Monthly Archives: July 2022

Matthew 22- God Of The Living

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The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. Matthew 22:23-29

It’s a repetitive theme in the gospels, but the religious leaders once again are trying to test Jesus. Now notice they are trying to test Christ on his interpretation of Moses (Mosaic Law), and their position is there is no resurrection. For Christianity, the resurrection of Christ , is the central theme of our faith. As the Apostle Paul said “If Christ is not risen, then our faith is useless” (1 Corinthians 15:17) 

The religious leaders try to use some ridiculous scenario, where a husband dies and his wife and passed down to each brother, as they all died also. The reality of this example is non-existent, everyone knows the possibility of all this happening is pretty much impossible, but these are the types of arguments you get against Christianity, arguments that are based on emotion rather than logic and reason. Jesus shut them down pretty quick by saying “You don’t know the scriptures and you don’t know God”

By Jesus telling the religious leaders of Israel, they don’t know the scriptures and they don’t know God, would be very insulting for them since they claim to have devoted their lives to the scriptures and God. Jesus was pointing out the unsincerity in their hearts, these guys didn’t truly love God, they loved their religion and power

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. Matthew 22:30-33

The Resurrection is the foundation for our faith, we worship a Risen Lord, we worship the God of the living and not the dead. Anyone who rejects the Risen Christ, rejects God. The same God of Abraham , Isaac, and Jacob is the same God of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the religious leaders couldn’t comprehend this because they didn’t truly know or love God. 

Those who reject the living soul, also reject God. How can God be the God of the Living if your not alive? As the Apostle Paul also said “To depart from the body is to be with The Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) We worship a Risen Lord, the same Lord over Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the same Lord over Matthew, Mark, Luke , and John, The Lord of all Lords , The God of the Living, Amen!

Matthew 22- Render to God and Country

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Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.  Matthew 22:15-22

Again we see the religious leaders testing Jesus again, this time it was about taxes. Now this was a trick question, if Jesus said the Jews didn’t have to pay taxes to the Romans, then the Romans could arrest Christ. However if Jesus told the Jews to continue to pay their taxes to the Romans, then the Jews would turn on Jesus. So the religious leaders believed they had Jesus in a no win situation, however they underestimated who Jesus truly is, God in the flesh

Jesus answered the question with another question “Whose image is on the coin” Of course the answer was Caesar, so Christ told them “Render to Caesar what is Caesers and Render to God what is Gods” Christ was telling them to Pay your taxes to your country  and Pay your tithes to God. We as Christians are to be good citizens, to be a good example for other people. We must remember that we are just temporary citizens of this world, our Kingdom is not of this world, we are citizens of Heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20)

When the Jews heard Jesus say this they were marveled or amazed, why? Because many had the wrong idea of who The Messiah was to be. Many Jews were hoping Jesus came to setup his Earthly Kingdom and destroy the Roman Empire, but that was not Christ’s mission. Jesus came to save the sinners , including the Romans, Christ came so we can become Born Again, and set free from sin and death

I’m sure many Jews at this point, decided to reject Jesus Christ, because God was not fulfilling their will. Many people are still like this today, they create a God in their own image to fulfill their own will, this is idolatry. Even if we don’t fully understand Gods will, we must be obedient to Christ. Jesus came to gather his elect, to gather his lost sheep, to set the captives free!

Even today, we are oppressed by our governments, however we as good Christians, we pay our taxes and try to follow the Laws of the government. However if the laws of the government defy the law of God, then the Bible is clear we are to “Obey God rather than Man” (Acts 5:29) A good example is abortion, God hates those who shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:17) therefor we as Christians will never support and comply with any abortion laws set by the governments.

Render to God and to Country,  Strive to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:18) Pay your taxes to the government and pay your tithes to God, but live in obedience to your Lord and King Jesus Christ, Amen!

Matthew 22- Parable of the Wedding Feast

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And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matthew 22:1-9

Just like the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, Jesus once again is teaching a parable about the New Covenant, the Gentiles now becoming Children of God through the blood of Christ. The return of Christ is compared to a Great Wedding Feast, Jesus is the groom and the Church is the bride of Christ. However in this parable, when the Wedding Feast was announced, many would not come. Israel rejected their Messiah, Jesus. Instead of receiving their Lord they crucified on a Roman pagan cross!

The scripture says “The remnant took his servants and persecuted and killed them” This is describing once again , the treatment Israel did to the prophets of God. When prophets like Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah spoke the word of God and told Israel to repent, they persecuted them and sometimes killed them. God said “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy” How are we worthy to enter the Kingdom of God? Only by being washed by the blood of Jesus Christ and being sanctified with the Holy Spirit in the name of The Father!

