KEY SCRIPTURE; Matt 23:16 KJV Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

In our key scripture, the Lord calls these false teachers, blind guides. Please be careful you are not following a blind leader. The Lord said their blindness is shown by the strange and soundless doctrines they propagate. These people do not place value on the high exalted ways of God. They major on minor things of the flesh and do not place value on high moral matters. They are more carnal than spiritual. The more weightier matters concerning faith, justice or holiness , and mercy are not of prime importance to them, yet exalt issues of money, religious practice etc.

Secondly, He said in Matt 23:25 that “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. This time the Lord reveals another aspect of the folly of these leaders. They may appear clean on the outside. This can even be seen in their dressings, yet their hearts are filled with bitterness and unforgiveness. We see some of them come on air openly insulting and cursing those who seem to be against them. Let’s consider the admonition of the scriptures. Col 3:12 KJV “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” The preceding scripture reveals the proper heart condition of the true servants of God. Dear man of God, what is the state of your heart, first, towards God, and then towards your fellow man?

The Lord gives a final condition for such hypocritical leaders. Matt 23:29 KJV “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,” The Lord now reveals that such people are full of hatred towards the true servants of God. Some of these people even device evil schemes to murder the true servants of God. Dear servant of God, our Lord Jesus has spoken extensively about the error concerning some men and women of God.

I believe our Lord sincerely loved these people and would not want them to end in eternal destruction. Humbly receive the light and not remain a blind leader, leading the blind into destruction.

The expansion or spread of the gospel has suffered undue reproach because of the practices of such hypocritical ministers. If the above studies portray you in any way, then repent, for the arms of the Lord are open to accept and bless you.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly father, I pray that my heart towards you shall always be humble and submissive to your voice. I pray the false temporal things of this life will only be treated in the way the Lord wanted it.

 THOUGHT: HUMILITY TOWARDS GOD IS THE ANSWER TO FOOLISHNESS OF THE HEART

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 2:8 KJV “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,”

Romans 2:29 KJV “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matt 23:28 KJV” Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

In Matthew 23:13-29 the Lord Jesus spoke extensively about hypocritical leaders. The Lord gave different instances that these leaders act hypocritically and the problem that their actions will bring to them.

It appears the Lord was very harsh on these false leaders than those who were even caught in adultery. If an individual sin or commit an error, it may most likely have to do with him and at most a second or a third person. A bad leader may impact multitudes or even generations. This may be the reason the Lord was extremely tough on them. The thoughts He made about them are so revealing and so, we would consider them in turns.

Matt 23:13 KJV” But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” The Lord said these hypocritical leaders shut up the heavens. How do they do it? Those who follow and listen to them become just like them, and so both teachers and students are all lost. They have shut up the heavens. In our days we have heard pastors or prophets who claim it’s been a long time since the bible said Jesus is coming. The claim, we must as well forget about that and focus on other things. Such a man is lost, including all who listen to him.

Matt 23:14 KJV “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore, ye shall receive the greater damnation.”

In the Lord’s second word to the scribes and Pharisees, the Lord said, these people devour widow’s houses. They use lots of scheming to take possession of the properties of these poor widows. Sadly, we have such leaders in our day, who act under all forms of pretenses to rub their victims. There are many who sell all kinds of items to congregants, extorting money from them.

Matt 23:15 KJV. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. This description is quite serious. Certain leaders do whatever they can to get converts, after winning them they pour out all the wrong natures they are to them.

Beware of these false teachers and prophets.

PRAYER

Lord, I pray for the body of Christ, that your Spirit will convince such false teachers to forsake their ways, as well as the followers, would be opened to the truth and turn to the Lord.

THOUGHT; FALSEHOOD IS CONTAGIOUS, STAY AWAY FROM IT

FURTHER STUDIES

Matt 23:16 KJV” Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!”

Matt 23:17 KJV “Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matt 23:28 KJV” Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

In Matthew 23:13-29 the Lord Jesus spoke extensively about hypocritical leaders. The Lord gave different instances that these leaders act hypocritically and the problem that their actions will bring to them.

It appears the Lord was very harsh on these false leaders than those who were even caught in adultery. If an individual sin or commit an error, it may most likely have to do with him and at most a second or a third person. A bad leader may impact multitudes or even generations. This may be the reason the Lord was extremely tough on them. The thoughts He made about them are so revealing and so, we would consider them in turns.

