388th Post Jesus Words from the Cross Con't. - John 19: 26.

John 19: 26
Woman, behold your son!
Jesus spoke these words the day He died. Jesus was looking down from the cross and sees His disciple John and His earthly mother standing at the foot of the cross. In Israel, widows had no rights under Jewish law. They would have to go to the fields, and glean their food. Widow's had no where to live. They would have to go to their family for their needs. Jesus, being the oldest of Mary's family, took it upon Himself to make arrangements for Mary's future. Jesus told John, the youngest disciple to treat Mary as his mother from today on. John made good on his promise to Jesus and took care of Mary for the rest of her life. John took Mary from the cross to his home. Jesus showed that He really cared for His Mother, by making sure she would be looked after, after He died and left the earth. We as Christians, sometimes forget that Jesus was born a Jew, lived by their laws and their commands. We tend to think that God changed his mind about the Jews and made Christians, His new promised people. This is wrong, there is no Bible verse or teaching that says this. Christians should look to the blessings of the Jews as proof that God will bless us as well.

387th Post Jesus Words from the Cross Con't. - Luke 23: 46.

Luke 23: 46.
Father, into your hands I commit My Spirit.
This was spoken by Jesus on the day of His crucifixion. Jesus was always in charge of His destiny. This is clearly shown here, that Jesus knew when He was going to die, and directed His Spirit into His Father's hand, (His control). Jesus allowed Himself to be captured, tortured and killed. We as Christians need to remember this, this is why when we look for someone to blame for Jesus' death, we need look no farther then our own sin. Adam brought sin into the world, and we needed a second Adam to take sin out of the world. Jesus accomplished this. This is why we need a Savior. The Bible is the story of how God created the world, and we in our selfishness fell into sin. God would not let us to fall into eternal damnation, He (God) provided His Son to come to earth to rescue us. The first step to coming to Christ is belief, then we must mature in our faith, by living our faith. When we do this, we start to take on the attributes of Jesus and applying them to our own lives. This is our command from Jesus, to deny ourselves and to take up our cross and follow Him. How are you doing with your walk??

386th Post Jesus Words from the Cross Con't. - Luke 23: 43

Luke 23: 43.
Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.
This was spoken by Jesus the day He died. Jesus was crucified between two thieves. At first the two were taunting Jesus along with the crowd at the foot of His cross. During the time spent on the cross, one of the thieves, stopped taunting and rebuked the other thief; saying we are paying for our crimes, but this Man is innocent. And then the thief asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His Kingdom. Jesus then uttered the words of our text listed above. This short phrase spoken by Jesus speaks volumes. Jesus forgave this man's sins. The Jews believe that Only God has the power to do that! Jesus went on to say today, you will be with Me in Paradise. Faith and works, have long been a debate in Christian circles. Faith in God must come first, then works become a proof of that faith. Jesus proves that here, clearly the thief was dying on the cross and could not perform any works before he died. This is what is meant by a death bed conversion. John 3: 16, is called the Gospel in a nut shell. If you check this verse, works are not mentioned at all. God gave us free choice, so that we could come to Him on our own. This passage shows that God forgives us unconditionally. Have you made up your mind yet??

385th Post Jesus Words From the Cross Con't. - Luke 23: 43.

Luke 23: 43.
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.
This was spoken by Jesus on the day of His crucifixion. Of all the people the Roman soldiers crucified, these simple words, they would remember. The Romans had just nailed His hands and feet to the wooden cross, and then lifted the cross up and dropped it into its place, between two thieves. This was also a fulfillment of prophecy. Look at our text again, see how soft and caring these words are. I am sure the Romans had heard plenty of words from many people they crucified, that included thought of their gods! But I would bet this was the first time, forgiveness was asked for on their behalf! I know forgiveness would be the farthest thing from my mind at a time like that. This is something I have to work on myself. Christ is the model, and I hope I remember this when it is my time to suffer for Him. We are all called to do that you know. Think of that Jesus is the Son of God, all He had to do is ask, and legions of Angels would have been at His disposal. I wonder if the taunts from the crowd, would have been as bad if the people knew just how much power He could summon to save Him. Jesus had to die for us to atone for all our sins. That was His purpose for coming into this world!

