St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 20; The Oneness of the gift and the Altar.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their distorted religion) Part 11.  

They had taken the essentials of faith and distorted it to their own beliefs.  Little did they understand the true meanings of religion.  Little did they know the truth of faith.  Little did they believe in the spirit of the living God who brought them out of Egypt into the land of milk and honey.  The Scribes and the Pharisees were only concerned in maintaining the status quo over the people so that they could keep their positions of power.

They did not understand the oneness of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Without that understanding how could they understand the oneness of the altar.  They believed that swearing by the altar was nothing but swearing by the gifts that were placed upon the altar meant that they were bound by the gift.  Christ had to explain to them: "Therefore he
who swears by the altar swears by it, and by all things that are on it."

This is the distinction that had to be made, the oneness of the altar.  Everything that is placed upon the altar becomes one with the altar and is sanctified by the altar.  They are not separate from it but are one with it.  The altar is the sacred table of God upon which Christ made his covenant with the church at the last supper.  He blessed the bread and the cup of wine that he gave to his disciples as a symbol of the new covenant that he made for the sacrifice which he was about the make for the sins of mankind.  And it was upon that sacred table upon which he made that covenant.

Today, all over the world, we have the sacred altars which are blessed by the church before they are used in services.  Our gifts are no longer gifts of food, or animals, or incense, but today we give tithes that are placed before the altar to show our thanks to God for the many gifts that he gives us on a daily basis.  We show our gratitude through what we give back to the church to help spread God's word to his people.  

We are blessed to know our God.  We are blessed to walk in the light and not in darkness and despair.  We are blessed to be able to call out to our God and have our voices heard.  For truly he will respond.  And truly we must be patient.  For he is loving and caring and protective and providing and vengeful of those that would do us harm.  Thank you Lord Jesus for loving 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.

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verse: 10b; They gathered all both good and bad.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The king's anger) Part 6.  

Christ continues to tell this parable about the king and the wedding feast as he compares it to the kingdom of heaven.  He relates this parable to the people because he wants them to understand the mindset of the king and his determination to have a wedding feast and the determination of his father in heaven to have a celebration with his son and his bride, the church here on earth.

Invitations were sent out to those who were special but they did not come.  They did not understand and did not want to be a part of this special occasion.  So he sent his servants out to the crossroads and gathered all:  "Both good and bad; and the marriage feast was filled with guests."   

This was an important occasion.  It was a happy occasion, an event to remember, for the bride would be forever united with the groom and nothing would separate them.  This was the message that Christ wanted the people to hear, to understand and comprehend.  It was an important occasion for all to celebrate.  It was an important event for all to remember and to pass down to their children so that they would also remember even though they were not there but their parents were there.

It was a joyous occasion, one to remember for a lifetime.  There was dancing and singing, and music, and laughter, and wine and food, and happy people.  People were dressed in their festive clothing to commemorate the occasion.  There were drinks to go round for all to have.  There was festive music to dance by and all were happy on this joyous event.  This was not a club party nor a house party but a grand ballroom party held in a great hall, the king's great hall.  And he knew how to throw a great party.

So we see today that Christ relates to us that there will be a great celebration to commemorate the coming together of the bride and the groom.  God our Father will celebrate this great occasion and will invite all to come and participate.  All will be invited to come and see the union of the two.  All will be invited to come to the ceremony that will take place that will unite the church on earth with Christ in heaven and to be a part of this great 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 22, verse: 9; The public invited.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The king's anger) Part 4.  

The king will not be deterred from his celebration.  He wanted to have a party.  He wanted others to enjoy his happiness, his joy.  He had invited those that he thought were worthy.  But they thought otherwise of the king.  They apparently did not like the king.  They must have hated him.  They had contempt and animosity for him because they killed the messengers. But despite all that, he would not be deterred from this celebration.

So the king continued to make preparations for this celebration.  He told his servants:  Go therefore to the crossroads, and invite to the marriage feast whomever you shall find."  And so it was that the king would invite all that would come and celebrate with him and his son.  It would be a grand occasion.  All would enjoy the music and the dancing and the food and the drinks for this happy occasion.  And the king would be happy to see such joy in the people.

