WOW! WHAT A KOOKY 2017 IT HAS BEEN! AMERICA IS SLOWLY LOSING ITS MIND WITH HALF THE NATION UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND SIMPLE CONCEPTS OF SERENITY AND ACCEPTANCE OF RULE OF LAW. JUST THIS PAST WEEK MY BUSINESS RECEIVED ANOTHER WACKY CALL. A MAN WE HAD SOLD A COUPLE OF RVS TO OVER SOME YEARS TOLD US HE NEEDED YET ANOTHER RV FROM US. THE MAN TOLD US THAT SOME GUY (A STRANGER) WITH FIRE IN HIS EYES AND OBVIOUSLY FIRE IN THE POCKET HAD COME ONTO HIS NC PROPERTY AND BURNED HIS TRAVEL TRAILER TO THE GROUND. HE WAS ARRESTED FOR ARSON. I SHAKE MY HEAD.
SO TONIGHT TO ESCAPE ALL THAT WE WILL FIND OUR SOLACE IN THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST. THERE WILL BE MINIMAL COMMENTARY FROM ME THIS POST AS THE THINGS HE SAID ARE FAIRLY SELF EXPLANATORY. LET US NOW FIND SOME PEACE FROM THE MADNESS. WHOMEVER YOU ARE PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TONIGHT TO PRAY FOR AMERICA AND SPAIN THAT ARE ENDURING FALSE FLAG TERROR ATTACKS. TAKE SOME TIME TO THINK ON THESE WORDS OF JESUS AND ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND SAVE YOU FROM THE FLOTSAM AND JETSAM OF THE TIMES.
WE NOW CONTINUE WITH THE RECORD OF MATTHEW AS HE REFLECTS UPON THE WORDS AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE CONTINUATION AND COMPLETION OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND EVENTS BEYOND.
SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 6 SYNOPSIS:
THE WORDS OF CHRIST—
“TAKE HEED THAT YOU DO NOT YOUR ALMS (MONEY OR GOODS GIVEN TO THE POOR) BEFORE MEN, TO BE SEEN OF THEM: OTHERWISE YOU HAVE NO REWARD OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. THEREFORE WHEN YOU DO YOUR ALMS DO NOT SOUND A TRUMPET BEFORE YOU, AS THE HYPOCRITES DO IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND IN THE STREETS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE GLORY OF MEN. THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD. BUT WHEN YOU DO ALMS, LET NOT YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND DOES. THAT YOUR ALMS MAY BE IN SECRET: AND YOUR FATHER WHICH SEES IN SECRET HIMSELF SHALL REWARD YOU OPENLY.
“AND WHEN YOU PRAY, BE NOT AS THE HYPOCRITES ARE: FOR THEY LOVE TO PRAY STANDING IN THE CORNERS OF THE STREETS, THAT THEY MAY BE SEEN OF MEN. THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD. BUT YOU, WHEN YOU PRAY, ENTER INTO YOUR CLOSET, AND WHEN YOU HAVE SHUT THE DOOR PRAY TO YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET; AND YOUR FATHER WHICH SEES IN SECRET SHALL REWARD YOU OPENLY.BUT WHEN YOU PRAY, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS, AS THE HEATHEN DO: FOR THEY THINK THAT THEY SHALL BE HEARD FOR THEIR MUCH SPEAKING. BE NOT YOU THEREFORE LIKE UNTO THEM: FOR YOUR FATHER KNOWS WHAT THINGS YOU HAVE NEED OF, BEFORE YOU ASK HIM.
AFTER THIS MANNER THEREFORE PRAY YOU:
OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL: FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY, FOREVER. AMEN.
(COMMENTARY: CHRIST SAID, “AFTER THIS MANNER THEREFORE PRAY YOU”. THIS WAS MEANT AS AN EXAMPLE. LET’S GET AN IMAGINATION FOR COMMUNICATING WITH GOD. OF COURSE IT IS GOOD TO STAND UPON THE WORDS OF CHRIST IN UTILIZING PRAYER FOR GREATER FORCE AND EFFICACY, HOWEVER, WE SHOULD TAILOR MAKE OUR PRAYERS TO BE CONVERSATIONALLY RESPECTFUL TO GOD IN OUR OWN PERSONALITY).
LET’S GO BACK TO THE WORDS OF CHRIST—
“FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU: BUT IF YOU FORGIVE NOT MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.
(COMMENTARY: THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL STATEMENTS IN THE BIBLE, AND ALSO ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT MINDSETS FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR TIMES TO EMBRACE.
FROM MY EXPERIENCE OF LIFE HERE IN THE LAST DAYS, I SEE THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE TRULY FORGIVE. YET WE TAKE OUR INSPIRATION FROM THE EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE THAT DO.
WE MUST DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN TO FORGIVE FOR THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT CAN AFFECT OUR PATH TO SALVATION. I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH FORGIVENESS IN LIFE AND IT HAS GOTTEN FAR EASIER WITH MATURITY. MY CURRENT TECHNIQUE IS TO DO MY BEST NOT TO CREATE PROBLEM RELATIONSHIPS, AND IF UNAVOIDABLE I REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE IRRITANT COMPLETELY UNTIL I CAN MAKE PEACE LEADING TO THAT FORGIVENESS.)
