Monday, March 18, 2024

Phony Verses Sincere

N.T.#265 "Phony Verses Sincere"

March 18, 2024 

Matthew 223-Part 7

LET IT GLOW

We have finished the 8 rebukes of Jesus for the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees. Jesus rightly accused them of:

  • deceit (verses 41-42)
  • pride (verse 43)
  • inconsistency (verses 44-46)
  • condoning murder and conspiracy (verses 47-51)
  • hindering people from being saved. (verse 53). (Luke 11)
 [Resource: Liberty Bible Commentary]

Soul check--Are any of those qualities found in us? We are to look, walk, and act differently. Our actions should be due to love within us-the love of the Father and Son, Jesus Christ. Can others tell a difference in us and the unsaved worldly?

LET IT GROW

Jerusalem contained the beloved, chosen Jews. They were to make a difference in their world, showing the love of God. Yet, their religious leaders became self-centered, greedy, and power-hungry. They killed the prophets sent to warn the sinners to repent before calamity came upon them. They stoned those sent with the Truth and Word from God-Stephen and Jesus.

Since God is sovereign, He is fully capable of bringing to pass whatever He desires. (Isaiah 46:10) This includes the salvation of whomever He chooses. (Eph. 1:4,5) Yet He sometimes expresses a wish for that which He does not sovereignly bring to pass. He is full of compassion, sincerely good to all, desirous of good, not evil, and no delighted with the destruction of the wicked. (Ezek.18:32) He pleas for the repentance of the reprobate, shows goodness toward the wicked, has genuine mercy. (Rom. 2:4) (MacArthur) 

Jesus would have gathered Jerusalem like children, like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings in a storm. Chicks in danger run to mamma hen. But the Jews would not! What a deep, sincere passion. All of Jesus' feelings must be in perfect harmony with the divine will. (John 8:29) Jesus desired to gather the people of Israel and restore their blessings as their Messiah, but they would not repent of their sins and believe He is the Messiah.

In verse 38, Jesus foretells about the destruction coming in 70 AD. The Roman army swept through Judea, laid siege to Jerusalem, and destroyed the city and the temple then. They were not going to see Jesus again until He said: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (verse 39).

Is Jesus reaching out His hands to you to gather you into His embrace? 

Paul told us "A partial hardening has happened to Israel unto the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved. "(Romans 11:25-26) 

When the complete number of Gentiles has entered the kingdom of God, the spiritual blindness of the nation Israel shall be removed. (Falwell)

Are you one who has trusted Jesus as your Savior and repented of your sins? If not, do it today.

LET IT GO

Use us today to share Your love, salvation, mercy.

Help us surrender our all to You.

May we not be a phony spiritual person, but sincere.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Compassionate and Longsuffering

 N.T.#264  "Compassionate and Longsuffering"

March 15, 2024 

Matthew 23-Part 6

LET IT GLOW 

In verse 34, Jesus is wrapping up His rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees after the 8 woes to those hypocrites. Verse 34 is reference to the disciples, prophets, evangelists, and pastors who followed them. He gave gifts to men and the gifted men to the church-apostles and Paul. (Eph. 4:11)

Verse 35 is a little puzzling, yet it refers to Zechariah the prophet was martyred between the temple and the altar in a way similar to how the previous Zechariah was killed. 

That generation experienced the utter destruction of Jerusalem and the burning of the temple in A.D. 70. It came as judgment which Jesus was speaking about, and the removal of the blessing of God from the temple. (verses 37-38) (MacArthur)

LET IT GROW

We read of the compassion of Jesus in verse 37. He delights in good, not evil, and was not delighted in the destruction of the Temple. Ezekiel 18L30-32 challenged the house of Israel to repent and turn from all their transgressions, so they would not be a stumbling block that caused their punishment. They needed a new heart and a new spirit. the Lord takes no pleasure in anyone's death, so should they die? Repent and live. 

If we renounce our life's direction of sin and rebellion and turn to God, He will give us a new direction, a new love, and a new power to change. Determine to trust in God's power by faith to change you heart and mind. Then determine to live each day with Him in control. (Eph. 4:22-24) (Life Application Study Bible)

Dear one, have you had a change of heart, mind, and will? Jesus can give it to you when you come to Him by faith, repenting of your sins.

LET IT GO

What a loving and compassionate Savior You are, Sweet Jesus!

How longsuffering You are, waiting on us to repent and turn to You.

Help us be loving, compassionate, and longsuffering, too.


Thursday, March 14, 2024

Clean Inside and Out

 N.T.#263 "Clean Inside and Out"

March 14, 2024

Matthew 23-Part 5

LET IT GLOW 

Don't we like to wear clean clothes and have taken a shower or bath to remove dirt from our body? Yet more important is our heart and soul. Are we concerned with keeping sin out of our mind and soul? Do we daily confess our sins to Jesus? Some men had this problem. Check it out.

