Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not:
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
Matthew 11:2024
Christian Living
Only A Sinner Can Be Saved
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto him, “Follow me.” And he arose, and followed Him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said untoHis disciples, “Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them,
“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Matthew 9:9-13
Jesus had just called one of the most hated people in Judea who was a tax collector, to follow Him, and Matthew did. This brought many to Matthew’s home where He age and drank. It was a great honor for them to have such a Man as Jesus visit your home
Jesus was eating with publicans (tax collectors), and sinners. Jesus in answer to the Pharisees remark was that He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Only the lost can be found. Only the unjust, can be made just. Only the sick can be healed.
The Pharisees were walking around in their religious garb, and presenting themselves as righteous people but Jesus tells them they are in darkness.
Only those who call on the Lord for grace through Christ Jesus can be justified, sanctified, and glorified in Him.
“There is none righteous, no not one.” Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:10ff). As long as a person denies their sin and rebelliousness against God, trusting their own righteousness, there is no hope of salvation.
Confess that you are a sinner calling out to the Lord Jesus, then confess Jesus as Lord, believing He was raised from the dead, and you will be saved.
Rock or Sand?
“Not every one that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Matthew 7:21-27
Not every one who says they are a Christian is a Christian. People who say the words “Lord Lord,” and do not do what He says are lost and dying in their sins. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Does He know you; and you know Him?
The one who hears and does his will are like the wise man who built his house on the Rock. Those who hear the words of Jesus and do not do them are like the foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Now, where do you fit in? There is no middle of the road answer here. It is one or the other. Your choice. One way leads to Jesus and heaven. The other one leads to hell and eternal destruction.
Pilate and Jesus Have a Conversation
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto Him, “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him,
“Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of Me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me: what hast Thou done?” Jesus answered,
“My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence.”
Pilate therefore said unto Him, “Art thou a king then?” Jesus answered,
“Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.”
Pilate saith unto him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, “I find in him no fault at all.”
John 18:33-38
Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Pilate was looking straight at the Truth when he asked “What is truth?”
Someone has written, “Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living.” That would be because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life of us all. There is none apart from Him.
The Mountain Experience
And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with Him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:” not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear Him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36
The Words of a Father for His Son
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.
“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:67-79
Having Faith In God
And Jesus answering saith unto them, “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Mark 11:22-26
It is a horrid thing for one to harbor a grudge against someone, especially if you profess to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We might for a while feel angry, but soon there will be a realization of having received forgiveness from the One who forgives our sins, and paid our sin debt.
Telling a mountain to move into the sea would be a remarkable thing. It would, in fact be a miracle of God. Asking God for the things we desire, and receiving them, are things that are from God’s desires (Psalm 37:3-4).
If we are asking for God to do these things, then we need to be sure there is no lack of forgiveness, toward anyone. Any lack of forgiveness toward others is a mockery of our heavenly Father, and we have a greater sin that needs God’s forgiveness.
Dear Lord Jesus, if there is any one with whom I have a grudge and unforgiveness then reveal this to my heart and mind. That I might have genuine faith in You. Amen.
What Jesus Says About Marriage and Divorce
And He answered and said unto them,
“What did Moses command you?”
And they said, “Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.” And Jesus answered and said unto them,
“For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
And in the house His disciples asked Him again of the same matter. And He saith unto them,
“Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Mark 10:3-12
The Seed Of The Sower
“Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: and it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.”
And he said unto them,
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Mark 4:3-9
And He said unto them, “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
“The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mark 4:13-20
Wicked Farmers
This is a story Jesus told to convict the religious leadership of time, of their hypocrisy, and tell them also, that they were going to kill Him.
“Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
“When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?”
They say unto him, “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.”
Matthew 21:33-41
These people soon realized that Jesus was talking about them and their wicked hearts, and that He knew they, and their fathers had hated the prophets, and they hated him too. Jesus knew what they were about to do to Him; and that is hang Him on a cross.
Rejection and Unbelief
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence. And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, “Whence hath this Man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?” And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them,
“A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”
And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13:53-58
For more on this event in the life of Jesus you might want to read the account according to the Gospel of Luke the physician and Historian (Luke 4:16-30).
At this point in the ministry of Jesus His home town where He grew up rejected Him as being the Messiah, due to their unbelief. I have a thought that Jesus is offended by the unbelief of His home town people, however He does not let that stop His word or works.
The reason for many of our failures to receive answer to prayers is due to our rejection of the Lord’s ministry, and that is due to our unbelief. Because of that He does not do many mighty works.
Lord Jesus I pray that You help my faith, and increase my faith, so that Your mighty works might continue in me. Amen.
Judging
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, ‘Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;’ and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
Matthew 7:1-6
There are more people who seem to know this verse of the New Testament better than any other. How many times have we heard someone say, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Far too much of the time it is over someone teaching of something that God has called an abomination or evil.
