The only sign you need is Jesus and him crucified for your sins. 

Freewill is a blessing and a curse. It all depends on whom your trust lies.

After 3 days He was raised from the dead overcoming death and the sin that entered humanity through Adam.

John 2:18–22

18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”

19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”

21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

The Jews apparently refers to the religious authorities of Israel, who also understood that Jesus was representing Himself as the Messiah; therefore, they asked for a sign. Jesus was not talking about the physical building; He was referring to His body, Jesus was speaking of His death. Note that Jesus did not say, “I will build it again.” He was referring to His resurrection, three days after His death. The sign Jesus gave the Jews was the sign of His death and resurrection.

Herod the Great began restoring the temple in 20 b.c. The work was not finished at the time of this conversation. In fact, it was not completed until around a.d. 64, under Herod Agrippa. 

The disciples understood that Jesus was the Messiah, but they did not understand that He was speaking of the resurrection of His body until it actually happened. NKJ Bible.

As they had with John the Baptist, the religious leaders want Jesus to justify His actions. 

The renovations and expansion begun by Herod the Great were still underway. Alternatively, the phrase could read, “this temple was built 46 years ago.” This would place Jesus’ statement around ad 29 since Herod’s main temple renovations were completed ca. 18 bc. Since the outer courtyards and porticos were not completed until ad 66, it is more likely that the officials are referring to ongoing construction. The same Greek verb is used in the Septuagint of Ezra where it clearly indicates temple construction was ongoing and incomplete.

 

The use of misunderstanding is a prominent part of John’s style. He regularly records Jesus’ hearers misunderstanding His sayings, sometimes requiring further elaboration as in the case of Nicodemus. Faithlife Bible.

Matthew 12:38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

Matthew 26:61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”

Matthew 27:40 and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Mark 14:58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ”

Mark 15:29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,

Nahum 3:18-19

Wake Up Churches of America. 

It is time to care about what God cares about…His creation and the gift of salvation He provides in Jesus Christ.

Nahum 3:18-19

18 Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria;

Your nobles rest in the dust.

Your people are scattered on the mountains,

And no one gathers them.

19 Your injury has no healing,

Your wound is severe.

All who hear news of you

Will clap their hands over you,

For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?

When the shepherds are not alert, the sheep cannot be saved from danger.

Every nation and people that had suffered under the abusive power of Nineveh would shout and clap upon hearing of the city’s destruction. There would be no mourning for Nineveh. NKJ Bible.

Rejection of Jesus results in condemnation. 

The new testament ultimately roots all salvation in faith in Christ. There is no other way to achieve right standing with God. Faithlife Bible.

Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name,If you know?

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born,Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 

John 3:13-17

For God so loves the world that He created….

John 3:13-17

13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

born again (Gk. gennaō anōthen) (3:3, 7) Strong’s #1080; 509: The Greek word anōthen translated here as again could also be rendered “from above.” The birth that Jesus spoke of was either a new birth or a heavenly birth—or both. It seems that Jesus was speaking of a heavenly birth because He later used the analogy of the wind, coming from some unknown, heavenly source, to depict the spiritual birth. But Nicodemus clearly understood Jesus to be speaking of a second birth—being born again. Jesus explains this new or heavenly birth contrasting being born of the flesh with being born of the Spirit.

Jesus is alluding to His heavenly origin. Since He comes from heaven, He is qualified to speak authoritatively about heavenly things. Jesus’ explicit declaration that no one else has ascended into heaven could be understood as contradictory to the ot depictions of Enoch and Elijah, both of whom were taken bodily to heaven. Such a reading, however, misunderstands the context of Jesus’ statement. The implication is that no one has both ascended to heaven to receive divine revelation and descended to earth to give an account of that revelation in the same way that Jesus has as the incarnate Word of God. It alludes to both the crucifixion and the exaltation of Jesus in His death and resurrection. The speaker in this section may be the narrator expanding on Jesus’ teaching or Jesus still speaking with Nicodemus. The Greek manuscripts did not use punctuation that would have indicated a change of speaker. The content of this short discourse reflects themes typical to John such as the opposition of light and darkness. For that reason, the speaker is most likely the narrator.

