St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 14a; Woe to you.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 5.  

Christ continues to scold the Scribes and the Pharisees about their behavior.  He calls them hypocrites in public for all to hear which is not good.  The Scribes and the Pharisees are respected and honored and to call them hypocrites in public is bad.  

Christ did not do this out of hate.  He did not do this out of jealousy.  He loved his people.  He did this because he wanted to save the Scribes and the Pharisees.  He wanted to open their eyes.  He wanted them to see the truth of what they were doing to themselves and to the people.  But they were so blinded that they could not see, they could not hear his love for them, they could not understand the truth of what he was doing for them.  Therefore, he said to them:  " Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"

What would you do for someone that you loved that you knew was going in the wrong direction?  Would you try to help them see what they were doing?  Would you do everything in you means to open their eyes to the truth?  What methods would you take to help them understand?  God our father tried to make us understand but we were wayward children driven by the lust of our flesh.  So he almost destroyed the human race.  But he decided to start over with a chosen few.

He gave us free will to choose.  And Christ gave us the choice of new life or death.  His passion and love for the good that he saw in us allowed him to withstand the test of pain and suffering for all mankind.  Not for one or two or three but for all men, all women, all children on this earth.  

We live and die that we might show that we are worthy to have the choice of life with him in heaven.  This is our entire purpose in life.  Recognize the choice.  Remember the choice.  Live the choice in Christ.

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: 14; The Called and the Chosen.

Our paragraph topic is:  (One guest is cast out) Part 4.  

Our parable comes to an end with Christ telling the people the final meaning of this story.  He wants the people to have some understanding of the kingdom of heaven.  So he tells a parable that relates the kingdom of heaven to a king who exercises power over his people in his kingdom.

This king wants to give a party, a celebration, for his son and the bride on the union of their wedding.  The king wanted all to attend and celebrate with him this happy and joyous occasion.  He wanted the word to spread of this party for his son so that all would know of his graciousness and his love for his son and the union with his new bride. 

Yet there were many who did not want to attend, many who did not want the word to get out about the party.  He sent out invitations to all in the town and villages in his kingdom but none would come.  So he sent his servants at to the crossroads and invited all the travelers who were passing through to stop and come to the party.  Many were invited and many came both good and bad.

Many came from the crossroads to see the kings hospitality at this event.  And as the party got underway the king came down to view the guest and to celebrate.  As he walked through the crowd he saw one who came without the proper attire, one who decided to come anyway.  He was displeased.  So he had his servants bind his hands and feet and cast them out into the darkness where there was the weeping and gnashing of teeth.  "For many are called, but few are chosen."  

And this was the lesson that Christ wanted the people to hear from this parable.  That all are called to the celebration of the kingdom but few are chosen to remain.  

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:14; The Healings.

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.