God is good and He will see His purposes through. He keeps His word and loves His children.
22:1-14
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
A few things God has shared with me to share here. First Jesus is speaking about the Jews as the original guests to the banquet. In verse 8-10 it is just a good thing to know that no one type of person is excluded from the invites, I believe no one is excluded from the invitation itself. It is a reminder to me that we ought not to give up hope or think of someone as too bad or too good to be able to be born again which I believe is what Jesus is speaking of in regards to the man without the wedding clothes in verse 11. In Revelation 22:4 when it is speaking of the new Heaven and new Earth it states 'They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.' There are many other examples but the point I wish to share is that by no means other than God's work through the Cross and the rebirth of the Holy Spirit can anyone enter the wedding. Also see Rev. 19:6-10 speaking of the wedding supper.
22:15-22
Paying Taxes to Caesar
I love this verse where the Pharisees speak of Jesus' integrity. Verse 16. The focus I am drawn to is ' You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.' I am enjoying how God is making this more of a reality for me. I was once a huge people pleaser and so fearful of man that I would imitate them so that I might not offend them. Though we ought to have respect to those above us in authority such as parents, elders, law..... we cannot put them above our convictions of what is true and holy and pleasing to God. Prov. 29:25 'Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.'
22:23-33
Marriage at the Resurrection
The angle of approach here for me as I read is something that God has been speaking to me in varoius areas of my life, actually all. Verse 29 ' You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.' in Hosea 4:6 it says 'my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.' If we are to walk rightly and pleasing to God we ought to seek to know Him and His ways. In a relationship one spends much time learning about the other person's interests, what they desire, who they are, etc. The basic principle applies to our relationship with God. If we are to understand Him and the what's and why's of life we need to spend time at His feet like Mary and not trust in our own understanding.
22:34-40
The Greatest Commandment
Love, no greater thing than love. Paul in 1 Cor. 13 speaks much of this. To love God above everything else which means to obey Him in all we do, and to love our neighbor as ourself, not a god.
22:41-46
Whose Son Is the Christ
I am amazed at the way Jesus cuts through the fog and gets to the point in a way that puts these men to silence.
23:1-39
Seven Woes
Self-righteousness. I am pretty overwhelmed with the depth of what is shared here. For us, we ought to stay true to our convictions and have no part in the huge burden of living religiously.
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Lots of great stuff in these chapters. In 22:34-46, I love that Jesus had the answer to all of their debates. I may not have every answer, but I'm thankful to know the One who does!
ReplyDeleteChapter 23 really is powerful. If anyone wanted to know what a hypocrite is, here's your description! I pulled out seven characteristics that I think we all need to consider within ourselves. A hypocrite:
1. Doesn't practice what he preaches.
2. Pretends to be something he's not.
3. Creates / looks for loopholes.
4. Picks and chooses which rules to follow.
5. Is only concerned with external appearances.
6. Pretends to be on God's side.
7. Leads others to be just like him.
(On the last one, I would contrast that with leading others to be like Christ.)