384th Jesus Words From the Cross Con't. - Matthew 27: 46

Matthew 27:46; Mark 15: 34.
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?
This was spoken by Jesus on the day He died. Those of you that are familiar with the Old Testament, may look at these words and know they were quoted by Jesus from Psalm 22. Psalm 22 was written by Jesus' 28 times great Grandfather, King David. What makes this Psalm even more interesting is that David wrote this Psalm, 3-500 years before crucifixion was invented by the Persians. When you read the rest of this Psalm, you will notice that King David wrote about what it must have felt like to be crucified. Old Testament prophecies, are fulfilled by Jesus death, several in this Psalm 22. Can you find them? Jesus said these words when the sins of the world were placed on Him. God the Father, being Holy could not look on sin, so when He turned His back, the Shekinah Glory; (This is God's natural radiance), left, it left the crucifixion scene in near darkness. It was darker that day, than most from noon to three. The Bible teaches us that God never leaves us, so when we feel far away from God, it is us that have moved. God the Father would never forsake His Son. It was the Shekinah glory (light) that left their view, not God the Father.

383rd Post Jesus Words from the Cross - New Section.

There are many people who say, Jesus never lived or never died on the cross; or was not the Son of God. I ask you how many itinerant preacher's that were murdered by capital punishment down through the ages, had their last words on earth collected and remembered? Even in death, this man acted different then any other man. It is my hope that you will come to this same conclusion during this study. This one life has done more to change the face of history, than any other. Jesus was born of a virgin, 100% man, and 100% God! How He could be 200%, is part of God's mystery!
We have tried to show through His words, that He was very different from any other man. He performed many signs and wonders to show through them, that He acted through the will of His Father in Heaven. He told us over and over that He was not of this world. He commands us as His followers to be in the world but not of it. Even in death, there were signs in Heaven, that showed that He was not just an ordinary Man. It has been over 2,000 years since He walked the earth, and there are many that say He will never come back. The Bible said that there would be a Redeemer born, and that He would come again. Jesus spent 3.1/2 years trying to tell the people that He is this Redeemer! They rejected Him and had Him killed. The world is still rejecting Him. Where do you stand? Maybe this study might help change your mind.

382nd Post Jesus On Judgment Con't. - Luke 13: 2 - 5.

Luke 13: 2 - 5.
Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will likewise perish.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 - 2 years into His earthly ministry. This passage is hard to understand if you don't have the following information. First, our text starts with verse 2, and I think verse 1, should also be included. Pontius Pilate is not spoken of much in the New Testament, so it is hard to know how ruthless he was. When you look at the account the Bible tells concerning Jesus' Roman trial, Pilate looks timid and maybe even afraid of the Jews. Pontius Pilate would do anything he could to make the Jews life miserable. Pilate came across some Jews Worshiping in the Galilee area and killed them. The Jews were supposed to be sacrificing in the Temple, they were wrong but did not deserve death for that. Jesus then talks about a tower is Siloam falling and killed 18 Jews. Were their sins bad enough to die this way? The answer on both is no. Jesus was telling them that if bad things happen to you, it does not mean you were being judged for you sins in this way. Jesus was saying that the wages of sin is death, it will not necessarily come any sooner if you sin. It is like if you know someone who is a bad person and they come down with cancer; the sin did not cause the cancer.

381st Post Jesus on Judgment New Section.

Judgment in the New Testament where Jesus is concerned has become a very sticky issue. Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount, not to judge. Then in the rest of the Gospels He tells us to discern people's fruits and leaven. The problem is that many so called Christians have no idea where Jesus weighed in on the subject of judgment. We have church's that allow abominations to become ordained as pastors. We have become a group that feel that Capital punishment is wrong. Jesus died on a Roman Cross (capital punishment)! God invented it!! Read your Bible, hint, read Deuteronomy.
We say Jesus would accept all people regardless of what they do. The problem is that all of these things only reflect half-truths of what Jesus taught. We as Christians have started to teach the same way the Pharisees taught, according to our own understanding instead of God's. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, not to judge. If you read the context of that passage, the judgment Jesus was talking about was the condition of their hearts. Only God can see the condition of our hearts; this is not our job. Jesus asks us, that when we become Christians, we are to start taking off the attributes of the world, and start putting on the attributes of God. This is our life's work until God calls us home at death. During this time, we are to become the most Christ-like, we will; until God completes the work that He had started. We need to remember that the word Christian means Christ Like! Who do you look like??

