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Saturday, December 14, 2013

LESSONS FROM THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

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         Matthew 23: 2-8
              "The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses
               seat.  Therefore  whatever they  tell you to
               observe, that observe and do, but do not do
               according to their works;  for they say and
              and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens
              hard to bear and  lay them on men's shoul-
              ders; but they  will not move them  with one
              of their fingers.  But all of  their works they
              do to be seen by men. They make their phy-
              lacteries broad and  enlarge the borders of
              their garments. They love the best places at
              feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, gre-
              tings in  the market  places and to be called
             'Rabbi,  Rabbi.'   But  you, do  not be  called 
             'Rabbi,' for one is your  teacher,  the  Christ
             and you are all brethren." 
 
        The Lord taught his disciples to respect their leaders in
       Judaism, and warned against (1.) Oppression of those in 
       your charge. (2.) The dangers of doing  "good works" for
       show, and (3.) Seeking recognition or status.The Scribes, 
       Pharisees and Saducees were  flagrant in  their violation 
       of these principles; with you and  me, it's subtle.  Just as  
      Jesus taught; Matthew 6: 1-6 to do good in secret, give in 
      secret and to pray in secret. He is consistent when warning 
       his disciples against the pride and hypocrisy of these "lea-
       ders." (Matthew 6: 1-6) In Matthew 5: 20 He states openly; 
    "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds 
     the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by  
     no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

     Consider the possibility of you or I having a smug
or "Self-righteous" attitude as we do good deeds, give 
to the cause of Christ or pray faithfully. There is little 
difference  in  doing  these  things for  show or  doing
them that we might be  self-satisfied. Our motivation 
for doing good deeds, (works) prayer and fasting, and 
making an offering above the tithe  first, because our 
Lord  taught us  these things.  The second reason; His
love  for  us and  our  subsequent  love  and  care  for 
others. There is promise of blessing from the Lord. If 
we believe Scripture, we are aware of  the blessing of  
the  Lord  being on those  who obey  and  there is  no 
blessing promised to those of us who fail to obey. 

Who is there among us that does not have a desire for 
 the blessing of the Lord Christ on his or her life? 

 http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2013/05/and-thy-father-which-seeth-in-secret.html

So, in addition to denying ourselves that we may have 
to give to others, doing good deeds and prayer, we're
led to communicate this  good news of  the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ in it's  fullness, to  those  around  us  and  
eventually, to all people around the world.
   Our Lord gave the model prayer to his disciples, as 
recorded by Matthew in chapter 6, verses 9  through 
13, he added remarks that are constantly with me. 

 Every time we pray, and consider this model prayer,
"The Lord's Prayer" the  next  two verses  that  refer
to verse 12; "And forgive our debts, trespasses, as we
forgive our debtors... "those that trespass against us."  
Below in verses 14 and 15 of this same chapter, state 
the following: 

             "For if you forgive men their trespasses,
               your heavenly Father will also forgive
              you.  But if you do not forgive men their
              trespasses, neither will your Father for-
               give your trespasses."

     What kind of burden to forgive does  these words 
place upon us as we deal with the Lord in reconciling 
our own sin  and  disobedience?  The  passage means 
just  what  it  says," ...if you do not  forgive men their 
trespasses, neither will you Father  forgive  your tres-
passes."   Who could stand if  the Lord  God  were to 
reckon our sins against us?  (Serious business) 

In these verses you will notice the word "trespasses" 
is used and  not the word  "debts" as  in the  body of 
the "Model Prayer,"  or "Lord's Prayer."

  (New King James Version)       donporter 12.14.13 

http://noglobaltaxes.org/ck11.30.11.html      
 
                       
                           
                           

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