St Matthew, Chapter 16, verse 27, The Cross of Man: Our Decisions!

Our paragraph topic is: (The doctrine of the cross) Part 5.     
Christ continues to teach his disciples and the crowd about the value of the soul.  He told Peter, who was possessed of Satan, to get behind him.  He told the crowds to take up their crosses and to follow him.  He posed the ultimate question of the value of the soul.  And he reminded them of the day of judgement.  What do we choose?  The decision belongs to us, as humans.  Do we seek the riches of the world and give up the most valuable thing that we possess?  Or do we follow Christ and take up our cross so that we may have life eternal with him?  The choice is ours.

Christ made his choice.  He came that man would have a choice.  He came that man would have the opportunity to have life.  He came that man would no longer have the judgement of death over our heads.  For Satan had tricked Adam and Eve into thinking that they would not die if they disobeyed God and eat the forbidden fruit.  And God pronounced judgement upon man.  But the decision was theirs to make.  And so death entered into the world and mankind lost their souls and with it, eternal life.  But Christ came to satisfy the judgement and pay the penalty for man's transgressions.  Christ came that man would have life if he wanted it.  And Christ came to right the wrong brought by Satan.

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his soul?  What do we gain if we do not have life?  We gain death, eternal death.  For the day will come when all mankind will be judged and all mankind will have their decisions weighed by God.  The truth will come forth and all mankind will know the truth of their decisions.  Christ told his disciples and the crowds that the day of judgement will come.  "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will render to everyone according to his conduct.

And so we wait.  And so we live.  And so we die, each day, having made the decisions as to how we live in this world.  We are driven by the lusts of this world and the passions that it offers us.  We live on autopilot in a world that does not offer us a choice.  Our daily lives are filled with the choices that help us to loose our souls.  We seek repentance one day of the week in our efforts to put to right all the things that we do the other 6 days of the week.  And we believe that we are happy.  We believe that we have life.  We enjoy the choices that are given to us not knowing or believing that we have a choice.

Seven days a week, 24 hours a day we have the choice to be who we are.  But that choice goes against what the world offers us.  Think what the world would be if we did not have entertainment that thrilled our hearts with sex and violence and action.  Think of what the world would be like if we did not have gossip and scandal.  Think of what the world would be like if we did not have porn and adultery and lust.  Think of what the world would be like if we did not have murder and rape and violence.  But this is not the world we live in.  And those are not the choices that we are offered.  What choices do we have?  We have the choice to be who we are.  We have the choice to become the persons that we were created to be.  We have the choice to live the life that was given us by God.  We have a choice.  The question is will we choose that choice.  

To sleep the sleep of drunkenness.  To sleep the sleep of denial.  To sleep the sleep of the choices we are offered in the world, is not to sleep but to refuse to awake.  We have the choice to know ourselves as we are known by Christ.  We have the choice of living in him daily, knowing the truth of who we are.  We have the choice of seeing ourselves, now, as we will be seen in heaven.  We have the choice of knowing the consolation of the Holy Spirit, that will be our guide, our protector, our provider here in this world.  And we have the choice of knowing that death is no obstacle for us but only a door, opening to our meeting with our Lord Jesus Christ and our father, God, our creator.  Seek the treasure that is yours in heaven and discard the worthless trinkets that are offered in this world.  The door is open.  Walk through and receive the knowledge of who you are in Christ.  The Holy Spirit awaits your coming.  Rejoice!   

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 12, verses: 41 - 42, The Prophecy: The witnesses against them.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The sign of Jonas) Part 3. 

Christ is merciful.  Christ is loving.  Christ is patient.  The Pharisees continue to plot and plan against Christ and he continues to offer opportunities for them to hear the message, to understand the judgment, to repent from their position with Satan.  But the Pharisees are blind.  They cannot hear.  They do not understand the door of opportunity opened by Christ. 

Christ has spoken to them about their hearts.  He has shown them that their hearts are filled with evil.  He has told them of their treasure and has called them vipers that they may understand the harshness of his words.  Ye they persist.  They continue down the road of destruction, unaware that they condemn themselves.  Christ tells them who will witness against them.  He says: "The men of Nineve will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and behold, a greater than Jonas is here."