380th Post Jesus On Laments for the Cities of Israel Con't. - Luke 19: 42 - 44.

Luke 19: 42 - 44.
If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.
This was spoken by Jesus near the very end of His earthly ministry. Jesus had just come into the City of Jerusalem, He had gone into the temple and had been rejected by the Religious Leaders. This is why Jesus starts this passage with the phrase "If you had known." They had rejected the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, and the Son of God! The Religious Leaders had no idea what they had just done. They had fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel, which said that Messiah would be rejected, and then cut off. (Daniel 9: 26). This set up the destruction of the Temple, that will be fulfilled by Rome in 70 A.D.. This prophecy by Jesus is like an eyewitness account, spoken almost 40 years before the fact. Of course this pales with the prophecy of Daniel spoken more than 600 years before the fact. No other book is as accurate as the Bible. God's Word is True!

379th Post Jesus On Laments for the Cities of Israel Con't. - John 8: 43 - 47.

John 8: 43 - 47.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
This was spoken by Jesus toward the end of His earthly ministry. Jesus reminded the people that their ancestors killed or stoned all the prophets God sent to correct their understanding of God. Jesus talks about how a hen gathers her chicks to save them from harm; so He, as God forgives them of their past sins, but they would not listen. Now they have rejected Jesus, and so rejected God to His face, and would not repent; because of this their house has been left desolate. Jesus then tells them that they will not see Jesus in Jerusalem until He returns on Palm Sunday ( the triumphant entry). Jerusalem was where the Temple was located, all of Israel was to come to the Temple at least 3 feast days each year. To whom much is given, much is required. Jerusalem had seen many mighty works of God in the past, but had forgotten them. Are you like Jerusalem??

378th Post Jesus On Laments for the Cities of Israel Con't. - Matthew 11: 23 - 24.

Matthew 11: 23 -24, Luke 10: 12, 15.
And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.
This was spoken by Jesus early in His earthly ministry. The first 1.1/2 years, Jesus primarily taught in the territory of the lost 10 tribes of Israel. Jesus used Capernaum as his home base, when He was ministering here. The Bible teaches that if more is given, more is required. This is why Capernaum's rebuke is stronger than Chorazin and Bethsaida. Notice, there is a praise enclosed in the rebuke. This is explained in the fact that not all of the people of Capernaum did not remain in unbelief. The sins of Sodom were greater than Capernaum, but the fact that Jesus as God ministered there, it made their unbelief worse. Capernaum had a Synagogue, this meant that they had access to Religious Teaching. Since Jesus lived here, He would have many chances to meet different people in their homes and in their place of business. Jesus' impact should have been very great here. The trouble is, God gave us free choice, and we always seem to choose the wrong one. We have that same choice today. Which one will you choose??

377th Post Jesus Laments for the Cities of Israel Con't. - Matthew 11: 21 - 22, Con't.

Matthew 11: 21 - 22, Luke 10: 13 - 14 Continued.
Unbelief, has always been a stumbling block to the Jews, and to us as well. Our whole life we are exposed to two ways of looking at things, God's way, and Satan's. We have to make a decision, which of these two we will follow. It was the same for these two cities Jesus was lamenting. They heard and saw Jesus' teaching, but did not take the teaching to heart. They would go and listen to Jesus, bring their sick to be healed, but go on with their life as usual after. How many of us go to Church, hear the message and then go back home to business as usual? Jesus was telling these people that if He taught or did miracles in Tyre and Sidon, they would recognize it as coming from God and repent. This is what Jesus meant by saying they would put on sackcloth and ashes. How come would these cities repent and the cities in Israel would not? They knew and liked living in sin because they knew no other way to live. They had lived as their forefathers had for generations. To prove this, you might look at the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,ooo. Both of these miracles were done by Jesus, but to two different crowds, with two different out comes. Sinners recognize the words and miracles of God. Those who are comfortable with their life, will be harder to change. If you are looking for God, you find Him! Even if you are looking the wrong place, God will find you! God will find you, because He knows your heart!

376th Post Jesus On Laments for nthe Cities of Israel Con't. - Matthew 11: 21 - 22.

