be completed.  The word will return to the Father having finished it's purpose.  Will you receive the word and be renewed?  I do, I have, I am, I know.  Do 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 19, verse: 9a, Thou shalt not commit Adultery.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The question of divorce) Part 8. 

From the beginning it was given to Moses and the Jews, handed down from God: "Thou shalt not commit adultery."  Two persons, male or female, either one, bonded in marriage, shall not have intercourse outside of their marriage with another partner.  This was the law, handed down to the Jews from ancient times.  Yet Moses allowed them to put away their wives or husbands by written notice for any cause.  This was allowed because of the hardness of their hearts, because of the determination in their minds, because of the passion of their desires.

The practice still continues today, the putting away of the wives or husbands by written consent.  Christ had something different to say to his disciples about this practice. He wanted them to know the truth of this practice.  He wanted them to understand that even though Moses allowed it to happen, it was not permitted.  For God created them male and female that they would bond together for a purpose, for a cause.  He told them:  "And I say to you, that whoever puts away his wife, except for immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."

Thou shalt not commit adultery.  Why was it written?  Why was it given to us?  Why do we need to obey this law?  Does it apply to us, today?  These are some of the questions that we may ask ourselves about this commandment.  God, our father, gave us guidelines to follow.  He gave to man helpful instructions that would help to keep us from sin.  For he is not demanding.  He is not overbearing.  He is not standing ready to exact punishment at our every infraction.  God, our father, is a loving God and he wants that we do not cause ourselves harm.  He wants the same thing that we want for our own children, to warn them, that they do not cause themselves harm through the dangers of life.  He wants to give us knowledge, the same way we want to give our own children our knowledge of life that they may avoid the pain and suffering we experienced in life.

Yet we live in a world that downplays the spiritual dangers to ourselves and our children.  We exist in a world that does not want us to know of the those dangers, a world that encourages us to practice the same things that would cause us spiritual harm.  We are lulled to sleep about immorality, lust, deceit, anger, greed, and all the things in this world that would destroy our spiritual truths.  For we are spiritual beings living in a physical body.  And it is that spirit within us that is the prize of the world.  We sleep walk through life not knowing the truth of who we are.  We seek the trinkets that life offers in exchange for the most valuable prize of all, our spiritual soul.

Be not immoral.  Seek the repentance that Christ has given to us and come to know the truth of who you are in him.  Refrain from the world and seek the protection and provision that your heavenly father will provide.  For he is the creator of the universe and all that exists.  If he has done these things then surely he can provide for and protect us.  Practice the perfect patience spoken of by the apostles that you may know and see the miracles that your father will create in your life.  For he loves you more than you know.  He wants to provide for you more than you know.  He has a purpose for you.  And when you see what he offers, and know what he gives, you will understand that there is nothing on this earth that can compare with what your father has in store for you. 

Christ came that you would have life.  Christ gave of himself that you would have the freedom of choice.  Christ arose from death that you will know he lives and that he sits at the right hand of God.  Christ awaits you to receive him into your life, for the choice is yours.  Christ loves you and wants to demonstrate to you the passion of his love that you may see the truth of who you are in him.  We were created in his image and likeness.  Come and see 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.  

St Matthew, Chapter 19, verse: 6, God joined them together.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The question of divorce) Part 4.

From the beginning he made them according to his plan.  He made them male and female.  And his purpose was that they should be joined together as one flesh not as two separate flesh.  He made them that they should be joined together for life and not that they should separate.  For God told Adam to go forth and multiply.  He wanted man to be fruitful.  He wanted man to live in peace.  He wanted man to reproduce and have dominion over the earth and all that was within it.  But evil entered the world through deceit.

So we live in a world today that has changed.  We live in a world that makes its own way.  For God, our Father, created and set life in motion.  But man through deceit of  his wit and his own will has changed what God willed into what man wills.  For it is through deceit that we exist in the world.  It is through deceit that we live.  It is through deceit that we think and believe, express our hopes and dreams, live out our passions and desires.  For we do not the will of God our Father.  Christ left us with this message:  "Therefore now they are no longer two, but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder." 

