Matthew

It Was Not A Little Baby Who Died On The Cross

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And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said,  “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.  He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”  The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Matthew 27:39-44

At this time of year all Christendom remembers the birth of a baby boy.  He was certainly a very special little boy.  This baby boy came with one intention, and that was to glorify His Father, through obedience and going to the cross to die for our sins,

It is seen in Luke chapter two that the religious leaders respected His wisdom for that age of twelve years, and He was teaching them (Luke 2:31-52).  The young Man Jesus was respected, but when Jesus grew to His fullness the religious leaders grew in hatred of Him.  Jesus was exposing their sin, hypocrisy, and greed, and there lust for power over the people.

The above verses show us how He was treated for being who He said that He is.  They reviled Him in blasphemy, and mockery, and saying things like, “He saved others, but cannot save Himself.”  They also said, “If You are the Son of God, deliver Yourself.

Jesus came and gave His life for the sins of Adam kind.  That Baby in the manger followed His Father’s pathway walking with Him wherever He walked doing all that the Father did.  Even going to His death  on the cross for the remission of our sins.  He was buried, and He rose again, and is alive forever more.  Since He has been raised we will be raised  up from the  grave also; because He lives.

It was not a little baby who died on that  cross; it was the full grown Son  of Man the Son of God who died.  Believe Him.

Why There Is So Much Hatred In This World Today

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“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:9-12

Many choose to follow their own path, do their own thing, believe in their own god, and think everybody else ought to do the same thing.  Be tolerant to my own faith, and if you believe different, then we will get along fine; as long as you don’t  mention that there is only one God.

When someone comes along and is bold enough, courageous enough, full of the Spirit of the one true God, and with the love of God in their heart, confronts such a society, and due to lack of true toleration, are filled with hatred for the individual who has been so strong in faith.

Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold.  It is due to the growing of sin, the iniquity of unbelieving, rebellious hearts.

Do not let your heart grow cold in unbelief.  Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Call on His name today.

How Many Times Shall I Forgive?

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Then came Peter to Him, and said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?”  Jesus saith unto him,
“I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.   Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’   Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me that thou owest.’  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.   So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.   Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, ‘O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?’  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
Matthew 18:21-35

From The Heart

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And Jesus said, “Are ye also yet without understanding?  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:  these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”
Matthew 15:16-20

Where does evil come from?  There is only one correct answer to that question, and that answer is from the hearts of mankind.  It started with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, but the one who led them into evil was the serpent which yielded itself to the fallen angel known as Lucifer;  he had rebelled against God.  He hated and still does, the people of this world.

We are all born spiritually dead, in sin, and separated from our God; who is our Creator.  Notice that Jesus that it was not what enters the mouth that defiles a man (and He means man or woman), but what comes from the heart. Jesus gives us a list of things that come from the heart – evil thoughts, murders, adultery, fornication (all kinds of sexual sin), thefts, false witness, and blasphemies.  Many, and maybe all these sins are approved of by a majority of people.  God through His Son tells us they come from an evil heart.

Since we are all born into the wickedness of this world we would all stand before God guilty of sin, condemned (damned) to eternal  torment.  But Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God came into the world to save all who believe in Him.  Believing in Him He gives you a changed; a new heart; and new mind with different thinking.

We are nearing the day in the year that remember the coming of the Savior of the world.  The Baby Jesus.  Every body loves a baby and the story of the baby in a manger.  Let us not forget though why this Baby came.  He came to die and pay their/our sin debt, by becoming sin for us.  He died on that old rugged cross in a shameful way – stripped naked, after being beaten with a mean and horrendous whip with glass, and metal pieces in the ends  of the whip, which tore His flesh away from His body.  He was dead on that cross, they took Him down, and laid Him in a borrowed tomb, and three days later He walked out alive forever more.

Christian we do not believe in a dead Savior, but in the living Lord Jesus Christ.  Yes we believe He died for us, but  He did not stay dead.  He arose showing us that He is the Victor over sin and evil.

Will you come to Him today?

The Lord Rebukes Cities That Reject Him

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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

Only A Sinner Can Be Saved

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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?

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“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.

