Matthew 21 - What Jesus Wants Us To Know

SF Stagecoach, NV

Dear Brothers, Sisters, Prodigals and Unsaved,

            I know this one is out of order, I got so busy (like all of us this time of year), I thought I had already blogged Chapter 21 last Sunday, but I had just prepared it in MS Word.  Sorry about that.  Any way please enjoy it now.

            Our Lessons in Matthew will always contain topics such as; Living Life, Healings, Miracles, Deliverance and more.  Today we'll learn; The Triumphal Entry, Cleansing The Temple, The Barren Fig Tree, Authority Challenged, Parable Of Two Sons, and Parable of the Landowner.

    There is always more to learn..., - Abba [God], wants to reveal Himself to you.  Knowing that the truth will set you FREE.  That's why Jesus, through His Word, reveals to us what His Father [Abba] told Him daily, to do and say.  The World, is the twerp's [satan's] playground. But if you know your authority, he can't play with you.
    To shorten these Chapters, I'm going to list the scripture, for those of you who do not have a Bible, but only comment on the verses that I feel need more explanation for today.

Verse  NOTE: ALL meanings are from Strong's Concordance, unless marked otherwise.

Chapter 21:1-46

21:1-3  The Triumphal Entry:

·         [Matthew 21:1-3 NKJV] 1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose [them] and bring [them] to Me. 3 "And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them."
    Jesus had to finish His Ministry on earth in Jerusalem, fulfilling another prophecy He would do.
    [Zechariah 9:9 NKJV] "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion [Israel]! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He [is] just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey."
    Why Jesus had His disciples get him a donkey and a colt - I don't know, but it does say here, Jesus rode the foal of a donkey - a COLT!  Zechariah Prophesied this around 536 B.C.  to 520 B.C.
 

21:4-7  [Matthew 21:4-7 NKJV] 4 "All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.' " 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set [Him] on them."
*   Verses 4-5  The daughter of Zion is referred to as Jerusalem, or the Jewish people.  Again, to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah above.
*   Verses 6-7  The disciples did as requested by Jesus, bring the donkey and the colt - they didn't use saddles in those days, so they just added some of their clothes on the donkey and helped Jesus on the colt.
    [Ezekiel 44:1-2 NKJV] 1 "Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it [was] shut. 2 And the LORD said to me, "This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.
    The Bible records - that Jesus went into the Sheep gate, where all the Offerings were brought in 10 days prior to offering.  Where the Rabbi's, checked all animal sacrifices, making sure their offering was without blemish or sickness, then killed them.  The Torah says, lambs were to be killed on the 14th day of the first month.  Around 3 pm.
    Did you know, Jesus was crucified at 9 am, then died at 3 pm.  Discovery News says, Geologists say Jesus, as described in the New Testament, was most likely crucified on Friday, April 3, in the year 33.  This is what was recorded happening while Jesus was crucified and died.
    [Matthew 27:45 NKJV] "Now from the sixth hour [9 am] until the ninth hour [3 pm] there was darkness over all the land."
    In the Old Testament, darkness is frequently a sign of judgment (Amos 5:18; 8:9).  Darkness as a sign of divine judgment highlights the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death.  On the cross, Jesus endured the judgment of God upon our sin.
     “The curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51).Have you ever seen or heard of, this curtain?  I saw one, the exact replica in size creation in Lancaster, PA. This, like the original one, was made of one piece - and to tear this heavy one piece in 1/2 would take an act of God.  This would make sense in light of Ephesians 2:14, where Paul said "Christ has torn down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile".
    “The earth quaked, and the rocks were split” (Matthew. 27:51).  When God appeared to Moses on Sinai to give His Law, “the whole mountain shook violently” (Exodus. 19:18). Warren Wiersbe, connects the earthquake at Jesus’ death to the Sinai event, suggesting that the earthquake at Calvary signified that the demands of the law were fulfilled in Christ.
    “The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” (Matthew 27:52).  These resurrections demonstrate Jesus’ victory over death. They are a foretaste of what will come at the end of time, the final resurrection of which Paul wrote in
1 Thessalonians 4:16: “the dead in Christ will rise” (also 1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Thus, they symbolize the hope all believers have because of the death and resurrection of Christ.

