The Vineyard Owner

16. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 

Today, we are concluding the 21^st chapter of Matthew.  We discussed Friday how this chapter closes out with two parables.  We discussed one on Friday and today will discuss the other thereby concluding our chapter.

 

 

Matthew 21:33 ”Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 ”The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 ”But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 ”Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 ”He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 ”Therefore I tell you that the

kingdom of

God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

 

As we have been studying from last week, we know that this is the last week of Jesus’ earthly life.  Jesus is using a parable to again rebuke the Pharisees and religious leaders for their false teachings and their fruitlessness.   I will not labor with a long explanation; this is the last of a series of three parables that all have the same theme; the fig tree, the parable of the two sons, and now the vineyard owner.  This particular one refers to the prophets that were sent before Jesus who the religious leaders did not believe and had them killed and finally they will kill the Son, the heir of the vineyard.   It all speaks to the fact that the kingdom will be stripped from them and given to a people that will bear fruit.The interpretation is as simple as this; the owner of the vineyard was God.  The tenants that it was leased to were the religious leaders, the servants that the owner sent back to collect the harvest were the prophets and they were killed.  The son which was the heir was Christ, which they also killed. The text says that the religious leaders knew that Jesus was talking about them and they sought opportunity to arrest him but they were afraid of the crowd for the people deemed him as a prophet.Tomorrow, we will continue our journey on the last week of the life of Jesus.

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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Two Sons

13. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Today, we are nearing the conclusion of the 21^st chapter of Matthew.  This chapter closes with two parables.  This is the first one.  

Matthew 21: 28 ”What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 ”‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 ”Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 ”Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Let us review our context.   We are dealing with the last week of Jesus’ earthly life.   The first part of the week he has ridden into Jerusalem on the colt of an ass which we know is coined as his “triumphant entry.”    He goes to the temple and overthrows the moneychangers and those that are selling and he then curses the fig tree.  Again, we are in the last week of the life of Jesus. 

On the third day of his last week, is where we are now.  Jesus goes back to the temple and starts teaching.  We know that the religious leaders come to him and basically ask him for his credentials.  They want to know by whose authority is he able to do and say what he does.     Jesus poses them a question about where did the baptism of John the Baptist come from.  In other words, who authorized John?  The religious leaders were nervous about answering for fear of how it could have possibly got them in a trap so they declined to answer and Jesus also declined to answer them.

The next response from Jesus is our text today.   Jesus tells them a parable about a father and two sons and asks them what they thought.  In our story above, the first son is the prostitutes and taxcollectors and the second son is the elders and religious leaders.  The religious leaders were the son that said they would obey God (the Father) yet they did not.  The prostitutes and tax collectors were the ones that defied God first and then ended up obeying him.

Jesus said that John the Baptist came to show them the way of righteousness and they did not believe him but the taxcollectors and prostitutes did.  Jesus went on to say that even after the religious leaders saw the taxcollectors and prostitutes repent and follow him, they still refused therefore Jesus told them that for there refusal to repent and believe that taxcollectors and prostitutes would enter the kingdom ahead of them.

Well, this is one of those scriptures that the old folks used to use to say; “you gonna be surprised who you do and don’t see up in heaven.”

I have been doing a lot of counseling lately with Christians and some of the startling comments that are made to me are such as “I don’t think I can ever find it in my heart to forgive.”  I actually hear that comment a lot.  I realize that hurt and pain can cause us to say things that we don’t really mean but I just want you to think about something.   According to the scriptures, one of the signs of the spirit and the fact that Jesus is in our lives is our willingness to forgive.  Jesus changes the heart.  To hear people who have been saved for many, many, many years refused to forgive causes me to be concerned about their initial salvation experience.   A sign of redemption is our ability and willingness to forgive.  Remember in our earlier studies that if we refuse to forgive then the bible says that God will not forgive us.  Please know that no unforgivin sins will enter into the kingdom.  

I said the above to emphasize that the religious leaders of Jesus day heard the truth, they saw people’s lives converted and changed and they still refused to obey God’s word.  Who is worth you allowing them to stop you from obeying God’s word?   Not only that, forgiving brings healing and it allows you to grow into the things that God has planned for you.

Yes, there will be many that have some interesting pasts and life experiences that will enter into the kingdom before some of us that think we have it all together or think we’re find as we are and will not yield to truth or submit to God’s word.