The Seed Of The Sower

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“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

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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

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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

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“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?

The Sword With A Lesson

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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

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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 Hardest Thing For Humanity To Do

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Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.”
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  Then said Jesus unto His disciples,
“Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, “Who then can be saved?”  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,
“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:21-26

Jesus has just given to the rich young man words of great instruction, and He does not give himself to the word and will of the Lord.  The man had asked Jesus, “What thing might I do that I might receive eternal life?”   Jesus’s answer is basically telling him to obey the law.  Jesus only uses the last six of the 10 Commandments, sums it all up by saying, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  The young man said that he had been obedient to live by them since his youth until this day, then he asked, “What do I lack?”

Jesus gives him an answer that is quite hard to conceive, and is very difficult for someone who has many things materially, yet that is not   this man’s main problem.  He does not need to be perfect, he needs Jesus.  He only sees Jesus as a good man.  He sees his wealth as being more important than repentance, and faith in God or His Son.

Remember the young man was asking what he had to do to have or to earn eternal life.  The Law says, “Obey every commandment, and you will be saved, or right with God.”  James, the brother of our Lord teaches that if we break one law we are guilty of breaking the whole law (James 2:10).

All of Adam kind (mankind) are condemned, and headed toward eternal torment except they are perfectly keeping every law of God which is impossible.  Only one Man has been faithful to the obedience to the Law of God, and that was God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

You cannot earn eternal life.  It is a gift given by God the Father, and the Son to come to earth to die in our place, be laid in a grave, and to be raised by the Spirit of God, never to die again.  Doing so secures our eternal life when we ourselves to Him, and eternal salvation.

The hardest thing for mankind to do is to stop working for their salvation.  We cannot save ourselves from our set path, since we were born into sin, and all its darkness, and condemnation.  Some of you reading this may think that God will see all my good works and deeds, and they will outweigh the bad I have done.  Not so.  If you flaunt your good works before God, He will declare unto you, “O do not know you,”  and you will be cast out into eternal torment.

Jesus is the only was to heaven and to eternal life.  He paid our sin debt which was death, an eternal death which separates from God.

Believe Him.  Call on His name, and be saved by grace through faith in Him alone.  With God all things are possible.

The hardest thing for you to do is to give up trying to earn your salvation from death.  If you will do so though you will find yourself eternally blessed through Christ Jesus.

Rest For the Weary

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“All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.”
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:27-30

Jesus has just announced a woe upon the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, because they have rejected the words of Jesus, and His life.  There are many religious leaders that lay many burdens of the Law and ritual that is heavy for a man or woman to carry.  Jesus does not do that, back in A.D. 33 or 2025.  He even says, “It is My yoke,” and when we realize who Jesus truly is we will join Him in that yoke.

Now a yoke was for two, made of wood, and possibly some leather. There are those who labor to be good enough to get to heaven, and there are some care not whether there is a Heaven or Hell.  Those who are trying to be good enough need the Spirit of Jesus Christ ( the Holy Spirit) to get them to the point of coming unto Jesus.

Does your load of religious duties weigh you down?  If you do then you need to come to Jesus, and He will give you rest.  When we take up His yoke He is always by our side, He is in fact inside working out His good works, words,  and deeds through you (Ephesians 2:10)

Love Your Enemies

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“Ye have heard that it hath been said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.’   But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?”
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48

Love your enemies?  Really!  What a preposterous and crazy thought.  To the human flesh this sounds foolish, and you fear being run over by someone who will take advantage of your love and kindness.

Jesus says also in those verses, “Love your neighbor.”  Jesus was asked that question before He tells us the parable of the “Good Samaritan”  (Luke 10:29-37).  The good Samaritan was the only one who showed the man, who had been beaten and left for dead, love and kindness.

So who is our neighbor?  The stranger who needs help.  The man or woman who is a drug addict who is found lying in the gutter, pleading for help.  The boy or girl who is be abused, and wants help.  We are all neighbors one of another.