Our Father in heaven gave us bonding.  He gave us the rules.  He gave us the reason.  He gave us his purpose so that we would cleave to one another as male and female.  He did not give us divorce.  He did not give us separation.  He did not give us strife, and anger, and frustration, and fear, and mistrust, and hate.  Those things came from and through deceit.  For it is through deceit that we live and breathe and act.  It is through deceit that we believe in the world that we live in.  It is through deceit that we are raised from childhood to believe in the world around us.  And it is through deceit that we throw out the purpose of God and insert our own purpose.

Our purpose was to grow and multiply.  Our purpose was to have dominion over the earth.  Our purpose was to live in the knowledge of the Creator and give thanks and glory to him who made us.  For through his love he gave man life.  Through his love he created us.  Through his goodness he brought us forth from nothingness and gave us existence.  And it is through that knowledge of who we are in him that we find our purpose in this world. 

Deceit opened the door to evil and through that open door came death.  And since that time we have lost the knowledge of who we are.  But Christ came that we may reclaim what we lost.  Christ came that we may now reclaim the life that was lost.  He came that we may rekindle the fire that was given to us from the beginning, the fire of truth, the fire of love, and the fire of peace.  For we are children of God our Father.  And it is he who we adore.  It is he who we worship.  It is he who we give all the praise and glory.  And it is he who has given us the rules of life and not the world.  For we were created male and female.  For this cause we cleave to one another and become one flesh.  What God our Father has joined together and let no man put asunder.

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 15, verses: 20, Understanding: Awareness

Our paragraph topic is: (Christ explains what defiles a man) Part 4.   

Christ has revealed, to his disciples and the people, understanding of what defiles.  He has opened the minds and the hearts of the people so that they now know, so that they now see, so that they now understand truth.  For this is not the truth of the Pharisees that want the people to hear their truth.  This is not the truth of the world that wants the people to be confused, misled, and blind.  This is the truth that comes from the father of truth through Christ.  This is truth that comes from the creator of truth that knows no lie or falsehood or deceit.  This is the truth that comes to mankind from all eternity, the truth of God.

Christ spoke the words of truth and truth came to the people.  Christ explained the words of truth that there would be no doubt in the people.  Christ elaborated on the truth that all would understand.  And today we read and hear the truth and do not understand, do not comprehend.  He has said to us,   "These are the things that defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

These, defile a man when they enter the hearts of men.  These, defile a man when they come forth from the mouth of men.  These, are the things that are evil,the things that occupy the hearts and men and allow darkness to enter the heart.  For from the heart comes evil thoughts.  For the heart thinks.  The heart believes.  The heart knows.  The heart is.  "I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and prudent, and didst reveal them to little ones."  Become like a little ones and not like the wise and the prudent that profess the knowledge and the wisdom of the world.  Hear the words of the truth of eternity and know that it comes from the father of wisdom and truth.

Let not the heart be opened to evil.  Let not the heart become dark with passion.  Let not the heart know adulteries and immorality.  Let not the heart give false witness or blasphemies.  Let not the heart conceive of murder.  For these are the things of evil.  These are the things that lead down the path of destruction and death.  These are the things that defile, corrupt, and kill the life that Christ came and died that we might have.  And these are the things that the evil one brings to us that we may fall to him.  Yet we live in a world where these things are all around us.  We live in a world where these evils present themselves to us on a daily basis.  We live in a world where these things a accepted as common occurrences. 

But we know not how to protect ourselves.  We know not how to fight against these things.  We know not how to guard our hearts that we may not succumb to the temptations of these things.  For this is not a part of our world.  We are not taught how to avoid these things.  We do not see and hear and understand the truth of the advocate that was given to us.  For Christ came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. 

Receive the life of Christ and open the heart to the advocate that he may live within.  Christ has told us how we may know that we have the Holy Spirit.  He has give us the guide.  He has opened the door that the Holy Spirit may come in.  Yet few accept.  Few know.  Few receive the truth of eternal life that is ours for the asking.  Read the words of the good news.  Study the words of the gospel of the New Testament.  Read it like you read a book and not as a study guide.  Receive the truth of the light of Christ.  Then, you too will know that you have received the light of the Holy Spirit.  And your heart will rejoice in his presence and his consolation.

