KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:17. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

Please read Matthew 23:15–26

To ask a person to act wisely is a polite way of saying he should not act foolishly. The Lord’s message to the Pharisees was rather blunt and straight to the point. He said to them ye fools and blind leaders who gave lots of wrong judgements about various issues. The Lord specifically referred to them saying that, when one swears by the temple it is nothing, but if he is to swear by the gold in the temple then he has offended, forgetting that it is the temple that sanctifies the gold. According to the word of God wisdom is choosing the way of God. Proverbs 9:10.”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding”. One is blind, if he is walking in darkness. This was the exact state of the Pharisees and the scribes.

In this era of ours, we have many who have titled themselves as pastors, prophets and even apostles who fall into the same description that the Lord gave to the scribes and Pharisees. Is one not being foolish, if in the name of seeking for fame and financial glory, goes to bow to a fetish or Mallam? What is the wisdom in bearing the name of Christ, yet you do all kinds of abominable things, that even an ungodly person would be afraid to do? Some would have to sleep with virgins for ‘power’. Others stage manage miracles to attract people to their gatherings. All these is done in the name of obtaining much wealth. What would it profit you, if you gain all the wealth, but you lose your soul ?

Dear one, where are you treading in this life? Are you walking according to God’s word and ways, or you are living according to your own understanding? The blind is he who lives in sin or contrary to God’s word. The fool does not fear God, nor give any regard to Him. History teaches us that, all such people end up very miserably, and they would surely face God’s eternal punishment ultimately.

THOUGHT: ALL MEN WHO FOLLOWED GOD IN TRUTH, ENDED HONORABLY

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Samuel 13:13. “And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.”

Proverbs 1:7. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:14. 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.

The Pharisees according to the Lord took advantage of the poor and helpless widows. They were the teachers of the law and so the widows were subject to them as they were seeking to please God. The scribes and Pharisees took advantage of them and extort their money and property. Such acts go on, even in these times. The Lord warned that anyone who takes advantage of a widow shall be in danger of God’s judgement. Exodus 22:24

Dear child of God, do not use any means to deceive and take monies from anyone. A lady asked a pastor to pray over some money or her capital for business. This man took the money to pray over it and bring it back after some days. The amount given to him, had been drastically slashed after it was brought to this poor woman. Such stories keep going on. Dear one, what happened to the love our Lord commanded us to express towards one another? John 13:34″. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” Love for all is the first fruit of one’s salvation. The absence of it means there has not been a real power of transformation.

The Lord also said, these scribes and Pharisees make very long prayers in public to attract attention. Prayer should never be an act to show off. It is communicating with the father as thanksgiving, praise or requesting for some answer to an issue. Long prayers are basically done in the closet. It can also be done in a group prayer meeting. When one prays for a very long time in public, it becomes a bit of a challenge to others who may be in a hurry to attend to some duty elsewhere. Some Bible commentaries say the Pharisees could pray as long as ‘three hours’.

THOUGHT: A TRUE LEADER STANDS UP FOR THE VULNERABLE

FURTHER STUDIES

Job 22:9 KJV “Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.”

Exodus 22:22 -24 KJV” Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:13. 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.

We continue with our walk with Jesus, through the gospels. The Lord addressed the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites who would not allow others to enter into the Kingdon of Heaven. How did they do that? Their attitude towards God and lifestyle gave others nothing to be challenged about. There are a number of Christians in our days whose lifestyle has become a stumbling block to others, from knowing the Lord. Our lives according to 2nd Corinth.3:2 should letters read by all: “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:” The Bible cannot be made practical by many around us, until they see it demonstrated through us who profess to know Christ.

If the Pharisees failed to influence others into the kingdom of heaven, we must be real ambassadors of Christ. The Pharisees failed because they were full of themselves. They said so much about God, yet their actions were the very opposite to their words. Apostle Paul, did the very opposite 1 Corinthians 9:19″. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more”. God our father expects fruits from us. Selflessness is one of the means to satisfy our heavenly father ‘s desire to win men unto Him.

The Pharisees did not know God in the first place, and therefore could not understand the heartbeat of God. What is God’s heartbeat? To win men from sin unto righteousness. John 15:16″. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” God desires fruit from us, fruits that would remain. Jesus said bearing much fruits makes us his disciples John 15:8.

What must you do.?