We are finishing the 8 woes Jesus gave to the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees. Jesus saw their hearts and they were unclean. 

7. They were like whitewashed tombs-beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. Those guys looked like righteous people outwardly, but inwardly their hearts were filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. (NLT) Oh, they appeared clean, pure, holy, and spotless, yet their heart had a stench of death and corruption. (verses 27-28)

Tombs were regularly whitewashed to make them stand out. Accidentally touching or stepping on a grave caused ceremonial uncleanness. (Numbers 19:16) (MacArthur)

No matter how much you decorate the exterior of a grave, the interior still contains death. The Pharisees seemed righteous to People on the outside, but on the inside they had wicked motives and desires. (Evans)

Are we clean from the inside out? Does our heart match our appearance?

LET IT GROW

8. The last woe to the scribes and Pharisees who built tombs of the prophets and decorated the graves of the righteous. (verse 29) They claimed that THEY would not have joined with their forefathers who killed the Old Testament-era prophets. Yet at the same time, they were rejecting the Messiah and planning to murder Him. They were just like those who had gone before them and murdered the prophets. (verse 31) (Tony Evans)

What a ridiculous claim to self-righteousness. How sad the influence those guys had on the people. Folks wee bullied all their lives by the man-made rules enforced by guilt and shame. They learned to hate rather than love the things of God. These were the strongest words Jesus ever delivered during His 33 year ministry. He confronted those whose influence reached well beyond His number.

Are we wearing a mask, pretending to be a Christian, with a clean heart?

LET IT GO

Cleanse my heart O God, make it ever pure. Cleanse my heart O God, may I be like you.

Thank You Jesus for providing a way to heaven, a way to live pleasing the Father, a way to show others love You have for them.

Show us our sins and help us admit them. 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Is Your Heart Sparkling Clean?

N.T.#262 "Is Your Heart Sparkling Clean?"

March 13, 2024 

Matthew 23-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

When we moved, I wanted clean dishes in my cabinet, so I spent a lot of time washing them. The crystal in my display cabinet was dirty, for I had not washed them for quite some time. I wanted them to sparkle from the inside out. Jesus want us to sparkle for Him, too, with clean hearts and clean hands. 

We are continuing the rebukes Jesus gave to the scribes and Pharisees. They were stumbling blocks in the way of sinners coming to repentance of their sins and conversion, shutting up heaven against men. These religious teachers were hypocrites. They devour widows' houses and make long pretending prayers.

3.They become missionaries of evil, spreading legalism like a disease. Using deception to capture converts, their ways were zealous without knowledge. (verse 15) Help us not block the way of salvation for people, Jesus.

4. This group taught that taking an oath, swearing by the Temple, altar, or heaven, a person was not bound to keep the oath. However, taking an oath in the name of the gold of the Temple, the gift on the altar, or the throne of God, the oath was binding. See how the Pharisees and scribes twisted the Word to make it their own? (verses 16-22)

Any oath made before God should be kept. Are we being the kind of example that honors our God? Do we keep our oaths with people and with God? What do folks know us as keeping our word or breaking promises? Are we honoring the Lord with our way of life?

LET IT GROW

5. They were careful to tithe even the tiniest income from their herb gardens, but ignore the more important aspects of the law-justice, mercy, and faith. Counting the tiny seeds and tiny leaves for offerings with precision, was not what counted. In little matters the Pharisees kept the law, but  completely overlooked its more important precepts. Certainly tithing is important, just don't overlook justice, mercy, and faith. Are we neglecting compassion for others while trying to remain faithful to God? (verse 23)

6. Sorrow awaited these religious leaders who were so careful to clean the outside of a cup and dish, but the inside was filthy. First clean the inside and then the outside will become clean too. Exhorting from others is wrong. These guys had hearts full of greed, self-indulgence, and wickedness. (verse 25-26)

External purity was pointless if hearts were filled with robbery and selfishness. Who wants to drink from a cup that is clean on the outside, yet filthy on the inside? The Pharisees considered the external appearance more important than the internal reality. Their behavior was hypocritical. Jesus rebuked them often. Are we desiring to have a dirty heart and clean actions or a clean heart and clean actions?

LET IT GO

Lord Jesus, I don't want to live like a hypocrite.

Cleans my mind, heart, will, emotions, soul, and body for sins.

Make me a clean vessel for the Holy spirit to occupy.

To You be the glory forever. 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

What is Our Motive for Serving?

N.T. #261 "What is Our Motive for Serving?"

March 12, 2024 

Matthew 23-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

Are you being a self-servant, exalting yourself, or a servant of Jesus, exalting Him? (verses 11-12) Love people to Jesus should be our motive for serving. God will give us opportunities if we are looking for them. For example, yesterday, a family member had surgery. My husband with to be with them in the hospital while I took their child to and from school. In between times, I fixed food for them whenever they got home, exhausted. We didn't do it for show or thanks, but out of love for them.

