Matthew 24:01 says, And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.  The disciples came to Jesus to show Him the temple.  Jesus had just pronounced the coming destruction of Jerusalem, and the disciples were pointing out the beauty of the temple as a reason for this not to happen.  We cannot expect the physical beauty of a place, even one dedicated to the worship of God, to prevent its destruction if Jesus is not in the center of the building.  Jesus had left the temple because those in the temple did not accept Him for Who He is.  Verse two says, And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.  I believe that Jesus was asking if the disciples really understood what He was telling them.  They were still looking at things from a material point of view and not a spiritual one.  If we are to see the world as it really is, we must see it from a spiritual perspective.  Verse three says,  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  The disciples came to Jesus privately to ask Him when these things would occur.  We know that the Bible teaches us that no one knows the time of the return of Christ, but people are always trying to determine when it will be.  Verse four says, And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  Jesus first warned the disciples about being deceived by any man.  When someone comes today stating when the end of the world will come, there are usually at least a few who will listen and follow him, claiming to be spiritually superior to everyone who does not believe him.  Verse five declares, For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  There have been many through the ages and will continue to be more who would deceive others claiming while claiming to act in the name of Jesus.  We have God's warning to not be deceived by them.  In verse six Jesus says, And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  Jesus begins to tell the disciples some of the things that will occur before His return.  We today continually hear of wars and rumors of war, but Jesus tells us to not be troubled.  Verse seven says,  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  This is more true today ever, it seems.  Of course, part of this is due to instant communications.  The bad news of the world goes out instantly, and the good news, the gospel, seems to travel at a snail's pace.  Verse eight states, All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Jesus didn't say that these things will pass and the world will get better.  Instead, Jesus said that these things are the beginning of the sorrows that will occur before His return.  Verse nine declares, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.  Jesus warned that following Him as Savior and Lord would often lead to persecution in this life.  We are never called to follow Christ so that we will be materially rewarded.  Verse ten adds, And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  Jesus said that some who profess to be His followers will turn against each other.  They will hate and betray one another.  Of course, many will be delivered up to those in power by others around them, even by friends and relatives.  Verse eleven says, And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  False prophets are those who profess a form of Christianity, but who add to the requirement for salvation.  There are many people today who profess to be Christmas, but they are following the teachings of false prophets.  Verse twelve says, And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  Jesus said that because of the abounding of iniquity that many would cease to love as God expects His people to love.  We, as followers of Christ, cannot allow our love for the lost to grow cold, and we certainly cannot allow our love for fellow Christians to do so.  Verse thirteen declares, But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  I believe that this is simply a statement that if we are truly saved that we will endure to the end of this life, whether that be by death or the second coming of Christ.  In verse fourteen Jesus declares, And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  When we are looking for a sign that the return of Christ is near, look to see if the gospel has been preached to all the nations.  This is the only sign that Jesus says will proclaim that the end is come.  Our only responsibility is to be faithful to Christ and proclaim the gospel.

Matthew 23:29 says, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,  Jesus is still talking about the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees.  He said they built and maintained tombs for the prophets, but this was just a symbolic act without any real following  of what the prophets taught.  Verse thirty states, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.  The scribes and Pharisees attempted to exclude themselves from the killing of the prophets.  They said that had they been alive when the prophets were killed that they would not have taken part in the killing.  We may attempt to exempt ourselves from responsibility for Jesus's death on the cross, blaming it on the people of that day, but until we accept the fact that we are just as responsible, we cannot be saved.  To claim otherwise would make us just as guilty of hypocrisy as the scribes and Pharisees.  Verse thirty-one says, Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.  Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that they were children of those who killed the prophets, and they were just as guilty of the same attitude.  We are not guilty of sin because of who our parents are, but we are just as guilty as they were without Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We are neither saved nor condemned by the actions of our parents, but we are all guilty of being responsible for the death of Jesus on the cross.  Verse thirty-two says, Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.  I believe that Jesus was telling the scribes and Pharisees then and us today to accept responsibility for our actions.  It was not just the fathers of the scribes and Pharisees who were responsible for the death of the prophets, but it was all who had the same attitude even after the fact.  In verse thirty-three Jesus asks, Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?  We need to remember that this was some of the religious leaders who prided themselves on their righteousness that Jesus was talking to.  Unless we have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, then this applies to us as well.  Verse thirty-four declares, Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:  Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that He was going to send to them prophets and wise men, and that they would scourge, kill and crucify them.  