“MOREOVER, WHEN YOU FAST, BE NOT, AS THE HYPOCRITES OF A SAD COUNTENANCE: FOR THEY DISFIGURE THEIR FACES THAT THEY MAY APPEAR TO MEN TO FAST. THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD.
BUT YOU, WHEN YOU FAST, ANOINT YOUR HEAD, AND WASH YOUR FACE. THAT YOU APPEAR NOT UNTO MEN TO FAST, BUT TO THY FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET: AND YOUR FATHER, WHICH SEES IN SECRET, SHALL REWARD YOU OPENLY.
“LAY NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DOES CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL: BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST DOES CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL: FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO.
“THE LIGHT OF THE BODY IS THE EYE: IF THEREFORE YOUR EYE BE SINGLE (SINGULAR TO THE GLORIFICATION OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE), YOUR WHOLE BODY SHALL BE FULL OF LIGHT. (THE LIGHT OF CHRIST). BUT IF YOUR EYE BE EVIL, YOUR WHOLE BODY SHALL BE FULL OF DARKNESS. IF THEREFORE, THE LIGHT THAT IS IN YOU BE DARKNESS, HOW GREAT IS THAT DARKNESS. NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS: FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE, AND LOVE THE OTHER; OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO THE ONE, AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. (MAMMON: WEALTH AS AN EVIL INFLUENCE).
“TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU SHALL EAT, OR WHAT YOU SHALL DRINK; NOR YET FOR YOUR BODY, WHAT YOU SHALL PUT ON. IS NOT THE LIFE MORE THAN MEAT, AND THE BODY THAN RAIMENT? (THE LIFE IS ABOUT MORE THAN EATING; AND THE BODY IS ABOUT MORE THAN FASHION).
“BEHOLD THE FOWLS OF THE AIR: FOR THEY SOW NOT, NEITHER DO THEY REAP, HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. ARE YOU NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THEY?
“WHICH OF YOU BY TAKING THOUGHT CAN ADD ONE CUBIT TO HIS STATURE? AND WHY TAKE YOU THOUGHT FOR RAIMENT? CONSIDER THE LILIES OF THE FIELD, HOW THEY GROW; THEY TOIL NOT, NEITHER DO THEY SPIN: EVEN SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY WAS NOT ARRAYED LIKE ONE OF THESE. WHEREFORE, IF GOD SO CLOTHE THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, WHICH TODAY IS, AND TOMMORROW IS CAST INTO THE OVEN, SHALL HE NOT MUCH MORE CLOTHE YOU, O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH? THEREFORE TAKE NO THOUGHT, SAYING, WHAT SHALL WE EAT? OR, WHAT SHALL WE DRINK? OR, WHEREWITHAL SHALL WE BE CLOTHED? FOR AFTER ALL THESE THINGS DO THE GENTILES SEEK. FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU HAVE NEED OF ALL THESE THINGS.
BUT SEEK YOU FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU. TAKE THEREFORE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW: FOR THE MORROW SHALL TAKE THOUGHT FOR THE THINGS OF ITSELF. SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY IS THE EVIL THEREOF. (I.E. LIVE LIFE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT ONLY).
SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 7 SYNOPSIS:
THE WORDS OF CHRIST AT THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT CONTINUES—
“JUDGE NOT, THAT YOU BE NOT JUDGED. FOR WITH WHAT JUDGEMENT YOU JUDGE, YOU SHALL BE JUDGED: AND WITH WHAT MEASURE YOU METE, IT SHALL BE MEASURED TO YOU AGAIN.
(COMMENTARY: WHAT A SURPRISE IT MUST HAVE BEEN FOR THE MULTITUDES TO HEAR THIS! WHAT A CONCEPT, SURELY THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND STATEMENTS MADE BY CHRIST. THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUNDLY DIFFICULT TEACHINGS FOR HUMANS TO FOLLOW IN ANY AGE OF HISTORY.
LET’S TAKE A MOMENT TO PHILOSOPHIE THAT GOOD JUDGMENT IS THE FRUIT OF COMMON SENSE, BAD JUDGMENT IS A LACK OF COMMON SENSE. COMMON SENSE HELPS US MAKE DECISIONS THAT REQUIRE SOME JUDGMENT. FAIRNESS IS A REQUISITE OF GOOD JUDGMENT. WE MUST REFRAIN FROM INEQUALITIES AS WE MAKE DECISIONS, FOR WE SURELY PAY A PRICE FOR SUCH.)
“AND WHY BEHOLD YOU THE MOTE THAT IS IN YOUR BROTHER’S EYE, BUT CONSIDER NOT THE BEAM THAT IS IN YOUR OWN EYE? OR HOW WILL YOU SAY TO YOUR BROTHER, LET ME PULL OUT THE MOTE OUT OF YOUR EYE; AND, BEHOLD A BEAM IS IN YOUR OWN EYE?
“YOU HYPOCRITE, FIRST CAST OUT THE BEAM OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE; AND THEN SHALL YOU SEE CLEARLY TO CAST OUT THE MOTE OUT OF YOUR BROTHER’S EYE.