1. Repent from every pride, hypocrisy and self centeredness.

2. Commit yourself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and live to please Him

3. Use every opportunity to talk about Jesus and win others to Him.

4. BE a spiritual parent to such a person and help the one stay in the faith.

THOUGHT: A MEANINGFUL LIFE IS A FRUITFUL LIFE

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 26:18 ” To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. “

John 15:8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

KEY SCRIPTURE; Matthew 23:13. 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 called the scribes and the Pharisee as hypocrites. They profess beliefs and opinions that they do not hold to. The Lord said in effect they do not enter into the kingdom neither will they allow others to go in. Hypocrites have lived on even until today. Dear one, may you ask yourself, who am I, am I a sincere lover of Jesus or a hypocrite? What creates hypocrites? One became a hypocrite because he never was truly converted. Such a one has a hidden agenda. He fights for his own interests and not that of Jesus. Philippians 3:18-19 gives a vivid description of such people. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.).

The above scripture says, the end of the hypocrite is destruction. Dear one, there would be a day of accountability, when all the secret things of a man’s life shall be exposed. It would be a righteous judgement. God ‘s judgement is very real. The Lord is no respecter of persons. The Lord knows those who are His. Apostle Paul made a remark of his allegiance to the Lord in the following statement. Acts 27:23. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve. Whose are you.? You are supposed to be owed by someone, the Lord Jesus or Satan. Whose you are is determined by the one you are serving. To serve means you are a slave of the one you are serving.

Dear one, if you are serving Jesus, then, you would influence others to join you to serve Him in truth. You would surely produce after your kind. Do not deceive yourself by deceiving others. 2 Tim 3:13 shows the folly of such hypocrites.2 Timothy 3:13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. Every hypocrite is living in real darkness. He does not know when and where he will stumble. If you are a hypocritical minister then repent from today. There is so much you are missing and you would miss. It is a great misery to keep living as a hypocrite It is not a place of reality. Refuse to be a fake man. You can be genuine.

 THOUGHT:  TO DECEIVE IS TO BE DECEIVED

FURTHER STUDIES

Job 15:31. Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompense.

Proverbs 26:18-19. As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, So is the man that deceive through his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:12 (KJV). “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

God is forever against the proud. Sin always does two things

1.Sin defiles us

2 Sin rebels against God.

According to 1 John 1:9, when we confess our sin God forgives and He cleanses us. He forgives our rebellions, and cleanses our defilement. The problem of pride is directly against God. This makes rebellion very serious, and extremely dangerous. Pride challenges the very authority of God. It opposes God’s throne. No one dare challenge God’s reign in the universe, yet pride does. The man who does not believe in God would openly attack the authority of God. Almost all of such people always end up in a very miserable way.

The Christian may not openly challenge the authority of God, yet has a very subtle way that pride functions through him.

PRIDE dethrones God from his seat in the hearts of His children and enthrones self.

 What are the signs of pride in a Christian’s life.?

1. When ever a child of God keeps repeating this

 phrase ‘as for me’. Then pride is waving its way into his heart

2. When the child of God is fund of saying ‘and I did this or I did that’ The proper way is, by the grace of God, I was able to do this or that

3.Inability to forgive is a strong symptom of pride.

4.Excessive feeling of guilt and shame because your wrong actions have come to the light of day.

5.When one gets so offended because he was not acknowledged or recognized.

6.When one feels hurt because another individual is honoured or promoted

7. When you are fund of giving negative remarks about others.

8.If you are not able to forgive yourself for a wrong thing you have done

9 Anytime you compare yourself with another person, then pride is engulfing you.

10.If you find it hard to say,’ I am sorry’ , then  pride has an upper hand over you.

11.When you never want to lose an argument

12.There are many more, yet the worst of all is unbelief in the word of God.

Please note, doubt is very different from unbelief. Doubt is the situation where one has not enough information about a thing and so is uncertain about the truth. Unbelief is a refusal to submit to the authority of the word of God. This is pride.

To free yourself from pride you must acknowledge that living is to glorify God. We do nothing for ourselves but to honour him with all that we do and we are. We are only important when we make Him very important.

THOUGHT:  PRIDE IS A PATH TO DEATH, BECAUSE IT KICKS GOD OUT

FURTHER STUDIES

  Isaiah 23:9 (KJV). “The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.”