I believe this applies to the disciples and all believers who have been abused and killed for their faith since Jesus' death on the cross.  Verse thirty-five says, That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.  The scribes and Pharisees wanted to pronounce themselves innocent of the mistreatment and deaths of the prophets of God, but Jesus pronounced them guilty of the blood shed by all righteous men.  I don't believe that Jesus is saying that they would be held responsible for the sins of their forefathers, but that had they lived then that they would have participated in the acts committed against the prophets.  We cannot profess to honor the prophets of old while persecuting the prophets of today.  Verse thirty-six states, Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.  I believe that Jesus was saying that judgment will come to each generation for their sins.  We cannot claim that we would have been innocent in times past when we are guilty today.  In verse thirty-seven Jesus laments saying, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  Jesus said that Jerusalem, the city of God, had continually mistreated and killed God's prophets, even as God had attempted to offer His protection to His people.  God has always stands ready to gather those that believe in Him under His protective wing, but we often allow self desires to keep us from Him.  Verse thirty-eight says, Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.  When we reject God's protection, we will indeed be left desolate.  Until we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we cannot expect to build anything of lasting value.  Simply claiming to follow Christ without really believing in Him is not enough.  Verse thirty-nine declares, For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.  I don't believe that Jesus was speaking of seeing Him physically, but was speaking of seeing Him spiritually for Who He really is.  Until we spiritually acknowledge Who Jesus is, it does us no good to acknowledge Him as a physical Man Who lived at one time.

Matthew 23:13 says, But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.  Jesus begins to pronounce woes on the scribes and Pharisees, who saw themselves as morally superior to others and deserving of their praise.  There are some who profess to be followers of Christ today who feel morally superior to others who are followers of Christ.  They seem to feel that their sins were not as great as those of someone else's, so they are somehow more forgiven than others.  When as person's sins, no matter how big or small, are forgiven by God, then we as followers of Christ cannot separate ourselves from any other believer because we feel morally superior.  Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees shut up the kingdom of heaven for others by their self-righteous attitude.  We cannot decide who is worthy of salvation and deny some the right to that salvation.  Verse fourteen states, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.  Jesus continues to denounce the scribes and Pharisees.  Jesus said they devoured, or took away, the widows' houses while at the same time making a pretence of following God's will through their long prayers.  When we are doing something that is spiritually wrong, we cannot cover it up by prayer, no matter how long the prayers may be.  Verse fifteen declares, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.  Though the scribes and Pharisees worked hard to prevent others from coming to Christ, they also worked hard to have others follow them.  Jesus said this made them twice as doomed.  Leading others away from Jesus is much worse than just not leading them to Him.  Verse sixteen states, Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!  Jesus was in effect saying that the scribes and Pharisees valued the gold in the temple more than the temple itself.  They saw nothing wrong in swearing by the temple, but said it was wrong to swear by the gold in the temple.  The temple represented the spiritual presence of God.  We cannot put material things above spiritual things, or we are the blind guides.  Verse seventeen asks, Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?  Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees both blind and fools, and asked if did they not understand that God, Who sanctifys all things, was greater than the gold that was sanctified.  We can never afford to put things given to the church ahead of God.  In verse eighteen Jesus continues, And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.  This is a continuation of the idea that the material things brought to God are more important than the places that are set aside to worship God.  Verse nineteen asks, Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?  Jesus was speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, who considered themselves to be the religious authorities.  He again called them blind and foolish.  Jesus asked how they could fail to see that material things, or gifts, were nothing in themselves but only had value to God when they were placed on the altar.  In verse twenty Jesus declares, Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.  Jesus said swearing by the altar could not be separated from swearing by the things placed on the altar.  The altar, the place set aside for presenting sacrifices to God, is what gives anything spiritual value.  Verse twenty-one states, And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.  Once more, Jesus is telling us that we cannot separate the temple, the building itself, from those who worship there.  Then in verse twenty-two Jesus states, And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.  I believe that the key to all these verses is summarized here.  We cannot separate the things God created or consecrated from God Himself.  The temple, the altar and the heavens all belong to God, as does everything found there.  Verse twenty-three says, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.  Jesus again pronounces woe on the scribes and Pharisees.  He said that they were good about paying tithes, but they forgot the weightier, or more important thing's about following God, such as judgment, mercy and faith.  God is not satisfied with worship based on empty rituals and tithes, but expects us to worship Him in the way we live our lives daily.  We can be in church every time the doors open and give well above the tithe, but if we have no mercy on others and no faith in God's guidance in our lives, then we as did the scribes and Pharisees have God's woe pronounced on us.  