They asked for a sign.  Christ told them a sign that would take place in the future.  He did not comply with their request now.  For the demons that possessed the Pharisees did not need a sign.  They knew Christ.  They knew of his authority.  They knew that he was of the Father.  Yet they could not work their evil of their own.  They had to possess men and persuade them to do their evil.  They had to suggest to the mind of men, the evil that was to be done.  They had to possess the heart with darkness to move the passions to create evil. 

And Christ knew of their plans.  He knew of their designs.  He knew that they possessed the Pharisees to do their evil.  Yet he was patient.  He was loving.  He was merciful to offer opportunity to repent.  He reached down into the darkness of their hearts and sought to help them understand.  But they would not.  He spoke again of their witnesses.  He told them,  "The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here."

How often does God call to us to repent?  How many times does he reach out his hand to help us in times of need?  Yet do we repent, do we accept his hand?  Our God is a loving God.  Our God is a merciful God.  Our God is a patient God.  He will wait until the end of time and still offer salvation.  But do not hesitate to accept, for death is at the door and judgment weighs in the balance.  Judgment at death is final.  There is no reprieve.  Mothers will witness against their sons and daughters.  Fathers will witness against their children.  Grandmothers spoke of the opportunity offered and yet not accepted.  For they themselves spoke the message to you and you did not accept.  Do not throw away this precious gift given by Christ.  For if you only knew what was being offered you would rejoice at the gift.  But Satan blinds.  Satan destroys.  Satan steals and will stand in the way to prevent you from receiving your gift.  Come, become a child of God and receive the gift of life!  Christ awaits you with his outstretched hand.  Receive him and get your reward!

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verse: 26 - 27, The Revelations.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus draws men gently to himself) Part 2.  

Christ continues to give praise to his father for the things that he has done.  It was pleasing to God to hide the mysteries of the kingdom from men who have earthly wisdom.  It was pleasing to God to prevent the prudent of this world from knowing the things of heaven, and Christ praises the father for his wisdom.  For Christ says all thing have been given unto him by the father.  He says,  "Yes, Father, for such was thy good pleasure.   All things have been delivered to me by my Father."   

For Christ has all wisdom and all knowledge and all understanding of the will of the father.  And that pleases the Father.  Christ has made the effort to bring the message to the villages and towns throughout the land.  He has preached to the multitudes.  He has cast out demons, cured the sick, made the lame walk, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, and provided all signs and wonders to the people that they may believe that he was from the Father, God in heaven.  Yet they do not repent.  They do not believe.  They do not understand the judgment that they bring unpon themselves.  But all things have been given to Christ.

No one knows the Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father.  And they are one with each other.  Christ says,  "No one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and him to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."   For that wisdom and knowledge of the Father and of the Son has been hidden.  Yet it is revealed to the little ones.  It is shown to those whom Christ chooses to reveal it.  For if they knew who walked among them they would understand.  If they truly understood the power and majesty of the one in their midst they would be in awe.  If they knew the glory of the one who walked before them they would fall down in honor, giving glory to the one who is worthy of honor and glory.  But they did not repent.  They did not understand.  They did not know the true nature of Christ.

The knowledge and wisdom of the Father is hidden.  It is not revealed.  Only to those who seek him will find him.  Only those who desire his presence will glory in the reception of his spirit.  For he has hidden himself and will reveal himself only to the little ones.  Christ says that the knowledge of the Father will only be revealed to those he chooses to reveal him.  Do you know Christ?  Have you received him?  What has he spoken to you to do?  The harvest is great but the laborers are few.  Are you a laborer in the field for the harvest?  Are you a shepherd for the body of Christ?  Where do you lead your sheep?  For who's glory do you labor?  All things have been given to Christ and he is calling you.   Come, Christ wants to reveal to you the Father.  Are you wise and prudent?  Will you receive the gift of God?  The little ones are open to his ways.  Are you?

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, Chapter 11, verses: 20 - 22, The Reproach.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The impenitent towns) Part 1. 

Christ has traveled throughout the region preaching and performing miracles.  He has sent his disciples through the towns and villages on their solo journey casting out devils, healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, making the lame walk, and raising the dead.  Christ gave them the power to perform these miracles.  They have encountered the dark forces of evil in these places and overcome, because of the training that Christ gave them.  Now Christ looks back upon the completed work and makes his observations.