These verses present a concise summary of the gospel message, tying the events of Jesus’ death to God’s love for the world He created. The statement is remarkable in its depiction of divine care for the entire world—not just His chosen people, Israel.

At one time, it was presumed that the term derived from the Greek words monos (“one” or “only”) and gennaō (“to beget”). The translation “only begotten” is based on this assumption. Subsequent manuscript discoveries produced evidence that the term actually comes from monos and the noun genē (“kind” or “type”). The term monogenēs therefore refers to uniqueness and has no inherent reference to chronology or origin. Ancient critics of the doctrine of the Trinity used this term to claim a chronological beginning for Jesus. Conversely, the Nicene Creed used this term to assert Jesus’ inherent relationship to the Father: that as the eternal Son He is “begotten [gennēthenta], not made” by the Father.

John prefers to refer to Jesus as the “Son” and God as the “Father”. Jesus’ reflection and representation of the Father is complete. As one sent by God, Jesus fully represented Him on earth. Faithlife Bible.

God’s love is not restricted to any one nation or to any spiritual elite. World here may also include all of creation. At His first coming, Jesus came so that the world through Him might be saved. When Jesus comes again, He will come in judgment upon those who refused His offer of salvation. NKJ Bible.

Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Deuteronomy 30:12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’

Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth?What is His name, and what is His Son’s name,If you know?

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

John 2:23-25

There is no man righteous…no not one! So God’s own arm provided the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus.

John 2:23-25

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

The Greek text uses the word pisteuō here. John uses a wordplay here, describing how “many believed” (pisteuō in Greek) in Jesus, but Jesus does not trust or believe (pisteuō) them in return. Jesus is divinely appointed, so the glory of other people is not His concern—He receives His glory from God the Father. This verse provides the transition to Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus and prepares the reader for Jesus’ divine insight into Nicodemus’ spiritual needs. Faithlife Bible.

John’s purpose in recording Jesus’ miracles was for people to believe and have eternal life.  There is a play on words here. These individuals trusted Jesus, but Jesus did not entrust Himself to them. Jesus fully understood the depth of trust of those who were following Him; some would stay, but many would fall away. NKJ Bible.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

Matthew 9:4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

John 16:30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

Revelation 2:23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Ezekiel 22:29-31

Voting Day in the USA…God grant us peace!

This past 4 years we have called evil, good and good, evil. Grant us the courage to stand for what is right. Praying that you do not leave us to reap what we have sown.

Ezekiel 22:29-31

29 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.

Even common people are guilty of injustice and violating the principles of the covenant. Yahweh cannot find even one righteous person to justify deferring His judgment a little longer. The prophets failed to fulfill their responsibility in this role.

Finding no righteous person, Yahweh has no choice but to punish Israel. Faithlife Bible

As go the leaders so go the followers. The people of the land were average citizens or commoners. God could not find a spiritual leader to guide the people in godliness. Why not Ezekiel? A qualified leader is useless if people refuse to be led. NKJ Bible.

Exodus 23:9 “Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Leviticus 19:33 ‘And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him.

Psalm 106:23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.

Isaiah 59:16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him.

Isaiah 63:5 I looked, but there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was no one to uphold; therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; and My own fury, it sustained Me.

Acts 11:4-18

God loves ALL of His creation. Who are we to deny Him?

For God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to die in our place. Whoever believes in Him will not die but have everlasting life! John 3:16

We are purified by our  faith!

Acts 11:4–18

4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ 10 Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

While much of this narrative mirrors Acts 10, it focuses on God’s intervention on behalf of the Gentiles (non-Jewish people), showing that Peter has not just accepted the Gentiles as Christians but has become their advocate.

There were those in the Christian community who wanted to require Gentiles to first become Jews—including requiring the men to be circumcised—in order to be considered true Christians. The phrasing here could suggest either that Peter should not delay in going with the men to see Cornelius, or that Peter should go without discriminating against them (since they were Gentiles). Peter’s language and reasoning here seem to echo Gamaliel’s argument to the Sanhedrin that if God is indeed behind the Church’s message and mission, then no one will be able to stop it. Faithlife Bible.