In verse twenty-four Jesus declares, Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.  Jesus pronounced the scribes and Pharisees to be blind guides, and they were supposed to be the religious guides of God's people.  Jesus said they strained at the keeping of the small points of the law, but missed the failure of the people to keep the much larger points of the law.  When we become judgmental of others based on ritualistic worship, we will miss the true nature of worship.  We are not to just go through the motions, but we are to worship God in spirit and truth.  Verse twenty-five says, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.  Jesus once again denounced the scribes and Pharisees for being more concerned with appearances than with what was inside a person's relationship with God.  It is not enough to clean up our actions, the outside, if our thoughts, the inside, are filled with self righteousness.  Verse twenty-six continues, Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.  Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees, and us today, that we must first clean the inside, or our thoughts and belief about God, and then our actions, the outside, will become claim also.  Verse twenty-seven states, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.  Jesus compared the scribes and Pharisees to well maintained graves, pretty on the outside, but full of dead men's bones and uncleanness on the inside.  We need to make sure that we live our lives by a right relationship with God and not by a faithless, ritualistic worship based on material things.  Verse twenty-eight says, Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.  Jesus summed up the worship of the scribes and Pharisees here.  They looked good in the eyes of the world, but were full of hypocrisy and iniquity within.  Let's pray that we are never guilty of the same thing.

Matthew 23:1 says, Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,  The people may have quit asking Jesus questions, but He had not quit teaching them.  As followers of Christ, God will always be teaching us more about what we should be as His people, even when we don't know enough to ask Him questions.  All we really have to do is listen under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  In verse two Jesus says, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:  Though they were always attempting to discredit Jesus, He said that the scribes and Pharisees sat in a position of authority in teaching the law of Moses.  There may be people today who teach God's law, but they still want to discredit Jesus as the Messiah.  Verse three says, All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.  Jesus told those who were listening to Him to obey what the scribes and Pharisees taught concerning the scripture, but at the same time told them to not follow their works.  Today, if someone is teaching the truth about God, especially religious leaders, then we need to learn from them.  On the other hand, if their words are not in accordance with what God's word teaches, we certainly aren't to follow them in their works.  Verse four says, For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  Jesus said that by their works the scribes and Pharisees put heavy burdens on the people spiritually, but they themselves didn't take on these burdens.  We should always be wary of any one who attempts to add requirements to God's word, and especially His plan of salvation.  Verse five says, But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,  Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees were going out of their way to make themselves look super religious.  It is not enough for us to carry a Bible everywhere or to wear a cross at all times if we only do it to bring attention to ourselves.  We must actually know what the Bible teaches and what the cross means and share it with others for God's glory for it to have any real purpose.  Verse six says, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,   Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees enjoyed being in the best seats during feasts and worship.  They felt entitled to the praise of men.  If someone claiming to be a Christian leader today demands that he or she be seen as above other Christians and entitled to a position of honor in the church, we need to be wary of them.  In verse seven Jesus continues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.  Jesus says that the scribes and Pharisees enjoyed being seen as people of power by the people of Israel.  We are never to serve Jesus simply in an attempt to bring praise to ourselves, but are to always direct the praise to God.  Verse eight says, But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  Jesus tells us that we are not to allow ourselves to be called Rabbi, because we all have the same Master, Jesus Christ Himself.  We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and none is to be exalted above another.  Verse nine declares, And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  I believe that Jesus is speaking of calling someone your spiritual father, and not referring to your earthly father.  We are told we are to honor our earthly father, but we have no spiritual father on this earth.  For someone to claim to be the spiritual father of anyone, much less a group of those who profess to be followers of Christ, is biblically incorrect.  Political correctness can never take priority over biblical correctness.  Verse ten says, Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.  Jesus tells us that we are not to allow others to call us master, or to put us in a position of spiritual authority over others.  The only Master, or spiritual authority, that we have as followers of Christ is God Himself through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We may look up to preachers and teachers, but we can never allow them to be more important spiritually than any other Christian who is doing God's will in their life.  Verse eleven declares, But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  Jesus tells us that the way to be great in His kingdom is to be a servant to others.  We cannot serve God so that we ourselves receive honor from others, but must instead serve in humility to Christ.  No one has earned salvation, and all that we do after accepting the free gift of salvation should always bring glory to God, and not to ourselves.  Verse twelve states, And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  Jesus tells us very plainly that if we attempt to exalt ourselves as His followers, that ultimately we be will abased, and if we humble ourselves one day we will be exalted.  We are all simply sinners saved by grace.