Matthew 11: 21 - 22, Luke 10: 13 - 14.
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre ans Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.
This was spoken by Jesus 1.1/2 to 2 years into His earthly ministry. People who teach only, that Jesus taught love, have never read this passage, or don't understand the meaning. The cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, were the places Jesus did a lot of His teaching and healing while He was up in the Sea of Galilee area. Both of these cities were near the shore, and Bethsaida was said to be the home of Peter. Jesus did a lot of preaching and teaching here in these two cities, but not very many of those living there had come to believe His words or signs. Jesus says if the mighty works were done in Tyre and Sidon, the people of these cities would put on sackcloth, ashes and repent. This is interesting that Jesus would pick these two cities Tyre and Sidon. If you know the Old Testament, you would know that all throughout their history, the Jews had had trouble with these two cities. These two cities, were the center of idol worship and all kinds of debauchery. They were practicing all the things God warned Abraham about in Genesis chapter 15. I am running out of space on this post will continue next post.

375th Post Jesus On Laments for the Cities of Israel - New Section of Study.

Laments for the Cities of Israel.
Jesus talked about various cities and their reaction to His teaching. Most of the cities Jesus talked about were not huge populated cities. Jesus mentioned these cities because they hosted Jesus and His teachings, but did not come to believe in Jesus. This is a trap many of us can fall into even today. We think that because we go to Church, we will automatically go to heaven. This is not so, this is exactly the same mistake the Pharisees made. They kept the Temple Laws, but did not know the Laws of God. God wants you to live your faith. You will notice that Sodom will be used by Jesus, as a city that was judged by God, and their judgment will be better than these newer cities. Jesus did not list the sins of Sodom, people point to this to say that Jesus accepted their sins. This is not what Jesus meant. Jesus did not list Sodom's sins, because all Jews knew what their sins were. There are people today that say Jesus would allow their sins. This would mean that Jesus was teaching another teaching other than what God the Father taught in the Old Testament. This would make Jesus statements about being the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end) false. How can God hold both of these teachings, and still be absolute truth. This is not possible. The fact that Church's are moving in this direction, proves that the world is going by God's Book, and sets up the rise of an apostate church. This issue divides God's House. Where do you stand??

374th Post Jesus On Harsh words for the Religious System Con't. - John 9:41.

John 9: 41.
If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, "We see." Therefore your sin remains.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 - 2 years into His earthly ministry. This is the most telling observation Jesus made concerning the religious leaders. The leaders were supposed to be leading the people in the way of righteousness, but Jesus calls them blind. They can not see or understand the truth. In the previous chapter of John, Jesus was exposing all the faults of the religious leaders. Jesus called them blind because they were teaching the people to act contrary to what God teaches. They were in a position of authority, and were using this position to lead the people in the wrong direction. So when the Pharisees said that they are not blind, they were saying that they know the truth and just refuse to lead the people in the right direction. This is why Jesus said that your sin remains. They admitted to willfully leading the people astray. The Pharisees believed that if you taught the Scriptures, you could not sin. This was their stumbling block, they believed they were right and Jesus was wrong. If this was true, we would not need a Savior. We are in a better position to understand the words of Jesus than the Pharisees of Jesus' day. This is not an excuse but an observation. If their heart was in the right place, they would see the truth. Can you hear the truth??

373rd Post Jesus On Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - John 8: 43 - 47.

John 8: 43 - 47.
Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell you the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.
Jesus spoke these words to the Pharisees about 1.1/2 to 2 years into His earthly ministry. This is Jesus' strongest rebuke of the Pharisees yet. Remember Jesus started off telling them that they could not be of Abraham's descendants, because they do not believe God, while Abraham did. Then Jesus said that because you do not follow father Abraham, you have to be following their other father Satan. He is the murderer that Jesus was talking about and the father of lies. God and Satan can not be equal. God can only tell the truth, and Satan can only lie. The truth is stronger than any lie, so there is no equality. Good will always win out in the end. Whose your father??

372nd Post Jesus On Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - John 8: 37- 41.

John 8: 37 - 41.
I know you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father. If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 to 2 years into His earthly ministry. To understand this passage, you need to know Abraham's story. Abraham heard and listened to everything God told him to do. Abraham loved God and would never think of killing Him, if that were possible. You can see the disconnect between Abraham's descendants and Abraham. Jesus has been telling them about Godly things, but they are choosing not to believe Jesus. Abraham was a Godly person and tried to do what is right in God's eyes. Abraham's descendants are living and listening to Satan and following him. Jesus says you either live for God, or you live for Satan. There is no middle ground. Where do you find yourself? If you don't like where you are, there is still time to change your position. The discision is up to you.