 Proverbs 29:23 (KJV). “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:6 (KJV). “And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,”

The Lord kept describing the attitude and actions of the Pharisees that no true servant of God must do. He said, the Pharisees loved to sit at the high seat to give them airs of importance. Our Lord Jesus is the important one, and that is what we must project always. This is a sign of a very high ego. These are the type of gentlemen or ladies who would be deeply offended, because their title was not added to their names. Such people may break their association with certain friends, if they happened to be in a meeting, that did not recognize their presence. . Such people are so full of themselves.

Dear child of God, or minister of the gospel, if you are acting this way, then you have not denied yourself to follow the master. You are still Lord of yourself. You are still in love of yourself and have no regard for the master. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” — Luke 14:26 (KJV). From this very verse of scripture, you are not yet a disciple of Jesus if you are living to please yourself

The Lord taught that we must choose the lowly seat in a gathering, so that we are not humiliated, if there happens to be a more honourable person.  It is very deceptive to think very high of yourself. The Lord Jesus although He is in the form of God, did not insist in remaining in that state, but made Himself of no reputation. He took the form of a servant, and became a man. He humbled Himself and died on the cross. God has also highly exalted him, and given Him a name that is above every name. This is the attitude every one must have, a humble attitude. It is that which attracts God’s promotion. God judges our hearts, and He promotes us. (PS 75:6&7) DON’T BE A PHARISAIC CHRISTIAN

THOUGHT: PRIDE IS A MISPLACED IDENTITY.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 75:5-7 (KJV). Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Proverbs 16:18-19 (KJV). Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹ Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:5 (KJV). “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,”

The Lord at this moment instructs the disciples, not to follow the example of the Pharisees. HE then listed a number of actions that they do. These Pharisees are men pleasers. This is a very subtle temptation that many people easily fall into. Man is always thorn between glorifying God, or glorifying himself. Seeking men’s praise is a form of self worship. It is idolatry. We are called to give glory only to God.

 One of the biggest errors of man is to make himself the centre of action. This is failure. God is the origin of life and we are dependant on Him. He should attract all glory and honour. He made us for His pleasure. “Hou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”— Revelation 4:11 (KJV) Our life and activities are only meaningful, if we do it to please Him.

We say that any object or substance is being abused, if it fails to do or be used for the reason for which it was created. God created us to bring pleasure to Him. God would not honour and grace anyone who seeks for honour unto himself. Greatness in life is all about lifting the Lord up in your life. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – James 4:6 (KJV)

DON’T rob yourself of divine help, provision and true honour by seeking honour for yourself. It is self defeating. What would have happened to the donkey which carried Jesus, if it had put Jesus down? No one would have looked at it. Someone could even have taken it and used it for dinner. Don’t endanger yourself by seeking the praise of men. This is a very slippery ground for most Pastors and ministers of God. It is more tempting for the very gifted ones, like prophets and those with apostolic calling. Dear one, anytime you are tempted to seek the praise of men, just speak to yourself, that, O man you exist to glory God, and never lose that awareness.

THOUGHT: SEEKING THE PRAISE OF MAN, IS A TRAP TO HUMILIATE YOU.

FURTHER STUDIES

 John 3:30 (KJV). “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

 Psalms 115:1 (KJV). “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”

Isaiah 42:8 (KJV). “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:3 (KJV). “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”

In Matthew 23:2 the Lord said the Pharisees sit in the seat of Moses. This means, they were ardent teachers of the law, yet they never practiced what, the law teaches. The Lord Jesus warns every follower of His, not to live as the Pharisees.

WHY would a person or group of people teach the way of life, and not be doers of what they might be teaching.?

There are varying causes for such a way of life;

1.Some have not been genuinely converted, and so they don’t have the conviction to live according to the word.

2.Some drift off from the love for God, through a neglect of their devotional activities.

3.Some fall into sin, and fail to address their error, and so are morally weak.

4 Others are simply deceived by sin. Heb 3:13

To know the truth and not to live by it, is like having light, yet one decides to walk with his eyes closed. Walking in the truth is freedom from the clutches of the devil. It is a life of consistent promotion. The Bible calls it the path of the just, which shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. The man who does not do what the word says is called the wicked. He walks in darkness and does not know when he stumbles.

The Lord says the kingdom of God is for only those who would be doers of his word. “Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” — Galatians 5:21 (KJV). Decide to be a doer of the word of God.