I know a young man who was driving, with his family , and they were on their way to town, they went by a neighbors house, and saw a fire burning outside that house from a wood furnace.  He pulled in the driveway, went and knocked on the door.  No one was home, so he told his wife go get the Fire Department, which was close by.  While she was doing that the young man went to the fire, and started pulling the burning wood away from the building.  It was actually started to burn the poles of their carport.  The Firemen showed up and they kept the house from burning.

That is part of what a good neighbor is.  Watching over, and caring for those in need, as we go about  our daily needs

If every one is a neighbor, then that includes enemies.

How can we love those who oppose us, despise us,  and we are to bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us?  There is only one way, and that is to have the love of God in you.  The way to have the love of God in  you is to yield your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing that you are a sinner separated from God, and confessing Jesus as your Lord, and believing that God has raised  Him from the dead.  When you get Jesus, you will receive the Holy Spirit, who is Christ in you – God in you.

The Fire That Cleanses

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“And think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father:’ for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew 3:9-2

The sins and need for the light of God to shine so that the people of Israel, and the Gentiles might know the true God.  That is what John the Baptizer is addressing.  To the Jew first, and then to the nations of the world.

John is bold in addressing the sin of the religious leaders calling them a “…generation of vipers”, and asking them, “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”  These were the Sadducees and the Pharisees; and they did not care for John, who unrecognized by them, was God’s messenger sent by God to prepare the way for God’s Messiah.

Notice that John has great respect for the One he is declaring to the people who come out to  hear him that he is not worthy to loosen His shoes.  Of course he is speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The prophet says, “He is mightier than I,” “He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,”  then John takes to a threshing floor where the grain is separated from the chaff, and shows us what happens to the chaff after the threshing.  The chaff being good for nothing is cast into the fire, and burned up.

Fire is a destructive power when not used properly.  It can be used to destroy.  It can be used for purging the land.  The fire John is speaking of is completely under control and purges the hearts of God’s people so that we might live a righteous, and holy life for Him, and produce more fruit for His glory.

Jesus will separate the wheat from the chaff, and save the wheat, and burn the chaff to have a cleansed floor.  The invitation is “Call on Me and I answer you, and will show you great and mighty things which you do no know” (Jeremiah 33:3).  Will you call on Him.  Surrender your life to Him, and just watch Him work on you and in you.

Rolled Back From The Door

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In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of Him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Matthew 28:1-4

On the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ it was a joyous occasion for all those who loved Him; but it does seem they were surprised by it.  Jesus had told them, many times that He would be put to death and on the third day He would rise again.

Some how they did not understand that the Messiah would die, and be raised to life again.  Now, because Jesus has arisen His disciples will believe, because they have seen Him; yet, Jesus says in the Gospel of John, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29.  That means even you and me, all who believe today.

We solely believe the written, inspired, inerrant word of God to be true in every thing  it tells us about Jesus; the whole counsel of God.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ secures for us assurance that we too will experience resurrection.

Great Faith

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When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  And Jesus said unto the centurion, “Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Matthew 8:10-13

Do we recognize authority when we see it?  This Gentile Roman centurion knew authority.  He was the leader of one hundred men, and if he gave a soldier an order it was followed by the action of the order.  If he told the trooper to go, he went.  If he told him to stay, he stayed.

The centurion has a servant who is near dying from some sickness.  Because he has heard that Jesus was healing many, the centurion has recognized  Jesus as One having authority.

Jesus us amazed by this man’s faith that He speak to the Jews about theirs’.  He tells the people who are there that there will be many from around the world who are not Jews who will be in His kingdom, and many of them who call themselves the children of God will have no part of His kingdom.  It is because they have not believed the Scriptures concerning the Messiah, and they refuse to hear Him unto obedience.

Because of his faith the centurion’s servant is healed, at the same hour Jesus spoke the word (Read Luke 7).  A Roman centurion exposing his faith in the One who has authority and gives with authority.

We do not need to see Jesus to believe in Him or to believe Him.  We believe we will see Him someday, but we do not know when we will see Him.  We keep hanging on to His promise that He will come again (John 14:1-3).

The “We” in the last paragraph is those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, and we have received Him as our authority for salvation, sanctification, and glorification.  If you have not believed on Him and believed His words; why not?