 

This season in the church reminds us of the amazing sacrifice that Jesus did for us and if He can go to the cross, stuff like forgiving and living holy, and being kind, and taking care of one another, and treating each other right is really “small stuff” compared to HIS sacrifice.

 

Let’s stop sweating the little stuff and move on so we can enjoy the abundant life that God has in store for us.

Have a great weekend.   I think I am going to go see “Madea goes to Jail” again.   I just wanna laugh.    Laugh……………

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

 

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By What Authority

12. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 

Our text for today is:

 

Matthew 21:²³And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

 ²⁴And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

 ²⁵The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

 ²⁶But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

 ²⁷And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

 

If you have been following me daily then you know that our text comes out of the context of Jesus’ triumphant entry into

Jerusalem and his cleansing the temple of the moneychangers and merchants that were selling.     We are on a different day though because we know the incidence with the fig tree has transpired.  Jesus goes into the temple and started teaching and the chief priests and elders came to him and asked by what authority he does these things and who gave him that authority.I don’t know if you remember but earlier in the 5^th -7^th chapters of Matthew when we were studying the infamous “Sermon on the Mount” the teachings concluded with the reactions of the people.    Here is that verse;  ^{Matthew 7:28}And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  ²⁹For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

 

So we can see that Jesus teachings were viewed by the people or hearers always as authoritative and different.   The scribes were the caretakers of the law and the “official” interpreters of the scriptures.  You must remember during the biblical days that people did not have access to the word of God as we have in our modern day bibles.  The interpretation and reading of the law was limited to the religious leaders and the people had to rely solely on their religious leaders for the correct interpretation.    If you read the scriptures carefully you will notice that Jesus often rebuked the “religious leaders” for their false teachings and erroneous interpretations of scriptures.  Jesus’ teachings were so powerful and since he was not a part of the religious community of that day they struggled trying to figure out who authorized him to say and do the things that he did never attributing it to God.    We do have incidences in scriptures where they actually accused his teachings and actions to be of the devil.

 So in our scenario today, the religious leaders again are trying to trap Jesus and also get an answer from him whereby he could be accused of blasphemy.      I love how Jesus always answered them with such brilliance and wisdom.   Yes, of course he is God but I still just love the wisdom that HE uses to deal with his enemies.

As Jesus is teaching, they asked him by what authority does he do these things and Jesus says, I will answer it if you can answer the following.    Jesus says; “the baptism of John, where did it come from?  The religious leaders struggled with the answer and they rationalized within themselves before they answered. 

 Their thoughts were that if they say it was from heaven then Jesus’ answer would be why did they not believe him and if they say if was from men then they feared the people because the people reverence John as a prophet.   So they said, we don’t know.   BRILLANT……..   Jesus then responds since you could not answer me then I will not answer you as to what authority I do these things. 

I don’t know about you but I get so emotional during this time of year (the Easter season).   Every year when I revisit these studies, I see things that I have never seen before and it touches my heart in ways that it has never touched them before.   His sacrifice for us………Oh!!!!!!!!!!     It just makes me want to be better and do better.   For all that Jesus has done and still continues to do in our lives then the least I can do is live holy and honor him in this world.   Oh!!!!!!!!  I love him like that yall………..  I really do.  I didn’t always but I never imagined that I could feel this type of love………………..  How wonderful is our God.    Okay until tomorrow…

 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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The Fig Tree

11. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is as follows: 

Matthew 21:18 Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”  

One of the issues with this text today is why Jesus would curse the fig tree because he found nothing on it but leaves.  Yes, he was hungry but was Jesus that hungry that his disappointment of no fruit angered him to the point of cursing the tree for life and could there possibly have been something else going on.  When Mark tells this same story he adds that the time of figs or the season for figs was not yet here.  Why would Jesus curse the fig tree when its season was not in?    

From my research and study of the fig tree, I have found that the leaves and fruit are synonymous for figs.  When leaves appear on the tree then the fruit should also be there or developing.   The fact that the tree had the appearance that fruit should be on it but when examined close up, it bear no fruit was an analogy of the religious leaders of the day.    They were to bear fruit and yet they were fruitless.  They had the appearance of doing the right thing yet they bear no true fruit.  The destruction of the fig tree by Jesus is viewed upon by scholars as the foretelling of the destruction of the temple and the destruction that would come to the Jews under the

Roman empire because of that fruitlessness. 