Well as a Christian we are to expose evil wherever we find it; not to condemn the ones guilty of the evil, but to warn them. We are not to condemn anyone, because they are already condemned (John 3:17). Jesus came into an already condemned world to save us.
Mankind has a bent toward sin. Many do not know God; neither do they want to know Him. Before we judge another person we need to be clean ourselves, making sure that we do not have a bigger sin that is binding us. It is like when two school bus drivers have driven the school’s football players to an away game, The two drivers are sitting on one of the buses, and it is a cold night so they think they have all the windows up. One of the drivers sitting on the other bus notices that the bus he is sitting on has a window down, and tells the driver, “You have a window down,” only a few minutes later notices that he has a window down as well.
The apostle Paul wrote, “If we would judge ourselves we should not be judged.” (1 Corinthians 11:31).
We make judgments everyday. We cannot be judges of the hearts, and motives of others in condemnation.
Without Jesus Christ coming to die for the sins of the world we all be condemned, and without hope eternally separated from God. Except for the resurrection of Christ from the grave. An old church hymn says, “Dying He saved me, buried He carried my sins far away, rising He justified freely forever. One day He’s coming O glorious day.”
God is so good and full of mercy and grace. He proves by having sent His only Son, His death of the cross, in His burial, and by His resurrection from the dead.
Believe Him and call on His name and be delivered from your condemnation, Or will you continue in your condemnation, and eternal fire?
When Jesus Said, “It Is Finished”
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, “It is finished:” and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “A bone of him shall not be broken.” And again another Scripture saith, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
John 19:30-37
The words of Jesus which He spoke from the cross are about seven. The one in verse thirty is about the last words Jesus spoke. It was probably next to last with His, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46), being His final words from the cross.
What was it that Jesus was saying “It is finished” about?
- He had finished the work the Father had given Him to do;
- He was diligent in doing the will of God in the fulfilling of prophecy;
- He lived the life God the Father desired His Son to live;
- He finished fulfilling the prophecies of Scripture concerning the sacrifices, and offerings, and of the tabernacle in the wilderness; and
- The work of the priesthood was completed, in that since Jesus was raised up from the grave He has an everlasting Priesthood.
I am fairly certain that this list is not exhausted.
When Jesus said , “It is finished”, He was telling us the sin debt was paid in full. Those who come to Him will never perish.
The Time Had Come
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.
John 13:1-5
This was the last Passover Jesus would celebrate , since He cane to be the Passover Lamb, The Lamb of God who came to take away our sins (John 1:29). This was the Passsover meal where He would give Himself a sacrifice to God to pay the sin debt of Adam kind (humanity).
Jesus know that in just a few hours He will be unjustly tried and convicted of crimes He never in all His life had never committed. He was not grieving the fact that His death was certain; but it was for a great purpose, and that was to take away our sins, by becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). His knowing this was coming He took the time to teach the disciples; disciples through out the Church age, a lesson in “‘serving one another.”
After the supper was ended Jesus, knowing who He is, lays His garment aside, takes a towel, and girds Himself. After getting some water in a basin, and began washing the disciples feet. By girding Himself with a towel He was showing the us how we ought to treat one another within the Body of Christ, the Church.
I have seen many Christian people who are gifted servants to others. I know that I am not the servant of God that I should be; but the words of John are very convicting. I know some who have servants heart, yet feel like they do not do enough. Just be faithful to the calling to which God has called you.
The time had come for Jesus to die on the cross. That was why He came. He died on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again. He is the only hope for all humanity.
Call on His name, and He will hear You and give you eternal life with Him.
A Man Born Blind; Now Seeing
Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, “Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered and said, “Whether He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” Then said they to Him again, “What did He to thee? How opened He thine eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be His disciples?” Then they reviled Him, and said, “Thou art His disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence He is.” The man answered and said unto them, “Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.” They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
John 9:24-34
Be sure to read this whole story of the blind man. He was born blind, then as a grown man is healed by the creator of eyes. Healed by Him who is the Christ.
This man who was born blind sees much better than those who thought they knew the truth of the identity of Jesus. There was no record of any one born blind who had been made to see.
When we come into this world as a baby we are born spiritually dead, and blind to the things of God. That is until God in His grace gives us sight and light that we might see the truth of who Jesus is. Read Ephesians 2:1-10.
I once was blind, but now I see. I was lost, and now I am found. How about you?
Not Condemned
He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 3-:18-21
Condemnation is not a good state to be in. It also means you are dead in sins and separated from God and all that is holy, righteous, and just.
Who are the condemned?
Those who have their own righteousness, because they do not kick their dog, they do not hit their wife, or their neighbor, they may use profane language a little bit, but they think that does not hurt anyone. Those who are condemned do not feel that they need any Redeemer. They are self satisfied, and think that if there is a God He will see my good works, and He will have to let me into heaven.