Matt 23:13 KJV” But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” The Lord said these hypocritical leaders shut up the heavens. How do they do it? Those who follow and listen to them become just like them, and so both teachers and students are all lost. They have shut up the heavens. In our days we have heard pastors or prophets who claim it’s been a long time since the bible said Jesus is coming. The claim, we must as well forget about that and focus on other things. Such a man is lost, including all who listen to him.

Matt 23:14 KJV “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore, ye shall receive the greater damnation.”

In the Lord’s second word to the scribes and Pharisees, the Lord said, these people devour widow’s houses. They use lots of scheming to take possession of the properties of these poor widows. Sadly, we have such leaders in our day, who act under all forms of pretences to rub their victims. There are many who sell all kinds of items to congregants, extorting money from them.

Matt 23:15 KJV. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. This description is quite serious. Certain leaders do whatever they can to get converts, after winning them they pour out all the wrong natures they are to them.

Beware of these false teachers and prophets.

PRAYER

Lord, I pray for the body of Christ, that your Spirit will convince such false teachers to forsake their ways, as well as the followers, would be opened to the truth and turn to the Lord.

THOUGHT; FALSEHOOD IS CONTAGIOUS, STAY AWAY FROM IT

FURTHER STUDIES

Matt 23:16 KJV” Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!”

Matt 23:17 KJV “Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?”

For further studies into other related topics, please visit my website http://www.samuelsomuah.com

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:3 KJV” And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Our Lord Jesus demonstrated that He was very much concerned about the sick, and was ready to heal anyone who came to Him, needing healing.

It has been a real question among many Christians over the years whether our Lord Jesus will heal the sick who come to Him. Some even say, God makes people sick, so He would teach them humility or get them closer to Him. What was Jesus’ real attitude to the sick? Jesus is the living word. He is the thoughts of God in action. In our key scripture, we see a leper who came to Him and said, Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. The Lord did not only say be healed, rather, but He also reached forth His hand and TOUCHED him, saying, be thou clean. According to the law, no one was to touch a leper, because they were unclean.  The Lord expressed His ever readiness to heal. He showed that when it came to healing legalities should not be a barrier.

The Lord continued to show that, sickness was an assault of satanic power on men, made in the image of God. The Lord said the following concerning the woman bound low by the spirit of infirmity. Luke 13:16 KJV “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” He revealed that it was Satan who put her in that state, and the works of the devil should not be allowed to prevail. 1 John 3:8 also shows that the Lord Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.

In many other cases, the Lord came against the hypocrisies of the Pharisees, who opposed His healing of the sick. Please remember that the Lord Jesus was the living word of God. This meant He was the thoughts of God, going somewhere to happen and He always brought healing to all who needed and believed Him for it.

Dear child of God, please settle it that Jesus wants you well. Believe the word of God and receive the Lord’s healing for your life.

CONFESSION

Thank you, father, for giving your only begotten Son, who demonstrated that healing of the sick is your will for all the oppressed. I always agree with your word to enjoy your provisions of healing for me. Thank you father.

THOUGHT: JESUS WANTS YOU WELL.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 10:38 KJV “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Mat 4:24 KJV “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers’ diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:4 KJV “And he must needs go through Samaria.”

As we consider the mind of our Lord, I wish to establish this point clear that the Lord Jesus did not function on earth as God. John 17:5 KJV” And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” We see in the immediate verse that before Jesus left the earth, He asked the father to give him the glory He had with Him before the world began. Jesus lived as a man who depended fully on the Holy Spirit. We also have the same provision in our time. We can likewise live as He did.

From our key scripture it was said, Jesus, needed to go through Samaria. We now consider the Lord’s attitude to strategic actions. The Lord Jesus throughout His ministry was never late or ever too early such that He failed to do what He was supposed to do. He was always on time to do the right things. Whenever He made statements like it was not time for Him to do a miracle when a miracle was in demand, then He expected the people to express their faith in Him. This could be seen when His mother came to Him at the wedding feast. The Lord led a successful strategic life because He knew He could do nothing without the Holy Spirit. I believe He always asked the Holy Spirit, what would you want me to do? He said I do nothing, but what I see my father do. John 5:19.

Jesus knew when to start His ministry and when to bring His ministry to an end. The Lord had three and a half years to fulfill His task of announcing the kingdom of God as well as the kingdom life, and also dying on the cross to resurrect on the third day. Each person He encountered and ministered to was on schedule.

He was not going to leave anything to chance. How was He able to achieve such a level of success? He did all this by depending on the Holy Spirit. He fellowshipped often with the Spirit.