Because of the importance of the issue of personal prejudice, Luke repeats the account of the vision of the sheet and the unclean animals that God used to free Peter from his racial bigotry.

Peter had wisely taken six brethren with him when he visited Cornelius’s home. He anticipated the argument from “those of the circumcision”. The manifestation of the Holy Spirit was the same to the Gentiles at Caesarea as it was to the Jews at Jerusalem. At the beginning is a reference to the Day of Pentecost. Baptized with the Holy Spirit is a reference to a once-for-all act whereby Christ places believers in the care and safekeeping of the Holy Spirit until the day He returns. This begins a bold new step in the mission of the church. The Samaritans were part Jewish; the Ethiopian eunuch and Cornelius were Jewish proselytes. Finally the Jewish Christians that made up the early church understood Jesus’ commission to them: they were to bring the gospel message to the Gentile too. NKJ Bible.

Isaiah 42:1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

Isaiah 42:6 “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles,

Acts 15:7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Acts 15:8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

Acts 15:9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

2 Timothy 1:13-14

Trust Holy Spirit to get you through the good, the bad and the downright ugly that this fallen life brings to mankind!

2 Timothy 1:13-14

13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Paul considered his life and teaching worthy of imitation. The Greek word used here, phylassō, means “to protect from loss or damage.” Timothy must protect the church from false teachers and their instruction. Paul reminds Timothy that the Holy Spirit will help him fulfill his ministry duties. Paul urges Timothy to pass on his teaching to others. Faithlife Bible.

Hold fast is a command to Timothy to persist in the sound words of healthy teaching. Many who say they speak for Christ proclaim false doctrine. Like Timothy, we need to pursue sound teaching and avoid all teaching that does not conform to the Scriptures, no matter how good certain teachers might sound or how large their following might be.

That good thing may be rephrased as “the good deposit.” Here the phrase refers to Paul’s teachings to Timothy. Keep means “to guard” or “to protect.” Who dwells in us describes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers. NKJ Bible.

Romans 6:17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 

Matthew 25:41-46

We as Christians are more responsible for our actions. We know better.

Others will know us by our fruit!

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Matthew 25:41–46

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

At the very least, these “brethren” are believers in Jesus Christ. NKJ Bible.

Job 22:7 You have not given the weary water to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

Psalm 6:8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.

John 5:29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Romans 2:7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

Ezekiel 20:39-40

Only through the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are we saved.

It is nothing to do with our worthiness…NOTHING!  But everything to do with our faith.

Holy Spirit gave me a sensory vision of the sweet aroma many years ago. He allowed me to smell it 3 times (in the visions that He has given me 3 is significant…could it symbolize the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?) It smelled of the Catholic Church incense I remember as a child when the priest sent it over the people at Mass. He called to my mind the prayers of the faithful.

I found this on the internet site “Adoremus”:

The use of incense in religious worship predates Christianity by thousands of years. Incense is noted in the Talmud, and the Bible mentions incense 170 times. The use of incense in Jewish temple worship continued well after the establishment of Christianity and certainly influenced the Catholic Church’s use of incense in liturgical celebrations.

In the Old Testament God commanded His people to burn incense (Exodus 30:7, 40:27). Incense is a sacramental used to venerate, bless, and sanctify. Its smoke conveys a sense of mystery and awe. It is a reminder of the sweet-smelling presence of our Lord. Its use adds a feeling of solemnity to the Mass. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell reinforce the transcendence of the Mass linking Heaven with Earth, allowing us to enter into the presence of God. The smoke symbolizes the burning zeal of faith that should consume all Christians, while the fragrance symbolizes Christian virtue.

Ezekiel 20:39-44

39 “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord God: “Go, serve every one of you his idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey Me; but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols. 40 For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the Lord God, “there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your sacrifices, together with all your holy things. 41 I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. 42 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. 43 And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. 44 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord God.’ ”

An ironic and sarcastic statement. It implies that Israel was offering Yahweh rituals and religious practices that had been created for Canaanite idols. Worshiping the right God in the wrong way was just as bad as pure idolatry. The ot is clear that worship of Canaanite gods was closely mixed with worship of Yahweh. This mixture of religions was strongly condemned. The obedience and devotion of restored Israel is as pleasing to Yahweh as sacrifice. Yahweh is concerned with His reputation and wants the nations to see and acknowledge His sovereignty and holiness.