So who are those who are not condemned?
They are those who believe on Jesus Christ, who have fully given themselves to Him for all eternity. They have confessed their sins, and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe that God has raised Him from the grave. The apostle Paul wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
You do have a choice now that you know the truth of your spiritual condition. Do I stay in condemnation, in darknes, in eternal condemnation? Do I turn to Christ Jesus, him dying on the cross to pay my sin debt, that He was buried, and that He rose again, and through Him have eternal life. The choice is yours.
Justification Comes From God Alone
.And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him. And He said unto them,
“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”
Luke 16:14-17
Jesus is rebuking those Pharisees who at about every point Jesus made to them they excused themselves, justifying their actions, seeing themselves as better than any of the people they were supposed to be ministers to. What is looked on highly among man is an abomination to God.
Being sure that one is in the kingdom of God is an urgent, even a pressing need for all who will come.
Jesus said, “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail.” One tittle of the law is a Hebrew letter the smallest of the Law of God, and Jesus tells us basically, that we can be sure and secure that all His word is truth, and will come to pass.
Be Alert, Watch
“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. and if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.”
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Luke 12:35-40
How does one “Be ready” when it comes to the second coming of Jesus Christ? While we are waiting for that day we must devote ourselves to Him, being diligent to pray, read and study His word.
Best of all we must have Christ as our Lord and Savior. That comes when you get to the place that you recognize Him as One who gave His life to redeem you from your sin, then, you confess Him as Lord, and believe that God has raised Him from the grave.
Be saved today, and that is the beginning of being ready, being alert, and watching your life for Jesus.
Rejecting Jesus Christ, and His Work, and Words Has Eternal Consequences
“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, ‘Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.’ But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.”
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
“He that heareth you heareth Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me.”
Luke 10:10-16
These are the words of Jesus Christ. Every one who is in need needs Jesus. Every one needs to receive His words, believing His words, and trusting Him for eternal salvation. We are all sinners. Jesus came into the world to deliver us from our condemnation.
These words were spoken by Jesus to the seventy He sent out to all Judea, telling them of their responsibility if they are rejected; and also the destination of any city, nation, or people that rejected the word of the gospel.
Jesus goes on to say “He that hears you, hears Me; “ and “He that despises you despises Me.” He went on and added this, “He that despises Me despises Him who sent Me.”
Will you call on Him for salvation and deliverance from your condemnation?
How To Behave With Your Enemies; This is for Christians Only
Jesus tells up how to be a Christian, and He tells us how to treat those who may not like us and mistreat us:::
“And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
Luke 6:33-36
After The Resurrection and The Ascension
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Mark 16:10-20
Jesus has risen from the dead after He had died for the sins of humanity, by becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). After He was raised up from the grave He walked with the disciples probably assuring them of their calling, and faith; encouraging them for their mission ahead of them. Their God called mission, as well as those of us today who are called Christian. That calling and ministry to to go and preach the Gospel to the whole world.
Jesus gave them and us the commission to go and “Make disciples” of all nations. After the ascension of Jesus into the “Right hand of God”, the ones who were following Jesus had faith, and waited for the promise of the Holy Spirit, and in Acts 2:1-47, the Spirit of God comes upon a gathering of one hundred and twenty believers, and the presence, and power of God was definite, witnessed to by those who had not yet believed. The most awesome event in this is not just the giving the Holy Spirit, who is our comforter, our guide, the One who shows us our sin, and causes us to judge ourselves, so we will not be judged; but also the number of people who were added to the Body of Christ, which is the Church. About three thousand that one day was added.
God added to to the church daily those would be saved (Acts 2:40-47), and He is still adding to the church those who will be saved. I must ask myself, How am I doing about the mission of telling others about the loving kindness, mercy, and grace God has given to us through His Son Jesus? I must tell you, Not to well. I have failed greatly at the mission. God help me; there are too many who are perishing. There is a pitiful, passing parade, of perishing people.
I say to myself, and to all who will hear, If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, you have confessed Jesus as Lord, and you believe that God has raise Him from the dead, then, we need to proclaim to those who are perishing, that Jesus died in our stead on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again.
When we begin to pray for the lost/those who are perishing, then God will move in such a fashion as in the early church.
The Fig Tree
And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry:
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it,
“No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.”
And His disciples heard it. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, “Master, behold, the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away.”
Mark 11:12-14, 20-21
The fig tree in Old Testament is sometimes used as a reference to the nation of Israel. Consider for example Isaiah chapter 5:1-7; Hosea 9:10; Joel 1:7, and there are a few more.
On this same day Jesus went into the Temple and drove the crooks and thieves out of the House of Prayer for all nations giving it a cleansing from doing business for the Passover, and ripping people off, stealing by deceit, in order to make money for themselves and the Temple.
