KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:23 KJV” If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?”

In our key scripture the Lord asks the Jews why do they take offence against Him, for making a man whole on the Sabbath day, yet they see nothing wrong in circumcising a man on the sabbath day? The sabbath according to the Lord is made for us Mark 2:27. It is to be a blessing to mankind and not to become of bondage to us. The Jews in defense of the sabbath were planning to kill the Lord, because they felt his action was wrong, yet in the same vein they do circumcise on that very sabbath. This was a double standard. This is a hypocritical stand. These people were like the Jews who brought a woman, they claimed

was caught in the act of adultery. The Lord asked, let the one who has never sinned cast the first stone at her. Everyone left without a single stone hitting her. They were all equally guilty.

 These religious zealots have no love of God in them, and in actual fact, they do not know the Lord.

Their action at defending any law stern from their self-righteousness which is the motivation for whatever they do.

 The self-righteous man lies in the gull of deceit.

 In Luke 18:9-14, the Lord described two men who went to pray. A publican who saw he was an adject sinner, and a Pharisee who justified himself throughout his time in God’s presence. The Lord said the Publican went justified while the Pharisee remained in his sins. Luke 1:53 KJV

” He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”

 Salvation is by grace through faith and not of works, it is a gift of God. It is never of works less anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9.

 Self-righteous pursuit is the reason religion becomes a threat to any society.

It creates murderers who are ready to kill any one they fill has fallen short of their religious standards. This was the reason our Lord Jesus came. He came that the self-righteous, swimming in deceit may see the light and be set free. Dear brother or sister if your religious teachings create a sense of self-righteousness in you, then I humbly want to tell you, you need to be saved. Rom 10:3 KJV “

 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Dear one, there is a righteousness that God gives through our faith in Jesus. This has nothing to do with our self-righteousness. Would you do like the Publican and say, “save me Lord for I am a sinner.” Go ahead repent, of your sins and acknowledge Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your soul today.

THOUGHT: GOD REJECTS, THE RICH, SELF RIGHTEOUS MAN, BUT ACCEPTS THE POOR, SINNER WHO BELIEVES IN HIM.

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 10:4 KJV” For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”

Luke 18:13 KJV “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”