The recognition formula emphasizes that Yahweh’s motivation is a desire to make His power known to all. Yahweh didn’t punish them according to what they deserved for their sin. He punished but then saved for the sake of His reputation. Faithlife Bible.

The command Go, serve every one of you his idols is an ironic command; the rest of the verse indicates that God was giving the stubborn people over to what they had decided. God grants each one a destiny consistent with his or her decisions. Then God looks to an unspecified future time when Israel will glorify His name, meaning “His reputation” among the nations. The future repentant, renewed, and regathered Israel will be characterized by: (1) a return to the land of Israel and an acceptable, sacrificial system of worship (2) a revived, personal knowledge of its sovereign and faithful Lord; (3) a renunciation of former sins; and (4) a recognition that God’s grace governs the nation’s history of sin and salvation. My holy mountain is reference to the glorious central location for worship in Israel—Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. NKJ Bible. 

Leviticus 26:39 And those of you who are left shall waste away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; also in their fathers’ iniquities, which are with them, they shall waste away.

Judges 10:14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.”

Psalm 81:12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels.

Mark 2:15-17

Help me Father to love like you do!!

Mark 2:15-17

15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them,  “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

If Levi is representative of the group eating with Jesus, the tax collectors who dined with Jesus would have been low-level functionaries who worked on behalf of more powerful government agents. They were probably classified with sinners in this verse because their work exploited people. In the Gospels, this term is generally used for people who are considered sinful by Jewish leaders. While certainly many of these people were involved in habits, lifestyles or occupations that led to unrighteous behavior, the label seems to be applied primarily to distinguish between those who were considered pious and those who were not. Jesus’ ministry was often focused on outsiders, including this group of people.

In the ancient world, dining together was a primary expression of identity and belonging. For tax collectors and sinners to seek out table fellowship with Jesus implies they were interested in the kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed.

Some scribes (teachers of the law) in Jesus’ day may have identified themselves with the agenda of the Pharisaic movement. One of the three Jewish schools of thought in Palestine at the time of Jesus according to the Jewish historian Josephus. While the extent of their influence is unclear, the Pharisees apparently had some influence in political, religious and social spheres in Jewish Palestine. The Pharisees were known for their skill at interpreting the Law of Moses, and they held strict views on what was appropriate behavior for a righteous person. In Mark, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for holding to traditions rather than obeying God’s commands. They condemn Jesus’ choice to eat with those they viewed as unrighteous and unworthy, but Jesus is not interested in their rules about who is worthy of His attention.

With this statement, Jesus is neither affirming nor denying that the Pharisees are righteous. He is simply pointing out that the call to repentance and offering of forgiveness are for those who need it—sinners. Faithlife Bible.

In this instance Jesus was speaking tongue-in-cheek when He used the word righteous. None are righteous, though some, such as the Pharisees, fancied themselves as such. Instead, Christ came to call sinners to repentance. Jesus did not condone the activities of sinners, but required repentance—a change of mind that recognizes the need of a Savior and recognizes Jesus Christ as the only Savior. NKJ  Bible.

Matthew 9:10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

Matthew 9:12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Matthew 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Luke 5:31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick 

Isaiah 58:6-9

No matter what transpires I trust in You. You will use the evil that prevails for our good and the good of the Body of Christ. 

We will learn our lessons the easy way or the hard way…but when we call on the name of the Lord He will make sure that we learn them!

Isaiah 58:6–9

6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

Fasting and following religious rituals will not manipulate God into showing favor. He is more concerned with the motivation of the heart than the outward act. Oppressing the poor and weak of society, and burdening them with slavery, is the opposite of what they should be doing. God’s desire for social justice is a familiar theme in the prophets, especially the book of Amos. Genuine repentance is evidenced by their behavior—how they treat the poor and hungry. Genuine repentance will lead to genuine blessing. Fasting without genuine repentance was useless. Faithlife Bible.

Yoke is a metaphor for social oppression.