371st Post Jesus on Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - John 8: 23 - 24.

John 8: 23 - 24.
You are from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.
This was spoken by Jesus 1.1/2 to 2 years into His earthly ministry. It is interesting that we are looking into this passage. This is a similar argument we are using today; people are trying to say Jesus was not God but only a man. This is the same argument the Pharisees made to Jesus. The Pharisees saw that Jesus looked like them so He had to be like them. They could not understand what Jesus was saying here. Jesus says "You are from beneath, I am from above." Jesus was saying I have come from Heaven, from My heavenly Father. You on the other hand are from this world. Jesus implies that He is different, because of the miracles He can perform. There are people saying that we can become just like Jesus. This is not true! Since Jesus is different, He can forgive sin. Humans can not do this!! Jesus told them flat out, "If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." Jesus was telling the that He is the Messiah and the Son of God." How else could He have been born of a virgin, if He was not part of God?? We can never be like Jesus Christ! Jesus wants us to try to live His example, that is the closest we can come to be like Jesus. We will never become Him!! Where are you in your walk??

370th Post Jesus On Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - John 5: 41 - 47.

John 5: 41 - 47.
I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you don't have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you - Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 years into His earthly ministry. Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, notice Jesus accuses them of not having the love of God in them. He was really telling them they do not have the love for God in them. Then Jesus goes on saying that I came in My Father's name; and you received Me not. But you will receive another who comes in his own name and receive him. Jesus is saying that I come as a messenger from God and you don't receive Me. But you will receive anyone else. The one who accuses them is Moses, but they don't believe the words of Moses, so it is Moses who accuses them. The Love of God, that seems to be the stumbling block even today. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ? Or are you a Pharisee? Which one are you??

369th Post Jesus On Harsh Words to the Religious System Con't. John 3: 10 - 13 Con't,

John 3: 10 - 13. Jesus meets with Nicodemus - continued.
Look at the passage in John that I posted #368. Pay attention to the capitalized words We, and Our. These were capitalized, to call attention to the people Jesus was talking about was Jesus Himself and the Father - God. John the Baptist told the people that the one who comes after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with Fire. Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he needed to be born again in the spirit. This happens when you believe that Jesus is your Messiah and Savior. Baptism is a symbolic and public admission of your belief in Jesus Christ. Nicodemus knew the Old Testament, that pointed to the Messiah, but he needed further teaching from Jesus to make his belief whole. If you lived before Christ and died, if you believed in the promise of the coming of the Messiah, you would be justified by your faith. Jesus has now revealed the Spirit, and because of that, you need to believe in Christ to have eternal life.

368th Post Jesus On Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - John 3: 10 - 13.

John 3: 10 - 13 Jesus Night Meeting with Nicodemus.
Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify that We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
This meeting was at the very beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry, several days after the Wedding in Canna, but this meeting is in Jerusalem. Nicodemus gets a lot of negative press for coming to Jesus at night; hopefully this post will make you cut him some slack. Jesus was teaching in the Temple in Jerusalem, Nicodemus was there and heard what He said. False Messiah's had already been plentiful up to this time. I believe Nicodemus, being a Pharisee had a lot to lose if he was seen with Jesus. This is why Nicodemus came to Him at night. Nicodemus calls Jesus a teacher, because no one could do and say what you do unless the Lord be with Him. This shows that Nicodemus thought Jesus was somebody special. Our text starts right after Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again. Clearly Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus meant, Nicodemus was old and he thought he would have to crawl back into his mother's womb. I am running out of room so I will continue next post.