What can followers of Jesus learn from this event in the life of Christ? One thing to me is quite clear – that is that Jesus is not pleased, nor is He praise fruitlessness. If this fig tree was cursed , because it bore no fruit, while it was boasting of having fruit it did not have; we are reminded of that we as Christians are to bear fruit for Jesus, and through Him.
Every true Christian is much more than a professor of Christ Jesus. We have evidence (fruit) in our lives and have confessed that Jesus is Lord of our lives, and live what we believe. The fruit we bear will include, love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-26). Another thing is you will love God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and you will love His people who are His church, and be faithful in attending a local Body of Christ.
I do not want anyone who comes here to leave this site still in a state of unbelief. I want you to be saved, and very fruitful for the Lord’s sake, The alternative is not what you would want. Remember the fig tree that bore no fruit, even though by having leaves said it did.
Out Of The Heart
And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them,
“Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand: there is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. And He saith unto them,
“Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?”
And He said,
“That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Mark 7:14-23
Everyone born into this world comes into this world a sinner, except for One. He is the one speaking above about what defiles us; and that it is not anything outside us.
All the evil that we do comes from an evil heart. The prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart of man is deceitful, above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Only God knows what is in our hearts. If you have hatred in your heart for a neighbor, a former spouse, your boss at work, even the one who spit in your face and called you a female dog, then that comes from an evil heart.
There is only one answer for out deliverance from evil in our hearts. The answer is a new heart. Know that we are not speaking about this blood pump that keeps us going, but we are talking about a changed way of life. It happens through the work of Jesus Christ and His life; His death on the cross for our sins, His burial, and resurrection. When Jesus becomes your Lord and Savior your desires will change. You no longer want live in sinful behavior. Jesus mentions many of those transgressions in the above text. You will desire to do what is right, good, and holy to live a life that glorifies the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Would you like to have a change of heart? Would you like to have an eternity that you can look forward to? Then call on the One who gives it to all who will come to Him, His name is Jesus.
The Sword With A Lesson
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him,
“Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”
Matthew 26:51-54
There is a time and a place to use the sword. This was not the time, nor the place to use the sword. Too late, Peter learned that lesson. That man Peter struck with the sword was a blessed man, whether he realized it or not. Peter was bit aiming for his ear.
Peter had not heard very much our Lord said before this night, about being turned over by a betrayer, being crucified, buried, and raised again to life. He was defending his Messiah, no matter what Jesus said. In the account of the Gospel of Luke Jesus reaches up to the man who lost his ear, and gave him a new ear (Luke 22:50-51).
Jesus our Lord told Peter to put the sword away into its place; which was probably back in it sheath, or his belt. Then, Jesus goes on to tell Peter that He could pray to His Father, and He would send twelve legions of angels to defend Him.
Jesus was more concerned about the fulfilling of Scripture than He was in saving His own life. He was more concerned about obedience to His Father than His own life. He was more caring and loving, because He was making a living, holy, righteous sacrifice of His own life.
If Jesus would have failed to go to the cross we would all still in our condemnation (John 3:17-21), and we would all be condemned forever. I am thankful He did not choose to call for the angels. I am thankful such a great salvation, that my Lord and Savior paid my sin debt.
When you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that He rose from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10).
A Matter of The Law
But when the Pharisees had heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said unto him,
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:34-40
Jesus has just silenced the argument of the resurrection. The Sadducees were non spiritual. It seems they believed in God in their own weird way, yet did not believe in angels, miracles, and other like things. They had asked Jesus a question which is absurd anyway, and Jesus answered with “You do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). He pointed out to them that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The God of the living, meaning that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still alive and God would someday raise them up from their graves.
This lawyer asked Jesus the question, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus answered using a shorter version of the first four of the Ten Commandments, then told him of the second, and it was a shorter version of the final six of the Ten.
There are some who think that God’s Law no longer matters, however they put themselves in peril, because Jesus warns us in the fifth chapter of Matthew that to teach others to break the law, as well, will be the least in the kingdom of heaven (see Matthew 5:17-20).
For those who believe in Jesus, have trusted Him, and confessed His name these laws have been put into our hearts. It is the way the Christian, the Christ follower. With it written in our hearts, to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves is the way we live.
Why then is their strife in many churches over what carpet we are going to get for the floor? What are we going to do with our pastor, “He preaches too long”? One commandment Jesus gave those of us who follow Jesus is this, “Love one another” (John 13:34; 15:12, 17). The love Jesus has for His own is beyond human understanding, because He loved us so much that He died a horrible, yet marvelous death on that old cross.
So why should we still need the Law of God? It is in our hearts to live by it. It is also needed to remind us that we were unable to live it on our own, and to use the Law so the Holy Spirit draws others to Christ Jesus.
The Fire and Hammer 