21:8-11 [Matthew 21:8-11 NKJV] 8 "And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread [them] on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed [is] He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!" 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" 11 So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."
    At this point, the majority of the Jews sill had not recognized Jesus and their Savior - they were/are still waiting for Him to come and destroy the evil and persecutions of their land.

21:12-13 Cleansing The Temple:
 [Matthew 21:12-13 NKJV] 12 "Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "
    I don't think many churches still do this, BUT, I never agreed with playing bingo [gambling] in any church.  There are plenty of VFW's, schools, and in NV, casinos.
    This is also the only time Jesus lost His cool! - that's how angry for Abba's sake He was!  Sometimes when I go out for dinner in NV afterwards, my Uncle and I would have coffee while we played the slot machines.  OOPS - ABBA said to me, NO MORE on Sundays!  The casinos would have to close down from my $5-10 occasionally.  PS:  I've had an agreement with Abba, that whatever I won, I'd give to help the missionaries give children supplies to help teach them.

21:14-17 [Matthew 21:14-17 NKJV] 14 "Then [the] blind and [the] lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?" 17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there."
    Verses 14-16 Now that Jesus cleaned up His Father's Sanctuary, it's time to heal.  Of course the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things Jesus did, they were indignant - Why?  Because THEY COULDN'T!  And the people LOVED Jesus for the wondrous works He did.  Praising Abba, Jesus let them know, it was perfected praise from the babies and nursing infants!
      

21:18-22 The Barren Fig Tree:

·       [Matthew 21:18-22 NKJV] 18 "Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw [it], they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?" 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22 "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
*   Verses 18-19  Jesus was hungry - thought He'd get some fruit.  But it hadn't grown yet, just leaves were there.  Jesus spoke to that tree, telling it, it would never grow fruit again.  This may sound strange to some, but Abba created this whole world by His Words.  Jesus just followed what His Father did - He spoke death to it and it withered immediately.
*   Verses 20  The disciples amazed that Jesus could do this. Now it's time to tell the disciples what He did - so they could.  Just as we can - then Jesus explained "how to".
*   Verses 21-22  Jesus tells them REALLY, IF YOU HAVE THE FAITH AND DO NOT DOUBT they could do the same thing.  Yes, it only takes 2 things.  1) You have faith and 2) do not doubt it's possible.  That's a bad habit many of us need to break [doubting].
    One time, taking my hubby to a Doctor's office, which was in a professional building, where there were no wheel chairs.  My husband was 200+ pounds and I could not lift/carry him into the office.  So I asked the Holy Spirit for HELP, that a wheel chair would be in the hallway - AND IT WAS!  I had HOPED and BELIEVED.
    [Hebrews 11:1 NKJV] "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  The Word gives us the answer in ONE SENTENCE!  Often, as I was learning, it would take me 2-3 tries before I saw the manifestation, but I never doubted after that.  I will admit, I've never tried to move a mountain - yet!  Jesus also confirms, "whatever" you ask in prayer, BELIEVING, you WILL RECEIVE. - That goes back to Hebrews 11:1.

21:23-27   Authority Challenged:

·       [Matthew 21:23-27 NKJV] 23 "Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?" 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 "The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 26 "But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
    Verse 23 - Jesus just couldn't catch a break, when the chief priests or elders were around, at the temple [church].  It's like all these democrats, who hate President Trump, as far as they are concerned, everything he does is; illegal, immoral, or unethical and they'd try to stop whatever he wants to do for the people.  Me, I would have bragged my authority is in Christ Jesus [which I do]!  Given to me by God Almighty - if you have a problem with that tell my Father!
    Verse 24-26  Jesus is so much nicer than me.  He simple gave them a question and no matter how they answered - they'd be up a creek without a paddle and they knew it.
    Verse 27  Their answer, because they did not have a relationship with Abba was, "I dunno"  so Jesus didn't answer them.  We know though, His authority is from God Almighty and the baptism is from Heaven.