What must one do to set himself free from the deception of holding the truth, but denying its power.?

1.If you have not been truly converted, then be sincere to yourself and repent.

a) ASK the Lord to forgive your waywardness.

b) Declare that you have repented from your insincerity and sinfulness.

C) Welcome Jesus to be the Lord of your life.

2.If you have drifted off, confess your sin and start doing all those things you stopped doing. Example: Going to church, prayer, Bible study and reading the Bible.

3. If you have been deceived by sin, then repent

If you put sin and its blinding effect away, then you would be able to do the word of God that you may be saying to others.

THOUGHT: It is a blessing to be a doer of the word, refuse to be deceived.

FURTHER STUDIES

Proverbs 4:18-19 (KJV). But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

James 1:22-23 (KJV). But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 22:39 (KJV). “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

  We established in our previous study that every law of God is a principle to liberate us from bondage, to a fulfilled life of peace and happiness. The Lord gave the second greatest commandment, as, to love our neighbour as ourselves. Self centredness is an invisible prison that many lock up themselves in. Pastor E W Kenyon says ‘Selfishness is the mother of all sorrows’. Love for all men is the key that unlocks that invisible prison, that selfishness imposes on men. The Lord did not just call for love for all, but to love all persons as yourself. This implies you do to them what you would have them do to yourself.

The above rule or law is called the principle of multiplied goodness. (PMG) Remember, you always reap what you sow. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”— Galatians 6:7 (KJV). If you do the good things, you want done for yourself to others, you would reap a multiplied measure of it. In a similar vein if you are mean and callous, and mistreat men, you would likewise receive a multiplied measure of the kind of treatment you give out to them. The Lord even elaborated this in Luke 6:38, that men Wil give back to you, more, shaken together and running over, what you give them.  If you are having a tough time with your neighbours and associates, then you may consider the kind of treatment you are giving out to them.

Dear one, what kind of treatment do you give to others. Husband how do you treat your wife. Love her as yourself. Dear passenger in a vehicle, how do you talk to the driver? How does the driver likewise talk to the passenger? We would have a happier world if people would have heeded to this principle. There are certain people in state establishment, who use all kinds of ways, to extort money to enrich themselves and their families. Such acts, inevitably go a long way to impoverish many. They become very poor and suffer because of the corruption of someone in a place of power and authority. No one should deceive himself that, he is free to cheat and go scoot free. You would surely reap from your corrupt actions in a big way. You may reap it from an incurable sickness, your son becoming stubborn and wayward. Always consider the impact of your actions on others. Love them as you love yourself.

THOUGHTS: Others are the soils we reap multiplied goodness as we plant our love into their lives.

FURTHER STUDIES

 Luke 6:37 (KJV). “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”

 Luke 6:38 (KJV). “Give, (love) and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Italic mine)

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 22:37 (NET). “Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”

God our Father is the Lord of all goodness. Every law of God is set up for the freedom of mankind. The highest commandment of God is the highest principle for every man’s liberation and peace. One of the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked what is the greatest commandment. The Lord Jesus said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”  — Matthew 22:37 (NET). The Lord’s answer reveals God’s heart for mankind. God’s call on men to love Him totally reveals His love towards men. He seeks for a corresponding response of love from us.

To love God in truth, we must consider His abundant love shown to us. We’ve got to consider the greatest sacrifice of our Lord Jesus and the amazing implications to us. Through His death we are qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. We have become the very righteousness of God. This and many more should move us to replicate this love with all that we are. Loving Him in reality is what makes available all that He has for us.

God created us to fellowship with Him. Love for God opens up to that individual God’s amazing goodness. “But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”— 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NET). God calls for total love. Loving Him with all that we have, and we are. This is the strongest answer to the greatest temptation of man, that is idolatry. Idolatry is simply anything that makes our hearts cold towards God. It is that thing which takes God’s place in our lives. Idolatry is a snare to mankind. Unfortunately, a great number of humanities are engulfed in it. The hearts of multitudes are occupied with all kinds of things. Even some Christians are found in it. Today God calls you to give no place to any other thing, but to allow Him to have you fully. This is your perfect freedom.

THOUGHT: LOVING GOD IN TRUTH IS TRUE LIBERTY

FURTHER STUDIES

  John 14:21 (KJV).  “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

1 John 4:18-19 (KJV).  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  We love him, because he first loved us.