He had a mind never to make a mistake or did anything that dispersed the father. His desire to please the Father made Him the master strategist in all He did.

PRAYER

Father, I pray that I may always incline my ears to the voice of the Spirit and be able to hear whatever He tells me. Give me that heart that continually seeks to please you always. I pray in Jesus’ name

THOUGHT: A READY HEART FOR GOD WILL DO WHAT HE TELLS HIM.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 8:29 KJV And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

John 5:19 KJV Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

KEY SCRIPTURE; ” Luke 19:10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

The Lord Jesus revealed right from the beginning His intentions for the lost. In Luke 2:49, He said He must be about my father’s business. What was the Father’s business? This was the salvation of the lost.

In our key scripture, He said, for the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. This call was the drive and motivation of His life. In light of this, He devises a plan to get the task well executed. After His baptism and waiting before the Lord in fasting and prayers, He decided to choose men who will be with Him and then continue with the work, after He had given His life for all humanity. “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, ” Mark 3:14

When the Lord was visited by Nicodemus, Jesus expounded to him what was in the plan of God for all men. He showed him that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so will He be lifted up. In this state, He revealed how He will save the world through dying on the cross, as well as how He will become a symbolic serpent or sin for all so that as many who would believe in Him, will receive a substitution of their being. They would become the righteousness of God, as He, Jesus become sin or serpent which must die. Jesus revealed that this act of God is an expression of His heart for all men. God wants all men saved. This is the heart desire of the Lord Jesus for the lost. He had to become sin, or in a more demonstrative way, a serpent for all mankind, whose sin has made us evil like the proverbial serpent.

The salvation of the lost is the motivation for all the shame, pain, rejection, and suffering that, He had to go through. Now He is calling on every saved one to have the same heart and mind towards, the lost. Apostle Paul said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” Romans 1:14.

We are likewise debtors to anyone who is lost. We must not be adamant about any lost person. The cost, and loss of a man dying in his or her sin, are unimaginable. Suffering agelessly in hell fire, and then subsequently being cast into the lake of fire.

CONFESSION

I am very much aware of the heart of the Lord towards all the lost. I likewise commit my heart and might to reaching out to the lost I encounter as well as reaching out to others who are far away.

THOUGHT: HAVE THE HEART OF CHRIST TOWARDS THE LOST.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

1 Corinthians 9:16. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:4 KJV “And he must needs go through Samaria.”

As we consider the mind of our Lord, I wish to establish this point clear that the Lord Jesus did not function on earth as God. John 17:5 KJV” And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” We see in the immediate verse that before Jesus left the earth, He asked the father to give him the glory He had with Him before the world began. Jesus lived as a man who depended fully on the Holy Spirit. We also have the same provision in our time. We can likewise live as He did.

From our key scripture it was said, Jesus, needed to go through Samaria. We now consider the Lord’s attitude to strategic actions. The Lord Jesus throughout His ministry was never late or ever too early such that He failed to do what He was supposed to do. He was always on time to do the right things. Whenever He made statements like it was not time for Him to do a miracle when a miracle was in demand, then He expected the people to express their faith in Him. This could be seen when His mother came to Him at the wedding feast. The Lord led a successful strategic life because He knew He could do nothing without the Holy Spirit. I believe He always asked the Holy Spirit, what would you want me to do? He said I do nothing, but what I see my father do. John 5:19.

Jesus knew when to start His ministry and when to bring His ministry to an end. The Lord had three and a half years to fulfill His task of announcing the kingdom of God as well as the kingdom life, and also dying on the cross to resurrect on the third day. Each person He encountered and ministered to was on schedule.

He was not going to leave anything to chance. How was He able to achieve such a level of success? He did all this by depending on the Holy Spirit. He fellowshipped often with the Spirit.

He had a mind never to make a mistake or did anything that dispersed the father. His desire to please the Father made Him to be the master strategist in all He did.

PRAYER

Father, I pray that I may always incline my ears to the voice of the Spirit and be able to hear whatever He tells me. Give me that heart that continually seeks to please you always. I pray in Jesus’ name

THOUGHT: A READY HEART FOR GOD WILL DO WHAT HE TELLS HIM

FURTHER STUDIES

John 8:29 KJV And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

John 5:19 KJV Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:40 KJV” And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”

We would consider the mind of Jesus concerning prayer. The Lord Jesus gave so much of His time to pray. His disciples saw Him pray so much that, they asked Him to teach them to pray. Luke 11:1.