What does this say to us today?  Would we like to go to the kings party?  Would we like to be one of those invited to come?  Go to the crossroads, go to the major intersections, shout it from the rooftops, tell everyone you know.  Post it on Facebook, take pictures and show them on Instagram so everyone would know of the celebration.  All will be invited and all will be welcomed at the party.

Will you come?  Will you be there with everyone else?  It will be the talk of the town.  But this is different from the parties that we know of today.  There will be no drugs.  There will be no strip dancers.  No guns allowed.  Proper attire only.  This will be the celebration of the year, of the century because this is the message that Christ wants all to understand about the kingdom of heaven.  His father is having a party and he wants all to be invited.

Don't miss out!  Don't hesitate!  You are given the notice well in advance of the event so that you will have enough time to prepare, to get ready,  to become worthy of the event.  There are those who say they are not going.  There are those who do not believe that it is worth their time.  There are those who hate the king and would persuade you that you are not worthy to attend.  Do not be persuaded by those who would turn you away from the party of the century, the party that is yours to attend.  The decision is yours to make.  Do not let someone else make it for you.  The doors are open for all to attend.  Put on your party outfit and come join the party!

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 14, verse: 16, The Needs of the People: Christ's ability.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus feeds five thousand) Part 1.    

The people came.  They came looking for Christ.  They heard the word.  They heard that John the Baptist was murdered and they came looking for Christ to satisfy their needs.  Christ saw their needs and was moved with compassion.  He cured their sick.  He preached the good news of the kingdom.  He restored hope.  He instilled faith.  He gave them assurance.  For chaos had come.  Doubt had come.  Fear began to spread throughout, taking away faith, taking away hope.   But Christ was there and the people sought him for guidance. 

The disciples walked at his side.  The disciples saw the miracles first hand.  The disciples heard the words of heavenly wisdom from the King of Kings, yet not really knowing him.  They watched him cure the sick.  They watched him heal the lame and oppressed.  They saw the casting out of demons.  They knew that he was different.  But they did not know.  The disciples were filled by his presence.  The disciples were at peace in his surroundings because he protected them.  The disciples knew hope from the present day worries through him, but they did not know him.  Christ filled them.  Christ nurtured them.  Christ taught them.  He gave them his blessings that they may perform miracles.  Yet they did not know.  They only knew what was before them and not what was in them.

The night was drawing near and the crowd was large.  There was no food to feed the people and the disciples became worried.  They thought about the needs.  They thought about the consequences.  They thought about the anger and frustration of the people.  The people would come upon them with their frustration and they did not know what to do.  They did not know what was in them so they feared.  The disciples came to Christ and pleaded that he release the people that they may go into the villages and towns and buy food to eat.   The disciples wanted Christ to dismiss the people and send them away for they feared of not meeting the needs of the people.  But Jesus said to them, " They do not need to go away; you yourselves give them some food."    

The disciples did not know what was in them.  They did not know the power that Christ had bestowed upon them.  They did not see the strength that he had given to them within.  They did not understand the glory of his presence that rubbed off on them.  But they wanted to send the people away.  They did not understand what to do with the people.  They did not know that they had the power, through Christ, to feed the people, to satisfy their hunger.  They only wanted to send them away, back to the pits, the trials, the temptations, the sin.  Christ said to the disciples, you yourself feed them, but they did not understand.  

Too often today lost souls come to Christ through the church.  Christ said, you yourself feed them but we do not.  They hunger for spiritual food and we do not feed them.  They are fed scrapes.  They are fed crumbs.  They are fed pieces of what is to be, only to return hungry for more.  Church people are addicted to pieces.  They are addicted to scrapes, not knowing that they can be filled and hunger no more.  But how can you feed the people if you are hungry yourself?  How can you feed the people if you are not filled yourself?  How can you feed the people if you do not know what is in you, yourself?   You will only give scrapes.  You will only give pieces.  You will only give crumbs if you are not filled and overflowing yourself.  Christ told his disciples to feed the people themselves.  They did not know they had the Holy Spirit within them.  They did not know the power of the Holy Spirit to satisfy all needs.  Do you know the Holy Spirit?  Feed the people!