Tag: Matthew

  • The LORD Is Our Righteousness

    The LORD Is Our Righteousness

    Jeremiah 33: 14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”

    The crowds surrounding Jesus in Jerusalem were thinking of their City. The religious officials were thinking of their position.

    God was thinking of you. God was thinking of me.

    Romans 3

    English Standard Version (ESV)

    “None is righteous, no, not one;
    11     no one understands;
    no one seeks for God.
    12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good,
    not even one.”
    13 “Their throat is an open grave;
    they use their tongues to deceive.”
    “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
    14     “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
    15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
    16     in their paths are ruin and misery,
    17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
    18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

    21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

    23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

    24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

    The sons of Korah and their families were destroyed by the LORD when they rebelled against God and Moses. (Read about it in Numbers 16:28-35)

    A Psalm, written for worship of Jerusalem at the time of David was known to the Jews of Jesus’ time of incarnation as the Son of Man, Son of David, our Righteousness: Son of God. Psalm  49 is addressed as a caution to the wise from the remaining sons, who did not rebel against God.

    Psalm 49

    The Confidence of the Foolish

    To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. 

    Hear this, all peoples;
    Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
    2 Both low and high,
    Rich and poor together.
    3 My mouth shall speak wisdom,
    And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
    4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
    I will disclose my dark saying on the harp. 

    5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,
    When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
    6 Those who trust in their wealth
    And boast in the multitude of their riches,
    7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
    Nor give to God a ransom for him—

    8 For the redemption of their souls is costly,
    And it shall cease forever—

    9 That he should continue to live eternally,
    And not see the Pit.

    Do you continue to rebel against God and the blood of His only Son, Christ Jesus?

    Do you turn against the Blood of the Cross, yet expect not to ‘see the Pit?”

    You with ears to hear, hear the words of the Sons of Korah; hear the words of the Prophets; hear the words of the One Redeemer of our souls, Christ Jesus, Who was crucified, died and was buried with your sins and with mine.

    Matthew 23

    New King James Version (NKJV)

    33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

    34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes:

    some of them you will kill and crucify,

    and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,

    35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth…

    You, with ears to hear, hear the trumpet of Christ Jesus, Who IS.

    You, with ears to hear, heed the call of Christ Jesus, Who will return on the clouds in final and eternal victory over sin!

    “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

     

     

     

  • The Stone the Builders Rejected

    The Stone the Builders Rejected

    “‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone’

    Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” – Luke 20:17b-18

    Jesus had taught at Temple before. He was welcomed as a learned Rabbi (teacher) in synagogues throughout Judea, a Godly teacher with power. He works miracles. No other man did that.

    Prior to this entry into Jerusalem, Jesus had even raised a man from the dead! Lazarus, who walked out of a tomb, would also likely come to Jerusalem for the Passover with this powerful Teacher of the Law.

    Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

    Luke 21:5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

     Even so, the multitudes following Jesus hoped for the power of David over God’s enemies and the power of Moses over the rule of God’s Holy Place. 

    32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

    Watch Yourselves

    34 “But watch yourselves your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

    37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

    Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant…

    Matthew 21:26 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

    What had happened, after Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, with the multitudes of people shouting, ‘Hosanna,’ with the Temple officials standing in their ‘thousand dollar suits’ of religious symbolism among them?

    This ‘Prophet of Nazareth’ went into the marketplace of the Temple, among the tourists and the businessmen in the courtyards of the Holy place where all were doing very well (as at the time of every religious festival). In fact, business was booming and the economy of the rich Jerusalem merchants was never better. They were ready for the huge crowds coming for the BIG EASTER SALE… (that is, Passover sale).

    Matthew 21:

    12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

    This peaceful Prophet, who had entered Jerusalem on a colt, entered the Temple. The multitudes were ready to hear His teaching once more. But this time, Jesus showed righteous indignation against the merchants. He was a mad man in the mall!

    13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

    The Place were the Lord IS Present must be made HOLY! Worship presupposes the preparation of the cleansing of the place of worship and most of all, the worshipers.

    REPENT! had been the message of preparation. TURN BACK to the LORD your God!

    Three years of teaching and miracles has brought Jesus to Jerusalem only to find a Temple in need of cleansing. The very priests and officials responsible for preparation of the Holy Place, have defiled the House of the Lord.

     

     

     

     

  • Jerusalem, Jerusalem

    Jerusalem, Jerusalem

    Matthew 23:37 [also Luke 13:34]

    “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!

    How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

    38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”