Matthew 22:34 says, But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.  The Pharisees thought that they could discredit Jesus after they saw that the Sadducees had failed.  There will always be another person or another group who will attempt to discredit Jesus.  The fact that no one has ever succeeded in doing so will not stop them, but may simply inspire them to try harder.  Verse thirty-five, states, Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,   Now, we have not only a Pharisee, but a lawyer, questioning Jesus.  Since the Pharisees already felt superior by their claim to keep the law, then one who was a lawyer would likely feel even more superior.  In verse thirty-five the lawyer asks, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  The lawyer likely felt that he could discredit Jesus whatever He answered.  I don't believe that the lawyer was really concerned with the answer that Jesus would give, but simply wanted Jesus to say anything so that he could argue against Him.  Some people today ask questions about God's word, not to learn from it, but to dispute it.  Verse thirty-seven says, Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  Jesus said that the greatest commandment was that a person love the Lord their God with their heart, soul and mind.  Until we allow God to have total control in our lives, we are not going to be able to keep any other commandment and have it do us any good.  We must first have a personal relationship with God through accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty-eight says, This is the first and great commandment.  Jesus said loving God is the first and great commandment.  Again, until we accept this commandment, none of the others do us any good spiritually.  In verse thirty-nine Jesus states, And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Jesus said the second great commandment, which is like unto the first, is that we love our neighbor as ourselves.  Jesus did not mean just those who live next door to us and share the same values.  Jesus meant that we are to love even those that we disagree with and maybe don't even like.  Verse forty says, On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.  Jesus tells us that everything else, all the law and teachings of the prophets, hang on these two laws.  We can display the Ten Commandments everywhere, but unless we are following these two commandments, it will be of no effect.  God's commandments must be written in our hearts, beginning with these two.  Verse forty-one states, While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,  Jesus then asked the Pharisees a question, and it is the question that each individual must answer at some point.  Verse forty-two states the question, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.  This is the question that everyone must ask at some point.  The question is, "Who do we say Christ is."  The Pharisees were partially correct in saying that the Christ, or Messiah, was the Son, or descendant, of David.  This was a physical description of Who Christ would be.  When we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, it is not just because of Who He was physically, but because of Who He is spiritually as well.  Both physically and spiritually, Jesus was more than the Son of David.  Jesus was and is the only begotten Son of God.  We must fully understand and accept this fact in order to find salvation.  Verse forty-three then states, He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,  Jesus asked how David in spirit, or under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, could call the Messiah Lord if He were the physical Son of David.  Verse forty-four states, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?  The Messiah was called my Lord by God.  Verse forty-five asks, If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?  The question implies that the Messiah was more than just a physical descendant of David.  We must acknowledge that Jesus was a descendant of David by physical birth, but that He was the only begotten Son of God spiritually.  We cannot deny either the humanity nor the divinity of Jesus and still claim Him for Who He really is.  Verse forty-six says, And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.  No one there could answer the question Jesus asked, so they quit asking Him questions.  Until we accept that Jesus is Who He says He is, there is no need for us to ask any other questions about Him.  We cannot come to a saving knowledge of Christ without the belief that He was both a Man and God.