St Matthew, Chapter 15, verse: 3, The Commandments of God vs Worldly Traditions.

Our paragraph topic is: (Christ refutes the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 2 

The Pharisees questioned Christ about the practices of his disciples.  They did not wash before eating as the Pharisees had practiced and preached to the people.  For it was the Law that the people should wash before eating and it was the authority of the Pharisees to enforce the law.  So they witnessed this transgression and questioned Christ about why he did not enforce this tradition.

But Christ saw their plan.  Christ knew their intentions.  Christ understood the hearts of the Pharisees as they came forth to question him.  For the Pharisees were men of education.  The Pharisees were men of influence.  The Pharisees were the authority on the Law.  They were the enforcers of the authority for the people of Israel.  They were the final source of what should and should not be, the ultimate authority.  And in their arrogance and their power they opened their hearts to the evil one.  The Pharisees changed the commandment of God.

Christ did not address the question of the Pharisees.  He did not speak to the traditions that they sought to enforce.  Christ saw them for who they were.  He saw their hearts and knew that they were not followers of the laws of God.   But he answered and said to them "And why do you transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?"

The influence of power and the suggestions of the evil one had infected the hearts of the Pharisees.  For they had held the seat of power for many years.  They had ruled over the tribes of Israel for decades.  Their minds and their hearts were filled with the intoxication of power that they knew no wrong.  And the arrogance of power opened the door for Satan to come in and turn them.  For through his influence the laws were changed.  Through his influence men placed themselves above the commandments of God and made their own decisions.  How would it hurt if we lusted just a little?  How would it hurt if we lied just a little?  How would it hurt if we stole a little?  How would it hurt if we committed adultery just a little?  And how would it hurt if we influenced the people to do the same things just a little?

And so it is today.  We are entertained.  But through our entertainment we are influenced.  We see, through our entertainment, stories of lies, deceit, lust, adultery, murder, false witness, and all manner of evil.  And it is accepted as entertainment, entertainment that influences the mind and the heart.  For what we see, we practice.  For what will it hurt to lie a little?  What will it hurt to steal a little?  What will it hurt to commit adultery a little, to deceive a little, disrespect our parents a little, to worship idols a little?  And the world draws us into its web, we fall asleep, and we become the lost sheep not knowing or wanting to know that we are children of light and children of love. 

God is our father and he gives to us things that will keep us away from the evil that is in the world.  His love is our protection and our provision.  To know him is to love him.  To love him is to want to do the things that he has given us that will protect us.  Be not conformed to the world but be transformed out of the world.  Though we live in the world we do not belong to the world.  Our treasure is in heaven,  Your peace is in heaven. our eternal joy awaits us in heaven.  Do not fall asleep with the temporary fixes of this world.  Satan wants you to loose your treasure.  He wants you to forget about your eternal joy.  He wants to steal your everlasting peace.  Awake!  And know the true love of Christ.  Open your heart to his spirit and you will know the truth of who you are.  Experience the abundant life of Christ , here and now and awaken from the sleep of death offered by the world.         

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 13-14, The Battle begins: The trap is removed, the Pharisees take counsel.

Our paragraph topic is:  (A man with a withered hand) Part 3. 

And now we see the true nature of the battle taking place between the Pharisees and Christ and the demons behind the scenes of the battle.  For the Pharisees are only the puppets of the demons.  They are the ones who are calling the shots and making the plays.  They are the ones who are fighting for their lives and the hold that they have upon the people.  The demons have controlled the people for many years.  They have ruled the people with a mighty hand.  They have brought many souls into hell with their rule and they are not giving it up without a fight.  So they bring jealousy on the scene, and envy, and larceny, and hatred, and deceit, and false witness, and all the dark spirits gather in a great huddle to plan and plot a way to ride themselves of Christ.

So Christ has instructed the Pharisees and all the people in the synagogue on that day about the sensibility of the Law.  The Pharisees posed the question about the Law and the Sabbath and Christ shows them how they should be sensible about the Law.  He has already told them previously how he was Lord of the Sabbath.  Now he proves this to them by performing this miracle.  He says to them that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, contrary to what the Pharisees have taught about the Sabbath.  Christ tells them that if you would save your sheep from a hole on the Sabbath, then you should also save your brother on the Sabbath.  Then he demonstrates how.  He Tells the man with the withered hand,  "Stretch forth thy hand."   And St Matthew tells us, and he stretched it forth, and it was restored, as sound as the other . 

