Sacrifice, Obedience, and a Wedding

N.T.#99 "Sacrifice, Obedience, and a Wedding"

June 26, 2023

Matthew 9-Part 7

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. (verse 13)

LET IT GLOW

Shall we take a step back and do as Jesus told the Pharisees-learn what Jesus' statement above means? God says many times that He doesn't want our gifts and sacrifices when we give them out of ritual or hypocrisy. If a person's heart is far from God, then sacrifices will become a ritual that is empty mockery. God wants us first to love and obey Him. 

Life Application Study Bible gives us some verses concerning this matter. Instead of sacrifices, what pleases God?

• Obedience is better than sacrifice. (1 Sam. 15:22-23)
• God wants us to take joy and delight in doing His will. (Ps. 40:6-8)
• He wants the broken and repentant heart. (Ps. 51:16-19)
• God desires our obedience and promises that He will be our God and we will be His people. (Hosea 6:6)
• God hates pretense and hypocrisy, for He wants to see justice flow like water. (Amos 5:21-24)
• He wants us to act justly, love mercy (faithfulness), and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:6-8)
• God wants us to be merciful. (Matthew 9:13) 

When religious rituals replace our relationship with God, then we are going down the wrong path. However, religious rituals, as baptism and the Lord's Supper can be carried out with an attitude of love for and obedience to God. (Tithing is a heart matter which shows we love God more than money. We trust Him to provide for us. It is an act of obedience rather than a ritual.)

Why do we go to worship services? What is our motive behind our offerings and sacrifices?

Like Matthew, we must decide to leave behind those things that would keep us from fully following Christ.

LET IT GROW

Then a different group confronts Jesus, the disciples of John the Baptist, with a question. (verse 14) Why don't your disciples fast like John's disciples and the Pharisees do? He answered it like this:

Wedding guests do not fast while celebrating with the groom. They can't fast while he is with them. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. In other words, celebrate and be happy, for one day, the church will become the bride of Christ at the Marriage of the Lamb. (Rev. 19)

Are you going to be with us in heaven, dear one? Is your soul washed with the precious blood of Jesus? Have you joined with other believers in Jesus in a church?

LET IT GO

What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see. And I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace. And He takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promised Land. What a day, glorious day that will be!

There is coming a day for all of us, when stand before Holy Jesus, our Judge. Are you ready?