Matthew 22:23 says, The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,  Another group or religious leaders, the Sadducee, came to Jesus in an attempt to discredit His teachings.  We know this was their purpose since that asked about something that would happen in the resurrection, and they said there was no resurrection.  We can never discredit Jesus by getting Him to disagree with our views.  Verse twenty-four states, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.  The Sadducees brought up the teachings of Moses.  They were attempting to use the scriptures to discredit Jesus, specifically the teachings of Moses, one of the great men of faith in the Jewish religion.  I believe that in effect they were saying that Moses was greater than Jesus.  We should never attempt to discredit Jesus based on what the Bible tells us, because it is His book.  The Sadducees said that Moses instructed a man to marry his brother's widow if they had no children and the brother died.  This was to protect the widow and help preserve the family lineage.  Verse twenty-five says, Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:  The Sadducees began to tell a tale of seven brothers, saying they were with them.  The first died and left a widow with no children, so his oldest brother married her.  Verse twenty-six says, Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.  Then continuing in verse twenty-seven, And last of all the woman died also.  Now, all the brothers and the woman were dead.  The Sadducees said that all seven brothers, one at a time, married the woman and died.  Before her death, we today might be questioning if the woman was killing them, but this was not the purpose of the Sadducees.  They simply wanted to have Jesus teach something that they could use against Him.  We should never attempt to us God's word to discredit God, even if what His word teaches goes against what we want to believe.  In verse twenty-eight the Sadducees ask, Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.  We need to remember that the Sadducees didn't even believe in the resurrection from the dead, so this wasn't an attempt to get Jesus to clarify the teaching of Moses as they understood it.  It was simply another attempt by religious leaders to discredit Jesus.  We cannot simply interpret the scriptures to support what we believe and then expect God to endorse our beliefs.  Verse twenty-nine says, Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.  Jesus declared that the Sadducees were in error, since they knew neither the scripture nor the power of God.  This was quite an indictment against these self proclaimed religious leaders.  We today must be wary of those who claim to know more than what the scripture, the Bible, says.  Verse thirty states, For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.  Jesus said there is no marriage in heaven, and this may not be what we want to believe, but we must simply accept it as God's truth.  In verse thirty-one  Jesus asks, But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,   The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, so Jesus asked once again if they hadn't read the scriptures.  He continues in verse thirty-two, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.  God said that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that He was not the God of the dead, but of the living.  Therefore, we can be certain of our resurrection to everlasting life through our faith in Christ.  Through Christ, we are born again into everlasting life.  This principle can never be disputed.  Verse thirty-three says,, And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.  As always, the multitudes were astonished at the doctrine of Jesus.  We should still be amazed at the doctrine of Christ and never just allow it to become just another teaching.

Matthew 22:15 says, And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.  The chief priests and Pharisees had not been able to discredit Jesus, so they now sent the Herodians, those who worshipped Herod as a god, to question Jesus.  It is bad enough if we attempt to discredit Christ, especially if we claim to be God's people, but it is even worse if we ally with other religions to do so.  The Herodians called Jesus Master, and acknowledged that He was true and presented God's message without respect to who a person was, which was all true.  Still, they really did not accept Jesus as their Master.  There are people today who claim to profess Jesus as their Master, but in reality they are simply looking for a way to discredit His teachings.  They would water down the gospel by making Jesus but another good teacher and prophet.  In verse seventeen the Herodians asked, Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?  The Herodians thought that they would be able to discredit Jesus by asking Him about paying tribute, or taxes, to Caesar.  For some people, money is the primary source of their faith.  There are even those today who profess to be followers of Christ and question why they should pay taxes to the government.  I believe that Christ was always consistent in telling us that we should obey the law, unless it somehow causes us to deny our relationship with God. Verse eighteen declares, But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?   Jesus was not fooled by their flattery, and neither will He be today.  If we attempt to discredit Jesus, then He will see the wickedness in our hearts.  When we attempt to tempt Jesus into doing something that is against the will of God, we prove ourselves to be hypocrites.  If Christ is really our Savior and the Lord of our lives, we will never attempt to discredit the gospel for the sake of anything in this world.  In verse twenty-nine Jesus answers, Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.  To paraphrase a popular movie line Jesus said, "Show Me the tribute money."  Sometimes, Jesus makes simple requests to show us the answer to our questions.  The Herodians brought Jesus a penny.  Then verse twenty says, And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?   Jesus again asked a simple question that had only one answer.  There was no way for the Herodians to waver in their answer.  When Jesus leads us to the truth, it will be beyond dispute.  Verse twenty-one states, They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.  The Herodians answered that Caesar's image and superscription were on the penny.  Jesus then told them to render, or give, to Caesar the things that belonged to him, and to give to God the things that belong to God.  God always calls on us to be good citizens, unless doing so directly comes between Him and us.  This is always related to spiritual matters and not material matters.  Verse twenty-two declares, When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.  Like the Herodians, if we listen to what Jesus has to say, we will marvel at His truth.  The Herodians went away, I think still not really believing that Jesus was the Savior of the world, but unable to find anything to fault, or charge, Him with.  It is not enough to simply marvel at the teachings of Jesus.  We must first accept Him as Savior and Lord of our lives for His teachings to have any real effect on our lives.