The poor who are cast out refers to those whose lands and houses were expropriated in payment of debts. The light dawned with the advent of Christ. Righteousness refers to salvation. NKJ Bible.

Exodus 14:19 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.

Nehemiah 5:10 I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury!

Job 31:19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,Or any poor man without covering;

Luke 12:1-3

This defines the culture we are living in.

Holy Spirit guide us!

Jesus seemed to have the most to say about the religious right who had the power for good or evil.

Luke 12:1.2.3.

12 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 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.

The Greek word used here refers to fermented dough that was mixed in with new dough and used as a rising agent. The small amount used in baking would permeate the entire batch of new dough. Leaven serves as an apt metaphor to describe the widespread effects of the Pharisees’ hypocritical teachings and actions. Jesus seems to be referring to the Pharisees’ hidden sins, which will be exposed at the final judgment. Faithlife Bible.

Leaven here represents the presence of corruption. Unleavened bread is what the Jews ate at Passover. The corruption in view here is hypocrisy. Practicing hypocrisy is senseless because eventually all deeds—both good and evil—will be exposed.

All secrets will be revealed by God. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 10:26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

Luke 9:18-23

It all comes down to this…

I B.E.L.I.E.V.E.

Thank you for making a way for a sinner like me…I love you Daddy!

Luke 9:18-23

18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

In light of the earlier discussion about Jesus’ identity, Jesus asks His disciples what they have heard people saying. Then He asks for their opinion, and Peter responds correctly: Jesus is Yahweh’s Messiah.

The ot prophet Malachi had foretold that the return of Elijah would precede the day of judgment. Although Jesus’ ministry may be compared to Elijah’s, who was prophesied by Malachi as preceding the day of judgment, John the Baptist was the primary fulfillment of that prophecy. Jesus implies that His mission, like Elijah’s, includes the Gentiles (non-Jews). Jesus travels to Nain to raise the widow’s son, which resembles Elijah’s raising of the widow’s son in Zarephath. 

As in Matthew and Mark, Peter’s confession is followed immediately by Jesus’ first prediction of His death and resurrection. Following His resurrection, Jesus’ disciples would be commissioned to make known explicitly what His signs and wonders revealed—Jesus’ identity as God’s Son and anointed one. 

This is Jesus’ first discussion in Luke about the cost of discipleship. It refers to setting aside one’s interests for the sake of God’s kingdom. Jesus’ disciples must be willing to follow Him every day, no matter what the cost. Faithlife Bible.

The emphasis here is on the messianic role of Jesus. He is the Promised One who was ushering in a new era. However, Jesus would soon reveal to the disciples that His messiahship would have elements of suffering that the disciples did not expect. Jesus knew that the messianic role that the people and the disciples expected was much different from His actual role as the Messiah. The element of suffering that the Messiah would endure was not a part of popular expectation. Thus Jesus’ messiahship could not be openly proclaimed before the true nature of the Messiah was revealed.

This is the first of several predictions in Luke of Jesus’ suffering and vindication. The disciples struggled to understand what Jesus was saying. They could not comprehend how Jesus’ predictions fit into God’s plan. Only after Jesus’ resurrection and His explanation of the Scriptures to them did they begin to understand. Although Jesus offered salvation as a free gift, He also warned that following Him would entail suffering and hardship. NKJ Bible..

Matthew 8:4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Matthew 10:38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Matthew 14:2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Succession in the Book of Matthew

 Whatever happened to the humble servant advice Jesus gave to those who claim Christian values and wish to serve?

Have we learned nothing from the New Covenant?

Matthew

Succession to a throne is often a time of conflict and uncertainty. David’s son Absalom tried to usurp the throne. Solomon’s choice of successor lost more than half the kingdom to a traitor. Menahem assassinated his predecessor in Israel. 

This is no less true when the heir is the King of kings. If ever there was a high-stakes succession, this was it. A Man claims to be Israel’s own Messiah; of course all Israel sits up and takes notice. Of course He must prove His credentials: Who wants an impostor? The Book of Matthew presents Jesus’ credentials. It presents Jesus as the King, but King of a totally different kingdom—the kingdom of heaven.

Royalty is a dangerous business.