21:28-32   Parable Of Two Sons:

[Matthew 21:28-32 NKJV] 28 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' 29 "He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 "Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I [go], sir,' but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did the will of [his] father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them,"Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom before  you kingdom of Go before  32 "For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw [it], you did not afterward relent and believe him."
*   Verses 28-30  2 Sons, one said no, but went anyway the other said OK dad, but didn't go at all.  So the first son had a change of heart and the second had no intention of obeying his father so he lied to him.  At least the priests got that one right.
_[computer error below again] Re-__
*   Verses 31-32   means: turning from ones evil ways, asking forgiveness.  
        Jesus tells them, assuredly [no doubt], tax collectors and harlots will enter the Kingdom of God before you.  Can you see their mouths drop?  Tax collectors, in those days [and ours] were considered low-lives and crooked.  Harlots we know, share their physical bodies for money and often to married men [adultery] breaking their covenant with their wives.  [forsaking all others, till death do we part].  Yet Jesus said they'd enter Heaven before the chief priests.  Why do you think that is?  Many are corrupt, but they change their ways, repenting to Abba - asking forgiveness for their sins, in Jesus' Name [IJN].  Some priests or ministers today, do not repent. Although Jesus didn't say, they would not enter the kingdom of heaven, but they won't be first in line as they think. Why?  They wouldn't forgive or accept a sanctified sinner, even if they repented.

21:33-46   Parable of the Landowner"

·       [Matthew 21:33-40 NKJV] 33 "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner [Abba] who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers [Israel] and went into a far country. 34 "Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants [Prophets] to the vinedressers [Israel], that they might receive its fruit. 35 "And the vinedressers [Israel] took his servants [Prophets], beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 "Again he sent other servants [Prophets], more than the first, and they did likewise to them."  37 "Then last of all he sent his son [Jesus] to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 "But when the vinedressers [Israel] saw the son [Jesus], they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' 39 "So they took him and cast [him] out of the vineyard and killed [him]. 40 "Therefore, when the owner [God] of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?"

*   Verse 33 - God planted Israel and placed a hedge around it for protection, providing their needs, before He left it in the vinedressers [Israel's] care.
*   Verse 34-35  Now when it was time to collect God's fruit, He sent servants [prophets] whom Abba trusted to collect what was due Him.  The farmers-religious leadership, beat one servant and killed the other.
*   Verse 36-37 - Again God sent other servants [prophets] more than last time, to collect what belonged to God, they killed them too.  Finally God sent His Son [Jesus] to collect the debt, thinking they wouldn't kill him. 
*   Verse 38-40 - The farmers/tenants [Jewish religious leadership] knew the son of the landowner [God] and thought if they killed him too, they could keep his inheritance.  Taking him out of the vineyard [Israel]they did just that.  So when the Landowner [God] comes, what will He do to them?

·         [Matthew 21:41-46 NKJV] 41 They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease [his] vineyard to other vinedressers [the Gentiles] who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes' ? 43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."  45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet."
*   Verse 41 - God will destroy those wicked men and lease it to "other vinedressers" [Gentiles], who will render to him the fruits in season.
*   Verse 42-43 - The stone which builders rejected [Jesus] have become the chief cornerstone.  Cornerstones and capstones are used symbolically in Scripture and picture Christ as the main piece of the foundation of the church and the head of the church, respectively. Jesus is the beginning of and is foundational to the church, and He now stands over the church in His rightful position of honor, guiding the church to fulfill its divine destiny.
*   Verse 44-46 - This will be more than they [Jews] can tolerate.  He is saying that there will be a new people of God made up of all peoples who will temporarily replace the Jews so that Jesus can establish His church. This will change the way God deals with man, from the old dispensation of the law to a new dispensation of God’s grace.  It will usher in a period of time where man will no longer understand forgiveness of sins as man’s work through what he does or doesn’t do or by the sacrifices of animals on the altar, but by the work of Christ on the cross. It will be a time where each individual can have a personal and saving relationship with the One and only God of the universe. 
    Hope this much clearer now?  This is the time we're in RIGHT NOW! 
 

    My prayer 4 U:  Father, in Jesus' Name I'm asking You to reveal, to Your Children, how to think from Heaven's perspective, so they can release Heavenly solutions in their lives and help others, help them NOT TO LEAD with their head, but with the heart of JESUS!  -  In Jesus' Name - AMEN! and AMEN!