The next day when the discisples saw that the fig tree had withered so fast, they asked Jesus how it died so quickly.  Physically it takes years for a fig tree to die.   Jesus responded to the disciples by saying that if you have faith, or if you really  believe in what you say then you have the power also to do what he do but even say to a mountain be thou removed and be cast into the sea.   Jesus was allegorically speaking to the power that we have when we believe and not doubt.   All things are possible if we believe.   One thing that I am learning more and more as I grow in God and read his word is that I surround myself with people who will enhance and encourage my belief system and who will cause me to dream bigger and show me that impossibilities can be accomplished through God. 

We must do whatever we have to in order that our mind can be free of doubt.   Believing God is powerful.  It brings change to our circumstances and it creates peace of mind.   Think about it , if we really believe then worry disappears. 

Be encouraged! 

God Bless!!!!!!!  Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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Cleansing of the temple

10. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is as follows: 

Matthew 21: 12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 ”It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 ”Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.  

 

Yesterday, we left off with the triumphant entry into Jerusalem by Jesus.   Once Jesus enters into the city the first thing that he does is go into the temple and get rid of the corruption that was taking place there.  The text says that he drove out all who were buying and selling and overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those who were selling doves. 

As we have been studying, this event took place shortly before Passover where Jews were required to make the pilgrimage to the temple at Jerusalem to honor this required ordinance and celebration.   Jews traveled miles and miles from home and many were not able to bring the sacrifices with them that were required so they had to buy the sacrifice when they came into the city.   Also, the temple tax had to be paid with a certain type of currency and money had to be converted to the proper currency to pay the temple tax.  Jews living in other lands were of course naturally carrying the currency of their land and when they got to Jerusalem.   

The merchants and moneychangers took advantage of the people.  They had sat up in the temple and were selling doves which were used for the sacrifices at prices way higher than they were worth and the moneychangers were charging exchange rates that were higher than it should.  They were robbing the people.  Jesus came in and saw it and ran them and then quoted a passage in Isaiah which states that “my house shall be called a house of prayer.”   

 Before Jesus went to the cross, he cleaned up the “house of God.”  He let them know that God’s house of worship was designed for prayer and not as a place of extortion.   The text goes on to say that Jesus healed many at the temple and children came to him and cried out Hosanna to the son of David.  Hosanna means save now or blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  When the religious leaders heard this praise being given to Jesus they were indignant and asked Jesus what he thought about their comments of praise to him.   Jesus brilliantly responded that have you not heard that from the lips of children has praise been ordained.    How perfect.   How innocent and pure the praise is that comes from children.   Jesus then leaves them. 

Tomorrow, we will continue with our study leading up to the last days of Jesus on this earth. 

 

God Bless!!!!!!!  Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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Triumphant Entry

9. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 

Today we will return to our study on the triumphant entry into

Jerusalem.    Here is the text for your review.

 

Matthew 21: 1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 ”Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” 10 When Jesus entered

Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in

Galilee.”

 

As we look at the text it is fascinating that Jesus tells his disciples that arrangements have already been made with someone about the release of a colt.   We don’t know if this was a miraculous event or during the Lord’s travel if he had already come in contact with the person and the arrangements were made then.  

 

We talked last week that this event took place during the Passover season where the Jews were required to make the pilgrimage to

Jerusalem to celebrate this event.  It was one of three festivals along with Pentecost and Tabernacles that the Jews were required to celebrate.   This speaks to the enormous amount of people that were in the city.  What a strategic plan. 

 

It is amazing that Jesus is walking into his death but before the betrayal the people acknowledge and beheld him as king.   Jesus enters the city in meekness and humility riding upon a colt as the prophets’ prophesized.    Little did the people know what it would cost to usher in their king for the Jews including the disciples despite the teachings of Jesus would not be ready for what was about to happen to the Savior of the world and did not realize that for this reason was he born.    They brought the colt to Jesus and they placed their cloaks on him and the crowd began to throw their cloaks on the road and others cut down branches and placed them on the road which is why the Sunday before Easter is often referred to as Palm Sunday.

 

Tomorrow, we will deal with what Jesus encounters as he marches into the city. 

 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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Passover

6. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 Today I want to discuss the Passover.   We have often heard in church tradition that Jesus was the Passover lamb.  During the next few weeks leading up to history, I will be teaching a lot of history concerning this period and how it relates to the things that Jesus will be going through.