Matthew 22:1 says, And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,  Jesus was still speaking in parables, but His message should always be clear to those who believe in Him.  Verse two says, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,  Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a king who made a marriage feast for his son.  We know how special many people feel if they are invited to the wedding of a famous person, especially to one of a king.  Verse three says, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.  Those invited to the wedding would not come.  God is the King, Jesus is the Son, and the nation of Israel are those invited to the wedding feast, or salvation through Christ.  Verse four states, Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.  The father sent his servants to those invited once again to tell them to come, because everything was prepared.  I believe these servants would be the prophets who had pointed the nation of Israel to Christ.  We, as gentiles, might not have been invited at first, but we were never excluded if we come to Jesus by faith.  This applies even to those who came to God even before Jesus came.  No one has ever been excluded from God's kingdom by the nature of their birth.  Verse five declares, But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:  Those invited, which were the nation of Israel, made light of the invitation. The religious leaders of God's chosen people especially made light of the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.  They refused to come to Him in faith.  Verse six states,.  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.  I believe the servants were those who proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah and were mistreated by the religious leaders of that day, but also applies to those who have been mistreated for their faith in Christ since His coming.  Verse seven says, But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  This is a reference to the coming judgment of Christ.  Those who do accept Christ, and especially those who attempt to destroy those who proclaim the gospel, will lose everything at the day of judgment.  Verse eight states, Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.  The king will pronounce those who had been invited to be unworthy, even though the wedding was ready.  This is a reference to the people of Israel, who were to be God's people.  They were the first invited to salvation through Christ, but they rejected the call.  Belonging to God in name only is never enough.  If we reject Christ, we are unworthy to be a part of God's kingdom.  Verse nine says, Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.  This is where the gospel is sent to the Gentiles, those who were not a part of the nation of Israel.  We must remember that the nation of Israel was always supposed to reach out to others with God's word, but they failed to do so.  Verse ten says, So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.  All that the servants found, both good and bad, were invited to the wedding feast.  We are not invited to come to Christ because of our own righteous, but all are invited to come as we are.  We can never be good enough to demand salvation, nor can we be bad enough to be denied salvation.  Verse eleven declares, And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  I believe that this is a reference to those who attempt to enter into God's kingdom without accepting Christ as Savior and Lord.  There will be no entry without being clothed in Christ's salvation.  In verse twelve the King asks, And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  When we are one day asked how we thought we could get into God's kingdom without accepting Christ, then we will likewise be speechless.  Verse thirteen continues, Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  When we attempt to gain entry into the kingdom of God without accepting Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives, this will be our fate.  We will be eternally separated from God.  Verse fourteen declares, For many are called, but few are chosen.  Everyone in the world is called to salvation, but only those who accept Christ for Who He is, the Savior of the world, will be chosen.  This does not mean that certain people will not be able to be saved by the fact of their birth, but that none will be saved who are not born again through Christ.