    FYI:  I'm having many problems with my IBM computer, so I'm changing over to a IMac hopefully the first week of January.  It may take me a few days to change all my IBM files/programs over to Mac.  So should I miss the from January 3rd [Thursday] to January 5th, [Sunday] 2019 please bear with me.  I'll be back As soon as possible.  We've completed Matthew Chapters 1-22, just have Chapters 23-28 left.  Please email me if there's something you'd like to study, email is at the top of the blog.

  

Blessing to ALL - AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sandy - The Lord's Servant

Matthew 22 - What Jesus Wants Us To Know

SF Stagecoach, NV

Dear Brothers, Sisters, Prodigals and Unsaved,

            Our Lessons in Matthew will always contain topics such as; Living a Godly Life today, Healings, Miracles, Deliverance and more.  Today we'll learn; through His Word, what the Bible reveals to us, i.e.,  Parable of Marriage Feast, Tribute To Caesar, and Jesus Answers The Sadducee's.

    There is always more to learn..., - Abba [God], wants to reveal Himself to you.  Knowing that the truth will set you FREE.  That's why Jesus, through His Word, reveals what His Father [Abba] told Him daily, to say and do.  The World, is the twerp's [satan's] playground. But if you know your authority, he can't play with you.
    To shorten these Chapters, I'm going to list the scripture, for those of you who do not have a Bible, but only comment on the verses that I feel need more explanation for today.

Verse  NOTE: ALL meanings are from Strong's Concordance, unless marked otherwise.

Chapter 22:1-46

22:1-14  Parable Of The Marriage Feast:

[Matthew 22:1-14 NKJV] 1 "And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 "Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle [are] killed, and all things [are] ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5 "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 "And the rest seized his [kings] servants, treated [them] spitefully, and killed [them]. 7 "But when the king heard [about it], he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 "So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding [hall] was filled with guests. 11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 "So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 "For many are called, but few [are] chosen."

*   Verses 1-2  Why was it important that Jesus spoke to the crowed in parables?  Jesus was preparing them to learn how the old ways mislead them in the Sadducees, Pharisees and Scribes interpretations.  The best way to speak so they would understand was in a story format.  That's why it's so important for us to understand the principals Jesus taught us to use today.
*   Verses 3-4  ­Anyone who is having a celebration, sends out invitations and prepares the food and drinks for them - but they refused to come.  Back then, having a celebration, meant having a feast, usually for days and being invited by a king is quite an honor, few would turn down.   
    Isn't that like Christ, giving us an invitation to be Redeemed through Him, and in Revelation Chapters 1-3, it speaks of the seven churches, 2 of the 7, got ATTA-Boy for doing what's right and pleasing Abba, the rest had a "but this I have against you?  I know the churches do not exist today, but I wonder how many others made the changes and are in Heaven? 
 *   Verses 5-7  Our Father in Heaven [Abba] does not give up easily, because: He's NOT A QUITTER.  This should also be our standard.  Things may not always be easy, but "greater is God in you, then he that's in the world.  And Jesus already won for us. Those invited, killing the kings servants in a rage of disgust, are hardly acceptable to any decent human being.  Keep in mind, my favorite saying in Luke 6:38-39  "as you give, so shall you receive".  Abba destroyed those men, and cities who killed the kings servants.
    We should be acting as VICTORS - not doubting Thomas', because we are VICTORIOUS in Christ Jesus! 
    [2 Peter 3:9 NKJV] "The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
    No matter where you are in your life, or whatever you've done, He's waiting for you to return.        Read Luke 15:11-32  How long does the Father wait, then rejoices when his son returns.  Abba feels the same way.  Unfortunately the main solitary reason, to keep you out of Heaven, is when you stop breathing - that's when it's to late to make your choice.
*   Verses 8-10  Like this king, Abba feels the same way - a wedding banquet will be held for those who will enter Heaven.  He's going to rejoice for those of us, who choose to freely accept His only begotten Son, Jesus into their life - others are not worthy to come.  His servants [us] who preach/teach or share the Gospel to the world and they accept Jesus - even the imperfect ones, will be guests at His feast.  That's why it's so important we DO NOT hide the light of Christ within us. or under a bushel.
*   Verses 11-14  No matter how good or bad you may be, YOU MUST be washed in the Blood of Christ.  That's what makes you without spot or wrinkle, your clothes acceptable for a wedding feast or you will be cast into the outer darkness, where weeping and gnashing teeth are suffering [hell].
     [Ephesians 5:27 NKJV] "that He might present her [us] to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."
    As in 2 Peter 3:9 above, everyone is called, but few are chosen - why?  Because they refused the invitation.  Abba is not a dictator, but a loving God - who freely gives you a choice, where you will spend eternity.  Everyone, from the least to the greatest will hear His name that's a promise from Abba in -  Hebrews 8:11-12 and:
    [Jeremiah 31:34 NKJV] "No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
    Did you notice, we get an extra benefit - He will remember our sin NO MORE!  What a GOOD GOD we have!
   