First Witnesses of the Resurrection

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And the angel answered and said unto the women, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.”  And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.
Matthew 28:5-8

It would have been a wonderful thing to have walked with Jesus while He walked here on this planet He loved so strongly, that He was willing to give His life for all who would believe in Him.

O, what a sad, and grievous day. It was the day He was crucified, and died after going through such treacherous torture, and abuse at the hands of men who hated Him, despised and rejected Him. The One who had did no sin, having become sin for us died a brutal and cruel death, and the rejection of His Father to the extent that He cries out in the darkness, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” (Matthew 27:45-46). He could have called ten thousand to His aid, but He did not. He was faithful to the Father through the abuse and the lies told about Him, and through the rejection of the Father; because He cannot “Look upon sin” (Habakkuk 1:13).

Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb given to Him by a wealthy man, thus fulfilling the Scriptures of Isaiah 53:9. In the life of Jesus, and in His death He  fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the coming of the Messiah; even in His death.

Something happened three days following His death. It was a glorious event, a marvelous thing that happened. I personally would call it the greatest event in human history. Jesus came out of that tomb alive. He had gotten up off of that stone bed, and still wrapped in His burial wraps, took them off, and laid them aside with head wrap, folded and by itself laid aside.

Then women came to the tomb to see it, and to see about rolling the stone away from the door, so they could enter. This took place on the first day of the week [Sunday]. When they arrived at the sepulcher and the stone rolled away by an angel, and they begin to be afraid. This being, this angel tells them, “Fear not. You look for Jesus. He is not here, for He has risen just as He said.” O, the shock, and the awe of that moment when they see this man/angel, then hear him speak saying that Jesus is not here. He has risen just as He said.

Then, the women follow the instructions given them my this heavenly messenger. They go and tell the disciples. As they were going to tell the disciples what the visitor had said, they met Jesus alive, fall down and worship Him, holding onto His feet, and He gives the women the same message the angel had given them, “Go into Galilee, and they shall see Me” (Matthew 28:8-9).

You may have trouble understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ, however it is the only means by which we can be saved unto Christ, and eternal life. You are not as good as you think you are. You are more evil than you believe yourself to be. You will become a hateful, negative, despiteful human being, full of sin, and  hardened heart toward all that is holy and righteous, if you continue to reject Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

Will you call on His name today?

Fig Trees and Mountains

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Jesus answered and said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, ‘Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea;’ it shall be done.  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
Matthew 21:21-22

These words of Jesus are spoken by Jesus as they leave Bethany, He has seen a fig tree from a distance, it has leaves, but when Jesus gets there it has no figs. He was wanting a fig to eat. The tree was advertising that it had something it did not have. Jesus said the the fig tree, “Let no fruit grow on you henceforward forever,” and the fig tree wilted.

This caught the disciples attention, and they were amazed I am sure. Then Jesus tells us that not only can He do that if we have faith without doubting then we can say to a mountain “Be cast into the sea;’ and it shall be done.” Now this seems almost unbelievable, but so does many things that Jesus did. He did it with faith, believing that He is the Son of God, the Son of Man. Here stood the Incarnation of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and all things submitted to His authority. His words cause me to rejoice that that authority is given to me, but I feel that I doubt too much as well.

I have faith that what  He says is true. Everything He does is true. I trust Him. We need to know that faith is a gift from God, so our faith, must be in Him alone. We do not have faith in faith, that is idolatry. We are to have faith in God, and His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Faith in the Trinity of God means that we will not selfishly pray for stuff we do not need, nor things that might be harmful to us; but for things according to His name.

When things are prayed for according to His will, or that is, in His name, then we will see wilted fig trees and moving mountains.

These things are not possible without knowing Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord of your life. Believe that He died on the cross for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose and came out of the grave alive forever more. Call on His name turning away from Your sin to Him..

Going Up To Jerusalem

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I have heard froAnd Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”
Matthew 20:17-19
m Bible scholars, and teachers, many of whom have been to Jerusalem; that no matter from which we you are coming to Jerusalem, you are always going up to Jerusalem.

The Lord Jesus had His eyes set on the one day that He would go to the city one final time, and He would give His life that the world might be saved.