“GIVE NOT THAT WHICH IS HOLY UNTO THE DOGS, NEITHER CAST YOU YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE, LEST THEY TRAMPLE THEM UNDER THEIR FEET, AND TURN AGAIN AND REND YOU.
(COMMENTARY: WOW! AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS CHAPTER CHRIST ASKS US NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS BUT A FEW LINES DOWN HE METAPHORICALLY REFERS TO WICKED PEOPLE AS DOGS AND PIGS. THIS IS A FASCINATING CURIOSITY DON’T YOU THINK? REMEMBER CHRIST IS THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT.
MY BEST FRIEND AND I DEBATED THE MEANING BETWEEN THE TWO PASSAGES. WE SURMISED THAT SOME PEOPLE BECOME SO OBVIOUSLY INHUMAN THAT THEY BEGIN TO PERSONIFY LOWER ANIMALS. IN THIS, IN A SENSE, WE HAVE MADE NO JUDGMENT FOR BY THE USE OF OUR COMMON SENSE WE SEE THEM AS THEY HAVE BECOME, WHICH IN ESSENCE ARE “DOGS AND PIGS”. SAD BUT TRUE.)
BACK TO THE WORDS OF CHRIST—
“ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU; SEEK, AND YOU SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED TO YOU.
“FOR EVERY ONE THAT ASKS RECEIVES; AND HE THAT SEEKS FINDS; AND TO HIM THAT KNOCKS IT SHALL BE OPENED.
“OR WHAT MAN IS THERE OF YOU, WHOM IF HIS SON ASK BREAD, WILL GIVE HIM A STONE? OR IF HE ASK A FISH, WILL HE GIVE HIM A SERPENT? IF YOU THEN, BEING EVIL (WITHOUT GOD IN YOUR LIVES AND WALKING AFTER THE MANNER OF THE WORLD), KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN GIVE GOOD THINGS TO THEM THAT ASK HIM?
“THEREFORE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YOU WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YOU EVEN SO TO THEM: FOR THIS IS THE LAW (OF MOSES) AND THE PROPHETS.
“ENTER YOU IN AT THE STRAIT GATE (THE WAY OF CHRIST) FOR WIDE IS THE GATE, AND BROAD IS THE WAY, THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY THERE BE WHICH GO IN THEREAT. BECAUSE STRAIT IS THE GATE, AND NARROW IS THE WAY, WHICH LEADS TO LIFE (A LIFE IN CHRIST), AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.”
(COMMENTARY: YOU WILL FIND THAT THE TRUE MANNER OF A BALANCED RICH LIFE IS A PHILOSOPHICALLY NARROW ONE. THIS IS WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD NEVER GET UPSET WHEN A SECULAR HUMANISTS, ATHEISTS OR ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE FAITH CONSIDERS YOU TO BE NARROW MINDED. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED BY CHRIST HIMSELF THAT THE PATH IS NARROW.)
“BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS WHICH COME TO YOU IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING, BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE RAVENING WOLVES.
“YOU SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS . DO MEN GATHER GRAPES OF THORNS, OR FIGS OF THISTLES? EVEN SO EVERY GOOD TREE BRINGS FORTH GOOD FRUIT; BUT A CORRUPT TREE BRINGS FORTH EVIL FRUIT. A GOOD TREE CANNOT BRING FORTH EVIL FRUIT; NEITHER CAN A CORRUPT TREE BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT. EVERY TREE THAT BRINGS NOT FORTH GOOD FRUIT IS HEWN DOWN, AND CAST INTO THE FIRE. (THE FINAL JUDGEMENT OF MAN). WHEREFORE BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM.
“NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAYS TO ME LORD, LORD SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; BUT HE THAT DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. MANY WILL SAY TO ME IN THAT DAY, LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN YOUR NAME? AND IN YOUR NAME HAVE CAST OUT DEVILS? AND IN YOUR NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS? AND THEN WILL I PROFESS TO THEM, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YOU THAT WORK INIQUITY.
THEREFORE WHOSOEVER HEARS THESE SAYINGS OF MINE, AND DOES THEM, I WILL LIKEN HIM TO A WISE MAN, WHICH BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON A ROCK. AND THE RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE, AND IT FELL NOT: FOR IT WAS FOUNDED UPON A ROCK.
(COMMENTARY: NOW IS THE TIME TO EMBRACE THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST, BEFORE CURRENT EVENTS BRING US THE BEGINNING OF EARTH’S TRIBULATION PERIOD.)
“AND EVERY ONE THAT HEARS THESE SAYINGS OF MINE, AND DOES THEM NOT, SHALL BE LIKENED TO A FOOLISH MAN, WHICH BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON THE SAND: AND THE RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE; AND IT FELL: AND GREAT WAS THE FALL OF IT. AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN JESUS HAD ENDED THESE SAYINGS, THE PEOPLE WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS DOCTRINE.
FOR HE TAUGHT THEM AS ONE HAVING AUTHORITY, AND NOT AS THE SCRIBES.
NEXT—WE CONTINUE ST. MATTHEW