Who Shall Lay Any Thing To The Charge Of God's Elect? - Part 1808

"... in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God -- which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" (Romans 8:37-39)

Like the scripture above, I am always amazed at how one particular verse from the Bible can speak to our heart, and give us hope. Today, for example, I opened my Bible to the book of Matthew - the first gospel found in the New Testament. Note that I wasn't looking for any particular message. Indeed, I just opened my Bible and started reading the text at the point where my eyes first gazed.

What did I see? Herein, Matthew is writing Jesus' words as He spoke to both the crowds and the disciples. Just prior, Jesus had reminded the Pharisees and lawyer of the first commandment (in both the old and the new). That is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it -- "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:33-40)

Jesus then asks them, "What think ye of Christ? whose son is He?" To which the Pharisees then replied, "The son of David." Jesus then saith unto them, "How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying, "The Lord said unto My Lord, sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." If David then call Him Lord, how is He His son?" (Matthew 22:41-46)

It is here that we are enter the scene, wherein Jesus begins to speak to the multitudes. Jesus told them, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat so practice and observe whatever they tell you but not what they do; for they preach but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear and lay them on men's shoulders but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and salutations in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have "one teacher" and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth for you have "one Father" who is in Heaven. Neither be called masters for you have one Master, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:1-12; Nehemiah 8:4, 8; Romans 2:19; Luke 11:46; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; Luke 11:43; Luke 20:46; James 3:11; Malachi 1:6; Matthew 20:26-27; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14)

Yes, Jesus' message to the crowds is clear. He is referring to those who demand our attention and adoration but are not willing themselves to humble themselves before the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Although admittedly, this may seem to be a simplistic interpretation of the above scriptures, and observed without any deep reflection, these verses serve to remind us as men and women of our humble place in the world and that without our Master, the Christ, we are as nothing. But note that Jesus did not end His message to the crowds there. Jesus had an important message to tell the people -- and by extension to us in the 21st century as well -- one that we all need to hear.

In verse 13, Jesus said, "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites [the religious of the day] because you shut the kingdom of Heaven against men. For you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte. You make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves." (Matthew 23:13-15)

Strong words -- yes! Nevertheless, Jesus would that all be saved, and that we as believers in Jesus would not become deceived by those around us. This is why we need to make His Word our daily bread, so that we are not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. But I digress.

Continuing in verse 23, Jesus further states, "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you tithe mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; those you ought to have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel."  (Matthew 23:23-24)

If you read further, there are a lot of woes being stated, so that we will always be faithful in His Word, seeking HIs understanding in what we read and study.  But there is more -- actually much more. Jesus warns us of the hypocrites who would come and try to lead us astray from this gospel message. In fact, Jesus warned that "many will come in my name saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray."

However, Jesus doesn't want us to be led astray. He wants us to understand that this very same God who created the world in the beginning, loved us so much that He became flesh and sacrificed His blood on the cross so that we might have salvation eternal.

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11; John 1-18; I Timothy 3:16)

And, even unto this very day, Jesus' arms are still stretched wide waiting for each and every one of us to reach out and pray with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength. Ye will not be disappointed because Jesus is the greatest love story ever told to humankind. Don't leave your house anymore desolate but know that when our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ comes, He is coming for a people who love Him.

More on this subject to come. In the interim, don't forget to stand in the offering plate.