Hear what Jesus says,

And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”
Matthew 20:17-19

Though, it is not written as the words of Jesus chapter 16:21 tells us that Jesus told them that He was going to Jerusalem, suffer and die, and that He would rise again. It never seemed to sink into their understanding. Then He tells them once again in chapter 17:22-23 and they still do not get it. They believed that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13-19).

The twelve disciples were blinded by their own understanding of what the Messiah was supposed to do. They were possibly come to understand, and believe that the Messiah was only a Savior for the Jew, and not the Gentile. They did not understand the meanings of the prophecies of His first coming, they were thinking the Christ was coming to conquer Rome and deliver Israel and set up His kingdom on earth. They were wrong, and soon found that out.

Every prophecy concerning the Messiah was fulfilled in the coming of Christ as a suffering Servant, and He was faithful, even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:8).

As we are getting near the end of the Gospel according to Matthew, we know that what Jesus spoke was true, and is still true; Christ Jesus died for our sins. It is not the best way of salvation; it is the only way of salvation. No one will be saved by keeping the law, or by living by the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection is the only way.

The Fruit of Words

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People, we have gotten careless with our words. We disagree with a friend or foe, and we suddenly find ourselves in the middle of a personal war, not understanding what has been said, by another. Accusing another of saying something they did not say.

Cursing and swearing and using the name of the Lord God in vain. I am not so sure that cursing a neighbor might be taking the Lord’s name in vain as well.

We all need to learn to listen, more than speak. Well what is the fruit of our words? Let us see what Jesus says,

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 12:33-37

What we speak comes from the heart. The abundance of the heart comes from what we put into our lives. If you spend your life after things, objects to possess, or finding a way to be more attractive, wealthy, or powerful, then the abundance of your heart will have you speaking words of death, and not life.

As Christians we need to be feeding our thinking and thoughts with the word of God, so that when we speak we speak words of the abundance of wealth that we have through Jesus Christ. Wealth is not necessarily material. It also can be a life that is at peace with God, one’s self, and with others; speaking words of life.

Jesus says, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” so if that be the case fill your heart with the holy and good things. Words that glorify God, will be a step in the right direction. Songs with words that lift up the name of Jesus will be a way of filling your heart.

Note that Jesus also says, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

We had at best be watching what and how we use our words. When we use name calling someone something that is a way of ruining their person or character that is the kind of words that lead to destruction. When we speak words of truth with the love of God upon them, then that leads to justification.

When we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then we ought always speak the words that lead to life and godliness.

If you have not heard; Jesus is the Incarnation of God who came to earth to die for the sins of Adam’s race that we might receive forgiveness for our sin, and be justified by God. He died, He was buried, and He rose again. Call on Him today and you will receive eternal life, freedom from the bondage of sin and death.

The Fulfilling of the Law, and the Prophets

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Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20

The following is from October 10, 2017. There is one verse from the Revelation that I feel compelled to add, and that is

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, “See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. ” Revelation 19:10

Many a man and woman have said something like this, “I live by the Sermon on the mount”. My thought when I hear that, though I usually say nothing is, “O really.” Do we think about what Jesus says in the sermon? It is stronger than the law. The law says, “Do not commit adultery”. Jesus says, “If a man looks at a woman with lust he is guilty of adultery”. Now tell me that you live by the Sermon on the Mount.

In the words of Jesus above Jesus is declaring that He is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. He did not destroy them, or lay them aside, He is their fulfillment. Jesus is what they spoke of and what they speak of.

When reading the Scriptures from Genesis through the Revelation we can see Jesus. He is creating in Genesis 1, and He is finishing His great salvation in Revelation 22.

From the comma to the final period of the law, all will be fulfilled, and it will take place while there is a heaven and an earth. All through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Righteousness is a good thing. True righteousness comes through the faith of Jesus Christ. All the righteousnesses of sinful men is as filthy rags before holy God (Isaiah 64:6). Our righteousness must come through the cross of Jesus. It must be given us by God Himself. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus we enter the kingdom of heaven.

I Have Told You

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In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.”
Matthew 28:1-7