He expressed His attitude to prayer through the many statements He made about prayer. He taught that prayer is indispensable and that men should not stop praying. Luke 18:1 KJV “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

The Lord showed that praying can keep us from getting into temptation. What did He mean by temptation in the context of what He was saying? The Lord demonstrated this as He prayed fervently just before His arrest and subsequent suffering. He endured the challenge that came His way. From this event, we see temptation as a condition that overwhelms you. The scripture said an angel came to strengthen Him.

The Lord also demonstrated that before one takes a major decision, especially concerning choosing among a number of people to undertake a particular role with you, you have to spend a great deal of time praying in order to receive God’s will concerning the right person to choose. Luke 6:12 KJV “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Are you a leader?

Prayer was the life of Christ. He always kept communication lines with the Father. Remember, prayer is not a one-way affair. It is a dialogue between man and God our father.

PRAYER

Father, you are the source of my life, as well as my true dependence. Through prayer, I receive guidance and provisions for what I cannot do or get by my effort. Thanks for your love and your ears that are ever ready to hear me.

THOUGHT: PRAYING IS YOUR LIFE, FOR GOD IS YOUR SOURCE AND DEPENDENCE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 34:15 KJV “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

1Thess 5:17 KJV “Pray without ceasing.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:19 KJV “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

We continue with our study on the mind or attitude of Jesus towards the devil. This time we study that the Lord Jesus had the mind that Satan was a defective enemy. Jesus never fought the devil as we understand two people fighting. His fight with the devil was to keep holding unto the truth and keep Himself from sin. Satan’s victory over any man is when he succeeds in taking you from your union with the Father, either through unbelief or sin. Our fight as Christians against Satan is on this level. Eph 6:13 KJV” Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

The Lord always demonstrated that Satan was a defeated enemy. The devils also knew Jesus was greater and superior to them. They always shouted when they had a confrontation with Jesus, saying, do not torment us before the time. Mat 8:29 KJV” And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Jesus continually made a mess of the devil anytime He encountered them.

Since the Lord knew, the devil was eternally defeated, nothing about the devil threatened Him. When he was on the ship with His disciples, He slept calmly, knowing that, the threats and tantrums of Satan would not amount to anything. It was His disciples who were fearful and worried that came to him crying, Lord don’t you care that we perish? Mark 4:38 KJV “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? ” The state of His disciples is the very condition most men find themselves. They allow the threats of Satan to overwhelm them such that, they conclude Satan has succeeded in achieving his ambition. Jesus maintained His conception that the devil is forever the loser, and under no condition would he become Lord. This faith of Jesus kept Satan eternally defeated before Him.

CONFESSION

THE devil is eternally defeated. I refuse to fall into his lies and deceptions. I keep my grounds by staying in the word and rejoicing in the victory of Jesus my Lord. I win over the devil in every contest. Glory be to God.

THOUGHT: SATAN IS ETERNALLY DEFEATED. KEEP FAITH IN THE WORD TO KEEP HIM DEFEATED IN YOUR LIFE

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 6:13 KJV” Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Luke 10:18 KJV” And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:40 KJV” And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”

We would consider the mind of Jesus concerning prayer. The Lord Jesus gave so much of His time to pray. His disciples saw Him pray so much that, they asked Him to teach them to pray. Luke 11:1.

He expressed His attitude to prayer through the many statements He made about prayer. He taught that prayer is indispensable and that men should not stop praying. Luke 18:1 KJV “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

The Lord showed that praying can keep us from getting into temptation. What did He mean by temptation in the context of what He was saying? The Lord demonstrated this as He prayed fervently just before His arrest and subsequent suffering. He endured the challenge that came His way. From this event, we see temptation as a condition that overwhelms you. The scripture said an angel came to strengthen Him.

The Lord also demonstrated that before one takes a major decision, especially concerning choosing among a number of people to undertake a particular role with you, you have to spend a great deal of time praying in order to receive God’s will concerning the right person to choose. Luke 6:12 KJV “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Are you a leader

Prayer was the life of Christ. He always kept communication lines with the Father. Remember, prayer is not a one-way affair. It is a dialogue between man and God our father.

PRAYER

Father, you are the source of my life, as well as my true dependence. Through prayer, I receive guidance and provisions for what I cannot do or get by my effort. Thanks for your love and your ears that are ever ready to hear me.

THOUGHT: PRAYING IS YOUR LIFE, FOR GOD IS YOUR SOURCE AND DEPENDENCE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 34:15 KJV “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

1Thess 5:17 KJV “Pray without ceasing.”