367th Post Jesus on Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - Luke 19: 46

Luke 19: 46; Matthew 21: 13; Mark 11:17; John 2: 16
It is written, "My house is a house of prayer,"but you made it a "den of thieves."
This was spoken by Jesus, but when? Luke, Matthew and Mark's Gospels; put this at the end of Jesus' Ministry during His last week before His Crucifixion. John's Gospel, puts it at the very beginning of Jesus' Ministry, right after Jesus talks to Nicodemus. You would think John would have to have this story listed twice in his' gospel; but he does not. When this happened, or whether it happened once or twice is not what is important. What is important is why did Jesus say this at all? Exodus 30:11, says that a Temple Tax of 1/2 Sheckel was due for every male 20 years and older as payment as ransom for their life. This was to remind them that they were bought by a price. This points to the price paid by Jesus Christ the Messiah. As the Jews were dispersed from Israel because of their unbelief, the Temple started to change their currency into sheckels as a courtesy. The Religious leaders added the selling of animals to increase their business. God setup the tax, but He did not condone the fact the the Religious leaders were charging a fee for this service. Since God instituted this tax and Jesus His Son paid the price, this was all the authority Jesus needed. You see just how far from the truth we will go when we rely on our own understanding instead of God's. Are you straying? You can come back. It is up to you.

366th Post Jesus On Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - Luke 16: 15 - 17

Luke 16: 15 - 17, Matthew 5: 18, 11: 12 - 13.
You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fall.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 years into His earthly ministry. We tend to think that Jesus was only talking to the religious leaders of His day. If you read this text you will notice Jesus said that heaven and earth will pass away easier than one tittle of the law to fall. It is strange that Jesus would say that, He being God would know the end of the world would not come till these people He was talking to were long dead. This begs the question, why did He say that? The only answer that makes sense, is to provide us with the understanding that the way the Religious leaders (of His day) were teaching us is wrong and we need to pay more attention to what Jesus Said. This is the point of this study. To follow God, you must humble yourself, repent and take up your cross and follow Jesus. Jesus is a hard act to follow, but that is what He requires of us. Look at your life. Who is getting the Glory? You or God? There is still time to make things right. It is up to you.

365th Post Jesus On Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - Luke 13: 15 - 16..

Luke 13: 15 - 16.
Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound - think of it - for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 years into His earthly ministry. On the surface, this looks like what we have been discussing til you get to the part of the story that mentions 18 years. To understand this better you need to go back to verse 10 of Luke 13. Jesus was teaching in the Temple on the Sabbath when He saw this woman come into view who was crippled, Jesus had compassion and relieved her suffering. Jesus has made it a point to be in Jerusalem and in the Temple on the Sabbath; now Jesus appeals to the Religious leaders to admit that they water their beasts of burden on the Sabbath. Then Jesus reminds them that this woman He healed was a daughter of Abraham. Then Jesus mentions that Satan is involved. The Sabbath is the Lord's Day of the Old Testament, this makes it God's problem as well. God is always greater than Satan, and it was right that Jesus would be about His Father's Business. The fact that the Religious leaders did not understand this shows the depths of their hypocrisy.

364th Post Jesus On Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - Luke 12: 1 - 3.

Luke 12: 1 - 3.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 years into His earthly ministry. This passage deals with hypocrisy, and when we read these words we can see the faults of the Pharisees easily; but we forget that we can also fall into the same trap as the Pharisees. And like the Pharisees, we can easily overlook our short comings as they did. We need to remember, that like the Pharisees, we need to be sure our walk matches our talk, or we too will fall into the same trap. God will not be mocked, and His truth will always come to the surface, no matter how hard we try to hide or bury it. Pride is our biggest enemy. When we are full of pride we are fast to accuse others, and expose their faults. We forget that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and there is no health in any of us. This is the whole reason we need a Savior; and Jesus Christ is He because He paid the price of out salvation.

363rd Post Jesus Said Harsh Words for the Religious System Con't. - Luke 11:52 s

Luke 11: 52
Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 years into His earthly ministry. Read this passage carefully, Jesus is making His strongest rebuke yet. He is exposing the religious system for knowing the truth, and yet leading the people in the opposite direction, because of their unwillingness to do what is right in the sight of God. Notice Jesus said that they did not enter themselves; and they became a stumbling block to others whom they were teaching. This is the cost of hypocrisy. We are being taught to speak of Christian values, but not so much about actually living what we speak. Jesus tells us to expose evil by examining their fruits. We also have to have our actions match what we teach. We call ourselves a Christian nation, but look at what we are allowing to be done in this nation and our Churches. We will be held accountable by God for this. Contrary to popular belief, revival starts with us, not others. For revival to happen, we need to confess our sins and repent and pray, and God will hear from Heaven and heal our land. We need to make sure we are leading in the right direction, and not hindering others looking to us for direction.