He says, "Woe to thee, Corozain!  Woe to thee, Bethsaida!  For if in Tyre and Sidon had been worked the miracles that have been worked in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."   Christ mourns for those towns and villages that have not repented when the message of the kingdom was preached in them.  For he has told his disciples to kick the dust from their feet as a sign of those who do not receive the message.  Those towns and villages will receive the wrath of God on the day of judgement and Christ laments for them.  For what would it take to bring about repentance.  Corozain did not repent.  Bethsaida did not repent.  Tyre and Sidon did repent but without miracles.  Great will be the wrath in those towns and there will be no mercy.

Christ says to them,  "But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you."   For on that day there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth and the wrath of God will come upon them.  They have rejected the message sent from God through Christ.  They did not hear the call for repentance because their minds were closed and their hearing was blocked by the evil one, and they refused to turn from their evil ways.  The call was upon them and they did not listen and in the day of judgement they will know their sorrows, they will know their pain, they will know the one true God who came down from heaven to offer salvation.

How true is this message today?  What cities and towns live in evil and do not heed the message of Christ?  Will the sin city see repentance?  Will the sun bathing capitol see repentance?  Will the city of angels see repentance or the new jack city come to life?  All have had the message preached in them and they do not heed the message of wrath that will come upon them.  You who believe escape to safety.  You who heed the message leave the cities and live outside the gates. Live according to the spiritual precepts preached by Christ.  Forsake the sin and evil ways of the world.  For we live in a time of destruction.  We live in a time when mankind is held in captivity by the evil one and the world knows not Christ. 

Depart from them children of God.  Leave before the wrath of God comes upon you.  You are the chosen ones.  You are the lost sheep that Christ came down from heaven to redeem.  Let not his redemption be in vain.  Christ mourns for all his children, for all his brothers and sisters.  For their will be great suffering on that day of judgment.  But until that time God is merciful.  God is patient.  God is loving and he wants all his children to have the opportunity to repent.  He wants all his children to have the opportunity to turn from their wicked ways.  Be ever thankful for that opportunity and let others know that they have the same opportunity.  The Holy Spirit will guide you and protect you if you open the door and welcome him into your heart.  For he will teach all.  Christ mourned for the children in his time.  Let him not mourn for us in our time.

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verses: 18, This Generation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The inconsistency of the Jews) Part 2. 

Christ continues to characterize this current generation because of their selfishness.  They want everyone to dance to their tune.  They want everyone to cry to their sorrows.  They want to be in control of everything.  They are selfish people who have had power to long and are unwilling to consider that the Messiah has come among them to change everything.  John preached about the coming.  The scriptures foretold about the coming of the Messiah.  Yet the Jews of this generation have their own plan and will not consider that the Messiah has come as a man in their midst to change all mankind.

They have no wisdom.  They have no knowledge.  They have no understanding, only that they want everyone else to dance to their tune and cry to their sorrows.  John was written about in the scripture.  John preached from the Jordan and thousands came to hear him.  John baptized many and preached repentance.  John paved the way for the coming of the Messiah and yet they did not believe.  Christ says that they characterized John as a lunatic.  He says,  "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a devil!" 

The people knew that John was anointed of God.  They heard him preach.  They believe that the Messiah had come.  But the rulers and the rich, and the educated, and the religious, and the Pharisees and the Sadducees did not believe.  They rationalized that John was possessed and out of his mind.  They said that John was insane and people should not follow him.  They had to turn the people least all believed in John and his teachings.   They had to do something before they lost control and the people no longer danced to their tune and cried to their sorrows.

What should I compare this generation to, Christ said?  Shall we compare them to the blind.  They live in an evil world and yet do not see.  They stumble through life leaning upon the one who lives in darkness.  They believe in their own capacity to live without knowing true life.  They cannot see the light.  This generation is like a moth drawn to a flame.  They are utterly attracted to the glitz and glamour of a world that is dying and has no life of its own.  Are you in the world?  Do you look out from your position in the world and wonder about those who do not follow your passions for the worldly life?  Do you hunger for something more than the world has offered you, having conquered the passions of this world?  Do not be lost with this generation.  Do not be blind.   Open your eyes and see the road that you are on before it is too late.  God is patient and yet your cup of wrath continues to fill.  Repent before the thief comes to steal your life.  God loves you and is merciful and forgiving.  Christ paid for your sins and will forgive all, if you just ask and believe that he will.  Come take his hand and be healed!!