Let’s look at the origin of Passover.  The word is first mentioned in Exodus.  The context is when the children of

Israel were under Pharaoh’s bondage and the Lord sent plagues upon the Egyptians in order to force Pharaoh to let the people go.  The last plague would be the killing of the first born.  The Israelites were instructed to do the following so that the Lord would “pass over” their households and not kill the first born of their house.  Here is the story.

 

Exodus 12: 1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in

Egypt, 2 ”This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of

Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of

Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire–head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. 12 ”On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn–both men and animals–and I will bring judgment on all the gods of

Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike

Egypt. 14 ”This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord–a lasting ordinance. 15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from

Israel. 16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat–that is all you may do. 17 ”Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of

Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 18 In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. 19 For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of

Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born. 20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.”  

Okay, I know it was rather lengthy but let’s pull out some facts.  The Passover meal consisted of roasted lamb without defects, bitter herbs and unleavened bread.  Another name for the Passover is called “Feast of the Unleavened Bread.” 

They were to eat the meal with their clock tucked into their belt, with their sandals on their feet and their staff in their hand and they were to eat it in haste. 

 

Together with the Pentecost and Tabernacles, Passover was one of the three Jewish celebrations that all Jews made a pilgrimage to

Jerusalem to honor this celebration.  Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest in

Israel.    Now, do you remember in our text on yesterday, the timing was the Passover season so in this “triumphant entry” into

Jerusalem that we are studying it took place when the city was flooded with crowds who had gathered for the Passover celebration.   How strategic is the timing of our God.  Such a plan.   

 

Everyone have a great weekend.  Again, I’m going to be doing a lot of history the next couple of weeks leaving up to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord.   

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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The Beginning of the End

5. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 

Today we are progressing to another chapter.  We are in the 21^st chapter of Matthew and near the end of the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Here is our text:

 

Matthew 21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 ”Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” 10 When Jesus entered

Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in

Galilee.”

 

Today’s text has traditionally been referred to as Jesus’ triumphal entry into

Jerusalem.   This passage is usually taught on what is also referred to as Psalm Sunday in the life of the Church.  Palm Sunday begins the Passion Week of Jesus.  In other words, this would be his last public appearance before a large crowd before he would be betrayed and questioned of his accusers and sentenced to death. 

 

Notice that in our last few chapters, we have been discussing the foretelling of Jesus to his disciples of what would take place when he arrived in

Jerusalem.    The text says that as they approached Jerusalem and came unto Bethphage near the mount of Olives from Jericho that Jesus tells his disciples to go ahead of him  and there they will find a village and there will be a donkey tied with her colt by her.  They were instructed to bring them to him and if anyone asked they were simply to say that the Lord had need of them and immediately they would be released.

 

Now, historically we don’t know anything about the town or city of

Bethphage.  We do know that it was close to Jerusalem and that it was also near Bethany and near the

Mount of Olives. The

Mount of Olives is first mentioned in scriptures in the Old Testament when David was running from his son Absalom when he was trying to take the kingdom from his father.  The text reads as follows:  II Samuel 15:30 “ But Davis continued up the

Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot.  All the people with him covered his heads too and were weeping as they went up.” (NIV)  The New Testament references to the Mount of Olives include it as the place that Jesus stood as he wept over Jerusalem, where Jesus spent time teaching, praying there on the night of this betrayal for the Garden of Gethsemane was at the foot of the Mount of Olives. 

Ohhh, we are about to get into some of my favorite material in the bible.  The last week of Jesus, his betrayal, his trail, his death, burial and resurrection.   How perfect that it is leading up to the Easter Sunday while some traditions are practicing the forty days of Lent.   

Tomorrow, we will take a step backwards and tell you about some events that Matthew does not record but the other accounts in the gospel do that give us a complete picture of the events that transpire in the life of Jesus before he begins this Passion Week. 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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Have Mercy

4. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 

Today we close out the 20^th chapter of Matthew.

 

Our last text is a miracle story.  Here is the text:

 

Matthew 20:29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving

Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 33 ”Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. (NIV)

 

As I was teaching on yesterday, Jesus is heading to

Jerusalem and there he will face his accusers which will ultimately end up in his crucifixion.  As Jesus was leaving the city of

Jericho there was a large crowd following him and there were two blind men sitting by the roadside.  When they heard Jesus pass by they shouted “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.”  This phrase “Son of David” is a familiar term throughout the New Testament especially in the mouth of those seeking healing.   According to the prophetic passages in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah (particularly in Isaiah) He would be one whom will have mercy and heal all manner of sickness and disease.   When you hear this term, the people were appealing to the prophecies that they had heard about Jesus and his ability to have mercy and compassion on those who needed healings.