·       22:15-22  Tribute To Caesar:

     [Matthew 22:15-22 NKJV] 15 "Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in [His] talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, [you] hypocrites? 19 "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription [is] this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they had heard [these words], they marveled, and left Him and went their way.."
 *   Verses 15-16  The Pharisees are a great bunch of men aren't they?  Jesus was not only tempted by the twerp [satan] for 40 days/nights, but now by the so called "religious men" of His day as well.  First they flatter Jesus of how knowledgeable He is, then ask His opinion on the Law.  Jesus never claimed to be a lawyer.  It's a fact He had little appreciation for them.
     A Denarius Means: = equivalent to a days wages.
*   Verses 17- 18  These Pharisees must have been lawyers, "is it lawful or not" that's the only way they "thought" they could test/entangle Jesus' with His knowledge and win - ha!  Jesus could have easily said, it's not Abba's will, that you teach what you're not willing to do yourself.  There are 55 "Woes" in the Bible concerning; lawyers, evil destroyers, thieves, rich men, wicked men, those who strayed from Abba, quarrel with Abba, shepherds who scatter His sheep, and the list goes on and on...
    [Luke 11:46 NKJV] And He said, "Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers."
*   Verses 19-22  I like that Jesus doesn't just tell the Pharisees, but gives an example for those around Him, revealing how it should be.  I'm sure Abba already planned to give us the Holy Spirit; to teach, guide, comfort and bring to our remembrance His Word - when we need it.  Truthfully, there are days when I feel sorry for the Holy Spirit, because He's stuck on earth with us - when I'm sure, His heart is with Jesus and the Father in Heaven.
   
     Jesus knew what they were doing, and even called them hypocrites in front of everyone.  The picture on that coin was of Caesar, so Jesus said, pay him what's due him.  But just as importantly, give to God, what's due God. Just as we should pay the taxes of our countries. The best they could do at that point is to marvel, that Jesus knew the correct answer, both legally and spiritually.  If you're having trouble financially to pay your taxes or medical bills, or whatever money you need, try asking Abba for HELP - He loves to bless us the tithers and those who give offerings to help others - no matter the amount look how the widow was blessed.
    [Luke 21:1-4 NKJV] 1 "And He [Jesus] looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 "for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had." 
    She didn't give because she had to, but because she wanted to.  Do you think, she believed Abba would take care of her needs, because she was faithful?  The Lord doesn't ask for more than you have.  But if you tithe or gave an offering - He truly LOVES a cheerful giver.  So if you need help, ask Him for it.
A Mite Means: = 1/2 of a penny  2 mites = 1 penny

22:23-46  Jesus Answers The Sadducee's:

·       [Matthew 22:23-46 NKJV] 23 "The same day the Sadducee's, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 "Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 "Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 "Last of all the woman died also. 28 "Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her." 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the multitudes heard [this], they were astonished at His teaching. 34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducee's, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked [Him a question], testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which [is] the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is [the] first and great commandment. 39 "And [the] second [is] like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "[The Son] of David." 43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 44 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool" ' ? 45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore."

*   Verses 23-27  No break for Jesus - tested again the same day, only by the Sadducee's, who do not believe in a resurrection.  The old testament [OT] does say IF:
    In Deuteronomy 25:5 it says, IF brothers dwell together.  But here in Matthew 22:24 it does not - in fact it says they must have a child with the dead brothers wife, to carry on his legacy.  There must be a difference between the OT and the New Testament [NT].  In both cases, a brother still must marry his brothers wife to carry on the dead brothers legacy.  The principal is the same, just the condition of the brothers dwelling together is not.
    That poor woman, she had to go through 6 brothers, then she died.