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:10-14

The New Covenant is for Jew and Gentiles, who are Born Again through Jesus Christ. Your religion or nationality won’t save your soul, only the blood of Christ can save you! Notice those who reject Christ will be cast in outer darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth, this is another warning about Hell. Weeping and Gnashing of teeth is not temporary , it’s the eternal destiny of the wicked, those who reject Jesus Christ as their Lord

Many are called but few are chosen, why? Because many refuse to repent of their sins, many refuse to make Jesus their Lord and be obedient to his commands, many are defiled with sin and not filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, be ready for the Great Wedding Feast is coming soon! Amen!

Matthew 21- The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

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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. Matthew 21:33-39

When Jesus taught this Parable of the Wicked Tenant, the religious leaders were probably cut to the heart, because they knew Christ was talking about Israel. Another thing to point out, is Jesus is once again prophesying about his death, that the Messiah had to die at the hands of sinful men. The Lord also talks about the prophets, that were repeatedly persecuted and killed by Israel , because Israel didn’t want to listen to the warnings by God. 

Israel was God’s elect people, and God provided and blessed this nation. However what happened, they choose to worship their false religion and idols, rather than repent and turn to the living God who delivered them out of slavery from Egypt. Throughout the Old Testament, we see many prophets God sent to preach His word, and time after time we see the same results , Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, ect they were all persecuted sometimes even killed, because Israel refused to repent and listen to Yahweh

So God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Christ, surely Israel would listen to their King and God in the flesh. However Israel rejected their Messiah, and they crucified him on a cross, just as Christ predicted would happen in this parable

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. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Matthew 21:40-43

The stone which the builders (Israel) rejected is the Chief Cornerstone (Jesus Christ) Israel rejected their Messiah, the Son of God, therefore Christ established his New Covenant with Jew and Gentile, anyone who is Born Again through Christ will be part of God’s Kingdom. As the scripture says “The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you (Israel) Anyone who rejected Jesus Christ as Lord, rejects God. Nobody is saved by their religion or nationality, you can only be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, to wash away your sins

The New Covenant was prophesied by the same prophets that Israel persecuted, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Daniel all foretold about the coming of Jesus and the New Covenant. Everyone who calls upon the name of The Lord Jesus Christ, shall be saved! Amen!

Matthew 21- Parable of The Two Sons

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But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him. Matthew 21:28-32

How does anyone inherit eternal life? Who will enter into the Kingdom of  Heaven? Jesus makes it very clear in this parable about the Two Sons. As Christ said “Unless you are Born Again , you can see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) This is the heart and root of this parable, your religion can’t save you, your family can’t save you, only the blood of Christ and the baptism of the Holy Spirit can save you! You have to be transformed and renewed, you need to become a New Creature (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The first son, rejected God at first, they were a wretched sinner, however eventually they repented. The word Repent means to change your mind or turn away from, Repentance is vital to your salvation. You must repent of your sins with godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10) You need to be Born Again in Christ, you can’t still be the same sinner you were and claim to be Born Again. As the scripture says “As a  dog returns to its own vomit” (Proverbs 26:11) This is the same to someone who claims to have repented yet continues in the same sin, your a dog going back to your own vomit. Remember Repent is to turn away , it’s a change, you need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit!

The other son, claimed to obey God, they claimed to love God, but didn’t do anything God commanded them to do. They are a Lukewarm Christian and Christ said he will vomit them out of his mouth (Revelation 3:15-16) They are the most repulsive people to God, those who claim to be religious yet live like a devil. Those who have not truly repented, have never become Born Again in Christ, they have never received the Holy Spirit, yet they claim they are a Christian. They live for the world instead of Christ, they live for power and prestige, they are not saved because they have not done the will of our Heavenly Father

There is a clear line drawn between the saved and the unsaved. Jesus said “Repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15) From the beginning of Christ ministry, he preached repentance for salvation. Yet today we have watered down the gospel so much, everyone believes they are saved without repentance. They are like the second son, claiming to love God, but their fruits (Matthew 7) their lives tell a different story

Jesus ends this parable with a shocking statement “The tax collectors and the prostitutes will enter the Kingdom of God before you” I believe this was directed at the religious leaders listening. Religion won’t save your soul, only Jesus Christ can save your soul, Repent and believe the gospel , Amen!