Today, we begin reading about the 7 woes with which Jesus confronted the scribes and Pharisees. (verses 13-36) 

In the Greek language, woe means exclamation of grief; hypocrites is an actor under an assumed character (stage-player).

Why should this group of acting-religious guys be sorrowful?

1. They were condemning others, while rejecting the kingdom of heaven through Jesus Christ, being a stumbling block to prevent others receiving salvation. (verse 13) 

Rather than drawing others into God's kingdom life with the glorious message of forgiveness and hope, they intentionally resisted the truth themselves and stood in the way of others. The scribes and Pharisees were only performing outward observances, wearing elaborate garb, keeping tedious rules and regulations when people were watching. Behind the religious mask, they harbored bitterness, envy, hatred, pride, arrogance, even murder.  (Swindoll)

Did Jesus hold back? It was time He put them in their place. Remember, Jesus saw their hearts. He sees ours as well. Are we being a noisy cymbal or loud gong, pointing to our servanthood, like this group? Or are we genuinely serving with love, doing unto others like we want them to do unto us? 

LET IT GROW

2. They exhorted money from the helpless and put them into debt and bondage, while making an outward show of religion. Theirs was the greater sentence. (verse 14) These guys were greedy for money, so they administered the estates of widows.

Their long prayers was only a pretense of a loving heart. Being a religious leader in Jerusalem was different back them. The religious leaders were the best known, most powerful, and most respected of all leaders. Jesus' stinging accusations were revealing their hunger for more power, money, and status. However, they lost sight of God and and their blindness was spreading to the whole nation. (Life Application Study Bible)

Are our prayers for show or from a humble heart? Are we speaking to God or to people listening?

To Jesus, greatness came from serving. Are we aware of the needs of others? It stops us from focusing only on ourself. What kind of greatness are we seeking? Are we serving God's way or our way? Things to think about.

 LET IT GO

 Help us let go of money, power, status, Jesus.

May we serve someone today out of a heart of love for You and them.

To God be the glory forever and ever.

Monday, March 11, 2024

Serving and Humility

N.T.#260 "Serving and Humility"

March 11, 2024 

Matthew 23-Part 2

LET IT GLOW 

It is one thing to love being honored and another thing to seek it for yourself, like the scribes and Pharisees. they thought too highly for themselves. Here we read of more teachings of Jesus:

  • There is one Master, Christ. (Master is a guide, a teacher.) (verses 8 and 10)
  • All are brethren, brothers in Christ. (No pulling rank here.)
  • Call no man your father on earth. (verse 9)
  • One is our Father in heaven, whom we worship and exult. Thus, our Heavenly Father. (verse 9)
The Rabbi were placing themselves above others and on a pedestal. Thee are no spiritual titles for us. Believers in Christ are brothers and sisters of the faith.

Philippians 2:3-4 says, Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Do we pray for our pastor, teachers, and leaders? They are equipping the saints for the work of service. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

LET IT GLOW 

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (verse 11)

A servant is a minister or attendant. When was the last time you served someone who could not do anything for you in return? That is what Jesus did.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (verse 12)

Humility is an ornament which is a great price in the sight of God. Are we being humble?


LET IT GO

Jesus, You are our Master, Teacher.

god, You alone are our Heavenly Father/

May we serve You today as we serve others.

Thank You for choosing us to be Your child.

Grow our faith so we honor You above all.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Doing What We Say

N.T.#259 "Doing What We Say"

March 9, 2024 

Matthew 23 

LET IT GLOW 

Jesus warns the crowds and His disciples about the religious leaders in this chapter. 

The scribes and Pharisees were:

  •  good at telling others what to do but not good at carrying those instructions out themselves. they say and do not; (verse 3)
  • weighing down the Jews with burdens (a task or service, something carried) that were grievous (hard, with difficulty) not lifting a finger to help; (verse 4)
  • works done to be seen, for show, extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture inside and extra long tassels on their robes; (verse 5)
  • sitting at the head of the table at banquets and seats of honor in the synagogues; (verse 6)
  • loving to be called Rabbi, as an respectful greeting in the marketplaces. (verse 7)
Those religious leaders were not a living example of what they were teaching. 

LET IT GROW

We are to be doing what we say, an example of our teachings. 
What can we learn from them?
  • Practice what we preach/teach , .Be doers of the Word, not just hearers. Live integrity and not as a hypocrite.
  • Live by standards that are reachable for common people. Show sympathy and love.
  • Don't do things for show, but with humility model life like Jesus did.
  • Watch what we say, where we sit, every word we utter, act we perform, and title we have for the glory of God, not ourselves.

 Are we helping others come to Jesus or are we complaining about people in the church? Are we drawing attention to how "holy we are?" Do we sit in places of honor instead of dwelling among servants? How does our family, friends, the lost, and church people perceive us? Are we loving others as ourself?

LET IT GO

Love and serve others, letting go of pride.

Love and serve Jesus, not ourself.

Live what we say.