[Matthew 22:28 NKJV] 28 "Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her." 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven."
*    Verses 28-30  In resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be?  No Ones!  Again, Jesus in front of the multitude, let the people know they didn't understand the scriptures.  For in the resurrection, they do not marry, but become angels of God.
     So we will not be married in Heaven, just angels of God to help in the millennium.
*   Verses 31-33  Abba said, "I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob," Even though all 3 have been with the Lord for years.  Yet Abba referred to them as if they were still alive.  Remember Paul's confident words? 
    I believe the reason the people were astonished, was because they never heard anyone so confident in what He said life in Heaven would be like - as if He was there, and we know He was.
     Paul wrote,[2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV] "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."
     We are accounted only once to die then it's Heaven or Hell we go to.  Like Paul, I'm confident that when we are raptured, we will NOT DIE even the one time!  Unlike the multitudes, I was not astonished - JUST HAPPY TO SEE IT IN THE WORD!
*   Verses 34-40  I can hear the Pharisees saying, we weren't the only ones wrong - Jesus embarrassed the Sadducee's too!  Can the lawyer get Jesus?  Does Jesus know the greatest commandment in the law?
    Of course He does!  LOVE the Lord, your God with ALL your heart, soul and mind.  That's the first - but don't forget the 2nd one; LOVE your neighbor as yourself.  On those two commandments, you will obey the Law and the Prophets.   It's a TRUE saying, LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND.  But don't forget, Abba LOVED YOU FIRST.
*   Verses 41-46  While the Pharisees were gathered, Jesus tested them, saying "What do you think about the Christ?  Whose Son is He?  Of course they knew, that Jesus was born in the tribe of Judah, so He was a Son of David. 
    Jesus then asked, if that's true, why did David in the Spirit call Jesus "LORD" speaking "The Lord said to my Lord,"
    [Psalm 110:1-2 NKJV] 1 A Psalm of David. The LORD [God] said to my Lord [Jesus], "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." 2 The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
    Yes, David called Jesus his Lord.  But David was talking about Abba saying to Jesus, watch while you sit at My right hand, until I make  Your enemies Your footstool.
    [Romans 16:19-20 NKJV] 19 "For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.
    In Romans above, please notice that God will crush the twerp [satan], but it will be under your feet.  What does that mean?  You must be obedient in using the authority, He's given to you and kick him out of your way, bind him, cast him back into the pit, to stay until Jesus releases him.  then when Jesus comes back, He'll crush the twerp [satan] and you'll see him underneath you in hell.  For he will not be free during the Millennium.

    All in all, this chapter showed us, that even with all Jesus went through to save us, He also continually being tested; exhorted, by the Pharisees, Sadducee's, Scribes and Lawyers of the "religious men," along with letting the people - and us - know the truth and the wishes of Abba, His Father!
    Jesus never sought any glory for Himself, but correcting the thoughts of men, who misunderstood intentionally or not, the truth and letting the people know also.  HE WAS, AND IS - THE ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER - HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.    Don't wait to ask Jesus into your heart, so I can meet all of my blog brothers and sisters in Heaven.  Think about these words below, then just ask Him to forgive you and come into your heart.  He's still knocking at your door to come in - you are breathing - right?
    [John 3:16-18 NKJV] 16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

    Next Tuesday, December 25th is the Reason for the Season, when we celebrate the day our Lord was born in Bethlehem.  Although we all know this is not the actually day He was born, it's just when the Christian governments decided to have it.  Oh well, Jesus knows our hearts, and knows we celebrate every year His birth and our Redemption, by Jesus' birth and death, when He shed His blood for us, He gave us ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM!  HALLELUJAH!

    My prayer 4 U:  Father, in Jesus' Name I'm asking You to reveal, to Your Children, how to think from Heaven's perspective, so they can release Heavenly solutions in their lives and help others, help them NOT TO LEAD with their head, but with the heart of JESUS!  -  In Jesus' Name - AMEN! and AMEN!

Blessing & Merry Christmas to ALL,

Sandy - The Lord's Servant

Matthew 20 - What Jesus Wants Us To Know

SF Stagecoach, NV

Dear Brothers, Sisters, Prodigals and Unsaved,

            Our Lessons in Matthew will always contain topics such as; Living Life, Healings, Miracles, Deliverance and more.  Today we'll learn; through His Word, seeing what we need to know.  Laborers In The Vineyard, Death, Resurrection Foretold, and Sight For The Blind.