St Matthew tells us that after Christ performed this miracle that the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how they might do away with him.   So now we begin to see how the battle is taking place and how the players in the battle are forming their lines against him.  Christ has instructed the instructors in front of the people in the synagogue.  He has demonstrated that his authority is greater than theirs and the Pharisees do not like it.  And the demons in the dark, behind the scenes are furious.  For they want to kill  him.  They want to destroy him.  They want to crucify him, but they cannot reach him for the time has not yet come.

The demons still plot against the children of Christ today.  They lurk in the darkness and plan the destruction of those who walk with Christ.  Like the Pharisees, they who participate with the demons know what they do.  They know that they do wrong, but they delight in the wrong that they do.  They have given authority to evil to come into their lives.  Do you run with evil?  Does evil whisper to you from the darkness, suggesting that you operate on its behalf?  It says, be a false witness.  It says, become a messenger for Scandal.  It says, dress with lust that you may be an attraction that causes men to sin in their hearts.  It says, speak the lies of deceit.  It says, spread the flames of hatred.  It says do all the unspeakable acts that bring forth evil, for you are becoming a child of the devil. 

The demons whisper, "Live for today", for the wrath of God awaits your downfall and death rests at your door.  Christ can save you, only if you awaken from your evil ways and understand that evil possesses you.  Repent!  For the Lord your God is a forgiving God.  For you lived in the world and did not understand.  You were blinded by the world and did not understand.  You were deceived by the world and did not understand.  The world possessed you and you did not understand.  But Christ can cast the world out of you.  Christ can heal you of the world.  Christ can make you a new person in the eyes of God.  Repent!, and you will be saved.

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verses: 23 - 24, The Reproach.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The impenitent towns) Part 2. 

Christ continues with the appraisal of his work.  For he has traveled through many towns and villages.  And he has sent his disciples through many towns and villages preaching the kingdom of heaven.  Yet there are those towns that do not repent.  There are those towns that have had great miracles and wonders completed in them and they reject the gospel.  Those are the towns Christ looks back and calls damnation upon.  Those are the towns that Christ remembers their unwillingness, their unbelief, their sin, and Capharnaum is one of them. 

Christ says about Capharnaum, "And thou, Capharnaum, shalt thou be exalted to heaven? Thou shalt be thrust down to hell!"  No glory for this town.  No honor for this village.  It shall be cast into hell for its sins and iniquities.  For it is an evil town.  It is a town filled with the dark forces.  It is a town where the people are blind and cannot see.  They are deaf and cannot hear.  Their understanding has been taken away from them by the evil one.  Many miracles were completed in Carpharaum.  Many demons were cast out.  Many sick were cured and many lame were made to walk.  Yet they did not repent.  They did not turn to the true God.  They continued to worship pagans and live in sin.

Christ told his disciples that Sodom would fair better in the day of judgement.  Sodom would receive a lesser penalty than this town because Sodom had no miracles, Sodom had no signs, Sodom had no prophets come to them.  But Capharnaum had Christ.  Capharnaum had the miracles.  Capharnaum had the light of the world come to its doorstep and it still did not repent.  And Capharaum has the wrath of God upon it because of its impenitence.  Christ says,  "For if the miracles had been worked in Sodom that have been worked in thee, it would have remained to this day.  But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for thee."   

Christ is doing an appraisal of his work.  He is reviewing the towns and the cities and the villages where his message is being preached.  Do you live in an impenitent town?  Do you live in a place where sin abounds and the message of the kingdom is not preached?  Miracles are being worked.  Wonders are being created. Signs are being sent to those who have eyes to see and those who have ears to hear.  Do you live in a house of peace?  Or is your house a house of lies and deceit?  Christ is doing his appraisal.  Will your house be exalted to heaven or cast down to hell?  Christ is doing an appraisal and life hangs in the balance.  Which way will the scales fall for your house?  Your house is your temple.  Does Christ live in you?  May the gift of God be in your heart.

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!!