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A test…are you self righteous…do you have faith...

A test…are you self righteous…


And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought (nothing):

…Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee (preacher), and the other a publican (government employee…politician).


The actions of the Pharisee…the preacher…

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus (this way) with himself, God,…I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners (those which require service through forcible or political means), unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican (a traitor to Jews…a roman employee).

(Listen to his resume)…I fast twice in the week; I give tithes (a tenth) of all that I get.


The actions of the Jewish publican…

…But the publican (a Jew which could only feed himself by being a roman government employee), standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying,

(The publican’s resume)…God, be thou merciful to me a sinner (traitor).

I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be humbled; but he that humbles himself shall be exalted.


Jesus teaching in the same setting of how a child should receive the Kingdom of God…

…And they were bringing unto him (Jesus) also their babes, that he (Jesus) should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked (forbade) them. But Jesus called them unto him, saying,

…Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein...Luke 18:9-17.


Do you seek position with man or do you seek God’s service…

Are the self-righteous…thinking your past resume will get you into Heaven Or are you a sinner who needs to be taught how not to sin and is looking for forgiveness?


The self-righteous was thinking his works was all he needed…he was not seeking God or forgiveness but believed he had already won the entrance into Heaven…he was not asking God to meet his needs spiritually but was “reminding” God how much he sacrificed for God’s service. Whereas the publican…knew he needed God or else he would not make it…notice the text said…the Pharisee prayed with himself…he was so full of self, God would not entertain his prayer…the publican was just the opposite he came to the temple to seek God and to learn better.


Jesus said to his disciples in the same setting to receive the kingdom of God like a child…going daddy bless me I know not what is good for me…this was the intentions of the parents…humble opinion…like saying please bless them.


Do you seek God like a child…looking to God to learn and be forgiven…yes or no?


Prayer

Father please bless us so we not offend You in word or deed…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.


Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus…


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What is the Royal Law in Scripture?

What is the Royal Law in Scripture?

 

Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but kill (murder) thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty...James 2:8-12.

 

Jesus said as it is written…

And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all? Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Of a truth, Teacher, thou hast well said that he is one; and there is none other but he: and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question...Mark 12:28-34.

 

Treat everyone like Jesus and be blessed…

Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him...Ephesians 6:5-9.

 

In Jesus life as a Jew…He said Love God first and your neighbor second…After His death burial and resurrection…the Holy Spirit inspired with the same Authority as Jesus in the book of James…to kept the royal law of love your neighbor as yourself. Then in Ephesians the Holy Spirit tells us if we treat everyone even a mean slave master as Jesus we will receive the same good we have judged. So treat everyone like Jesus as your neighbor and really the only difference between Jesus we read about and the Jesus which sits in the throne is distance and sight. So if you treat Jesus like Jesus, Him being God and others like Jesus you are fulfilling the royal law love your neighbor as yourself. So treat everyone like baby Jesus and ask what does baby Jesus need and how can I give it to Him?

 

Prayer

Father please forgive us of all our past judgements and help us to treat everyone like Jesus so we can fulfill the one true law love your neighbor as yourself and I know You are the best neighbor even though only distance is between us…IN Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

 

Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend


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The plan and purpose of a parable…

 

The plan and purpose of a parable…the earthly truth laid beside a heavenly truth…to aid in understanding and fulfilling your plan and purpose in the kingdom of God…

 

And the disciples came, and said unto (Jesus) Him, Why speak You unto them in parables?

 

…And Jesus answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever has (faithfulness with the truth), to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever has not (has no faithfulness with the truth), from him shall be taken away even that which he has. Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not (they refuse to live the truth they have seen), and hearing they hear not (they heard the truth but deny its existence teaching their opinions), neither do they understand (understand the truth or why they deny the truth)…

…And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: (they have seen the truth and heard the truth but refuse to understand God’s will and do it…they rather teach the commandments of men not God) For this people's heart is waxed gross (they are abominable), And their ears are dull of hearing (they are used to another lie from a man), And their eyes they have closed (they have been hurt by the lies and actions of their teachers)

…Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again (try to draw close to God through obeying the truth) And I should heal them. But blessed are your (Jesus’s disciples) eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye (you all…y’all…lol) see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not. (Mat 13:10-17 ASV)

 

Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Mat 13:31-32 ASV)

Prayer

Father please open our eyes and ears and hearts to understand the truth and be wise with the truth so we can be healed and not hurt again by the teaching and actions of those who are not You and Your Only Fathered Son Jesus…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

 

Pause for Prayer and Devotion to God…a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus…

 


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