    There is always more to learn..., - Abba [God], wants to reveal Himself to you.  Knowing that the truth will set you FREE.  That's why Jesus, through His Word, reveals to us what His Father [Abba] told Him daily, what to do and say.  The World, is the twerp's [satan's] playground. But if you know your authority, he can't play with you.
    To shorten these Chapters, I'm going to list the scripture, for those of you who do not have a Bible, but only comment on the verses that I feel need more explanation for today.

Verse  NOTE: ALL meanings are from Strong's Concordance, unless marked otherwise.

Chapter 20:1-34

20:1-3  Laborers In The Vineyard:

·       [Matthew 20:1-3 NKJV] 1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 "Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 "And he went out about the third hour
[9 am] and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,"
    Verse 1 - The day for Israel starts at sun-up, until sun-set, approximately 6:00 am - 6 pm. The landowner is Abba [God] vineyard is Earth.
    Verse 2-3 -  The salary we agreed to, for entrance into Heaven, is accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior and it doesn't matter when you accept Him.  Morning, afternoon, evening - as long as it's before He returns for us in Rapture, or you've taken your last breath - He'll accept you into Heaven.

·       [Matthew 20:4-7 NKJV] 4 "and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. 5 "Again he went out about the sixth [12 pm] and the ninth [3 pm] hour, and did likewise. 6 "And about the eleventh [5 pm] hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?' 7 "They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive."
    Verse 4-7 - Again time doesn't matter.  Abba is saying what ever is right, you will receive.  That is definitely Salvation, and possibly your rewards for your work on earth.

·        [Matthew 20:8-16 NKJV] 8 "So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them [their] wages, beginning with the last to the first.' 9 "And when those came who [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 "But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 "And when they had received [it], they complained against the landowner, 12 "saying, 'These last [men] have worked [only] one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' 13 "But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 'Take [what is] yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man [the same] as to you. 15 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' 16 "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."
    Verses 8-9 Ok, it's quitting time and they get paid daily.  So the ones who worked various hours, the landlord pays them what he wanted, in this case a full days wages because He is a good Landlord  and those who worked for the 12 hours were paid, what they agreed to.
    Verses 10-12  Those that worked a full day, felt they should get more, because of their working time and conditions.  So they complained about it to the Landlord, instead of being thankful they got a days wages.  Many think because they've had a harder life, they should receive more from the Lord when they meet Him.  But as many of us know, their harder life, was because they chose not to read the Bible and work it.  Then they would have had blessings on earth, with no lack.  Remember why Jesus came?  And what the twerp [devil] can/will do? 
    [John 10:10 NKJV] "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly."
    Yes, maybe you've had a harder life; things stolen, family members died and you've felt destroyed.  But it's because you didn't give your life to Jesus, who promised you "Life abundantly."  That was your choice, not Jesus'
    Verses 13-16  Abba is fair to all His creation.  It rains on the just and the unjust.  In blessings, you'll get what you deserve. Since Abba created EVERYTHING ON EARTH, isn't He allowed to say, who can and will work His fields?  Bless or not those in the field, based on their fruit?

    [Jeremiah 17:9-10 NKJV] 9 "The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, [I] test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings."
   Yep, Abba knows your thoughts, words and actions - you will account for them. [Matthew 12:36].

20:17-19  Death, Resurrection Foretold:

[Matthew 20:17-19 NKJV] 17 "Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 "and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again."
    Verses 17-19 - Jesus took the 12 disciples with Him, to tell them what was going to happen next.  They will become His Apostles and need to know how to explain His death and resurrection to the people.  He also wanted them to look for Him on the third day, because He was going to rise again.  Yes, they saw Jesus bring back from death, for Mary and Martha, but Jesus called Lazarus back.  Who would call Jesus back?
    Can you imagine trying to tell people in the Old Testament [OT] like; turn a TV on or check it out of facebook?  It would be about the same for the disciples, they couldn't understand - the dead were dead is what they knew - and Jesus wouldn't be there to raise Himself!  Where they suppose to??????