 

Look what happens next.  The crowd rebukes them.  I am always amazed at the crowd.   Where were the compassionate ones that knew that it would be but a small thing for Jesus to heal these blind men and assist them to get to Jesus?   

Maybe they were trying to protect Jesus because there were so many demands on him, maybe they were trying to help him get to his destination because if they allowed him to deal with every need, he would not have made it or maybe they were just un-compassionate and selfish.  We really don’t know, but what we do know is that what they rebuked, Jesus had compassion and healed.  When the crowd told them to be silent, they screamed the louder.   I love their persistence. 

In this world that we live in, it is unfortunate that people will constantly attempt to block our progress concerning the things of God.  Even some of the people that we think should be compassionate or that are leaders in the church can sometime disappoint us and even be a hindrance to what we’re trying to accomplish.   We must never no-matter who it is allow anyone to hinder us from getting what we need from God.    Don’t ever give up.   I just recently experienced something in my life and the spiritual people that that I thought I could trust were the actual ones that caused the situation.  It threw me for a loop and if I allow it, I could easily see myself sinking into a depression.  One thing I have learned in life is that God is in control.   Keep pushing, Keep moving, Keep taking baby steps though it seems like you’re not progressing, you really are and God works it out in the end.  

 These blind men ignored the crowd and kept shouting and Jesus calls them to him and said what you want from me.  They said; “we want our sight.”  How perfect…….   We wanna see……. Jesus.     The bible says that Jesus had compassion on them and he healed them and they followed him.

I was so touched by this simple miracle.   It just shows me that nobody can block the mercies of God for our lives no matter if they are a part of the crowd who’s following Jesus.  

 

 Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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Greatness

3. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

 

Here is our  text for today:

 

Matthew 20:17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 ”We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 ”What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 ”You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (NIV)

 

 

Our lesson today deals with who is the greatest or how to become the greatest in the kingdom of God.  You will notice that the opening of our text begins with Jesus foretelling of his death and the type of death he would die.   So we can see that his death is soon approaching in our text.  Hopefully our study will be timed perfectly that by the time we get to Easter we will be discussing the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. 

 

After Jesus tells his disciples about his death, the mother of the sons of Zebedee which were the brothers James and John came to Jesus to ask him to secure her sons the right and left seat in  his kingdom.   Jesus responded by telling the woman that you have no idea what you are asking.  Those seats require a life of suffering and pain and one that she might not be willing to subject her sons with.   Jesus asked them can they drink the cup that he must drink.  They quickly answered that they could and Jesus does acknowledge that they will also share his cup during their lifetime. 

 

Jesus explains to John, James and their mother that the positions that they desire are not his to give but God determines who those positions belong to.   This question caused strife among the other disciples when they heard that the two were jockeying for positions.     Jesus calls them all together and tells them that the greatest among them must be their servant and whoever wants to be first must be their slaves.  These are positions that honestly you cannot apply for.   A true servant cannot fake his commitment and dedication.  It comes from the heart.   Greatness comes through serving and not competing and politicking for positions.   Greatness is usually not sought after; it is awarded through servant hood to mankind.  Even Jesus says that the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

 

I know that you may say that you know some great men and women in life and they were never servants to anyone.  Well my friends, it all depends on your definition of greatness.  True Greatness is defined by a life of serving.

 

If we could ever really understand this principle, I believe that our lives would take on so much more meaning.   As Christians we are here to serve.  To serve God first and then our fellowman for the scriptures teach how can we love God whom we have not seen and do not love our brethren.   Our life should be a life of service but for so many of us it is all about us.  

 

True joy comes in giving.  Life is not living unless you’re giving.   We fight for so many positions in life when greatness is achieved through serving.  

 

I am blown away with the word of God.  It is so simple yet so profound.   Jesus teachings are to help us keep our hearts and motives pure.    We look at servant hood as demeaning when it is actually a privilege and honor to serve humanity.  For when we help the least of these, we have done it as unto the Lord.

 

Just do something nice for someone.  Volunteer somewhere, whether in your local church or your community, wherever you find a need fulfill it through  your service and experience the impact that it will have on your life and what it will do to your mind and heart.  You will find that helping others will help you not focus on what you think the lacks are in your own life and it will bring fulfillment and satisfaction to you in ways you never imagined.  Just try it.

 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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