20:20-28  Preferment [Meaning by Dictionary: Advancement or promotion, especially in the church] Asked:

·       [Matthew 20:20-28 NKJV] 20 "Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23 So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but [it is for those] for whom it is prepared by My Father." 24 And when the ten heard [it], they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to [Himself] and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28 "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
     Verses 20-21 Mothers always think their sons deserve more than they receive.  But neither mothers nor fathers can uplift their children for Salvation or what rewards they'll receive, because it's based on their choices in life - not anyone else's.
     Verses 22-23  Jesus explained that no one, but the Son of God could go thru what He must.  Yet let the disciples know, they to will go thru much as they spread the Gospel when He's gone.  But it wasn't up to Jesus who sat where, at Abba's table - only Abba chose the seating arrangements.
    Verses 24-25  When the other 10 disciples heard what the mother of the Zebedee boys wanted for her sons - they were very upset.  They've all walked with Jesus, obeyed His commands and leadership, displayed the gifts of the Spirit and helped feed the thousands.
    Quite often, if we'd wait for the conversation to be completed - we wouldn't be so upset, especially when it is Jesus speaking - He always explains what things meant and could/couldn't be done.  And by His going back to Heaven, the Holy Spirit is now our teacher.
    Verses 26-28  We all understand that the rulers in many nations, have been corrupt for years, right along with servants in Governments wanting you to serve them, when they are being paid to represent you and do your bidding.  But Jesus tells them I did not come to be served, whoever wants to be first in Heaven, let them be a servant to others, as Jesus was.

20:29-34 Sight For The Blind:

·       [Matthew 20:29-34 NKJV] 29 "Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 33 They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him."
    Verse 29 - Is it a surprise, that those who saw what Jesus did and said, would follow Him wherever He may go?  No - we'd probably be right with them.
    Verse 30-31 - If you needed healing would you cry out so Jesus could hear you over the crowds?  I would.  I liked when the multitude warned them to be quiet, they got even louder.  We should never listen to anyone who says don't talk about Jesus or what He's done.  Tell them about the Bible.  If their response is God had nothing to do with that...I've heard it all.  Speak Blessings over them, then ask the Holy Spirit to minister to that person - if possible.
    Yes for a short time I stopped speak to others about Abba.  But the Holy Spirit restored me back to speaking the Gospel - can you tell?  Now in these latter days we're in, I'm even worse.
    Verse 32-33 - Often we see Jesus asking what that person wants Him to do.  He asked, and they told Him.  So we know that they wanted that healing or deliverance, so they are able to receive it.  If someone does not want you to pray for them, just bless them and walk away.  Don't argue with them, the Holy Spirit will not work thru anger, yours or theirs.
    Verse 34 - We have a God and His Son who has a great deal of compassion.  They hate the enemy attacking Abba's children.  Jesus gave us the VICTORY, why not believe in it?  That's a sure way people will come to Christ.  And we know it's Abba/Jesus' will that non should perish.
    Christians are suppose to be the Disciples/Warriors of our time and should be doing what Jesus told His Disciples to do.  Their great commission is ours to FINISH.  They had a small portion to minister to, WE CHRISTIANS have the WHOLE World in our media.
      MARK 16:15-20 NKJV

·         15 "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." 
[A Creature is anything created, whether animate or inanimate].

·       16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

·       17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;"

·       18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

·       19 "So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God."

·       20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. 
    I believe that God the Father is going to pull out all of the stops to try and get as many people saved as He possibly can so they do not have to go through the horrors of this coming Great Tribulation.
    [Joel 2:28-29 NKJV] 28 "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on [My] menservants and on [My] maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days."

    Is this layout better for you?  For me only 4 typed pages, before 6-8 and I'm sure it will be less eye strain on you, as you read the blogs, let me know what you think.  Thank You for checking out these blogs, I hope they help you understand His Word more.  Should you have a topic you'd like discussed - email me and let me know.  

    My prayer 4 U:  Father, in Jesus' Name I'm asking You to reveal, to Your Children, how to think from Heaven's perspective, so they can release Heavenly solutions in their lives and help others, help them NOT TO LEAD with their head, but with the heart of JESUS!  -  In Jesus' Name - AMEN! and AMEN!

Blessing to ALL,

Sandy - The Lord's Servant