Matthew 21:42 says, Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?  Jesus is still speaking to the chief priests and elders when He asks if they had never read the scriptures.  As always, when we proclaim anything to be the will of God, we better be able to base our proclamation on the word of God.  Jesus asked if the had never heard of the stone which the builders rejected that became the chief cornerstone.  This was a prophecy about the coming Messiah, Who was, is and always will be Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately, the chief priests and elders did not recognize Jesus.  Verse forty-three says, Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.  Jesus became pretty direct in His statement to the chief priests and elders.  Because of their rejection of Jesus as the cornerstone, the Messiah, the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to others, the Gentiles.  We are expected, as was the nation of Israel, to bear fruit for Christ.  We are not given this task because of our own worthiness, but because of our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior and Lord, the cornerstone of our faith.  Verse forty-four says, And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.  Jesus was still speaking about Himself.  For some, Jesus is a stumbling block, and they refuse to believe in Him.  Some actively oppose the the gospel, and will one day have the gospel grind them down.  Those who do not accept Jesus as Savior will ultimately suffer His judgment.  Verse forty-five states, And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.  Though they didn't accept what Jesus was saying, the chief priests and Pharisees were smart enough to realize that Jesus was talking
about them.  When we realise that the gospel is personal, we can either accept or reject it.  The chief priests and Pharisees chose to reject it.  Verse forty-six says, But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.  The chief priests and Pharisees wanted to seize Jesus, but they feared the multitudes, who saw Jesus as a prophet.  Even through the multitudes did not see Jesus for Who He really is, the fact that they accepted Him as a prophet kept the chief priests and Pharisees from seizing Him.  Sometimes, God works through those who do not fully understand Who Jesus is to accomplish His will.  Still, until they fully understand and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, they are still lost.  To be saved we must acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of all who put their faith in Him.  Nothing less will do.

Matthew 12:33 says, Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:  Jesus was still speaking to the chief priests and elders, and He told them another parable.  Though they had not accepted the teachings of John the Baptist and so far had not accepted the teachings of Jesus Himself, Jesus was still trying to bring them to a saving knowledge of Who He was and always will be.  In this parable, God would be the householder and the people of Israel would be the husbandmen.  God created the earth and put mankind in charge of it.  God has every right to expect people to act in obedience to Him.  Even when God is not physically present with us, we are still called to live under His authority.  Verse thirty-four says, And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.  Jesus said at the time of the harvest that the landowner sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive the harvest.  I believe that we can say that this would be like all the prophets who had come to the people of Israel to prepare them for the coming of Jesus.  Verse thirty five declares, And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.  We know that God's prophets were often beaten or killed and their message rejected, most recently John the Baptist.  People would not accept that message about the coming Messiah.  I believe that Jesus was equating the chief priests and elders to the husbandmen, since they were the ones charged with representing people before God.  Verse thirty-six says, Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.  God has sent His servants, those who accepted His word, into the world since the beginning, and they have often been beaten and killed.  God has never given up on His creation, but has always sent prophets with His message until the coming of Christ, and now He sends His followers with His message for the world.  Verse thirty-seven declares, But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.  The householder decided to send his son to the husbandmen to collect what was owed to Him.  What we must acknowledge is that everything really belongs to God to start with, and that we are but caretakers or husbandmen.  Verse thirty-eight says,  But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.  Though the householder thought that the husbandmen would respect his son, they simply saw his coming as a way to claim everything for themselves by killing him.  We know that God sent His Son, Jesus, to the nation of Israel first, and the religious leaders simply looked for ways to discredit and even kill Him.  They had promised to obey God, but they didn't.  Verse thirty-nine says, And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.  Instead of having reverence for the son, the husbandmen caught him and killed him.  We know that the son referred to Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, the heavenly Householder.  When Jesus comes to us today, we still have the same choice.  We can either accept Him by faith as Savior and Lord, or we can in effect kill His effectiveness in our lives.  Verse forty asks, When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?  The husbandmen may have thought that by killing the son that they would be able to claim the land and harvest, but that would not be the case.  By rejecting Jesus, the people of Israel were not able to claim the world as their own, but they would answer to the heavenly Father, just as everyone will.  Verse forty-one says, And they say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.  The chief priests and elders said that the householder would destroy the wicked men, and would let out his vineyard to other husbandmen.  They gave the correct answer, but I am still not sure that they knew that they were condemning themselves.  When the people of Israel rejected Jesus, then the spreading of the gospel passed to the Gentiles.  We still do not own the world, or the gospel, but are simply to be God's caretakers of both.  We can never claim the things of God as our own.  We remain but servants of God.

Matthew 21:28 says, But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.  Jesus was still speaking to the chief priests and elders, and He was still referring to their question about His authority to do the things He was doing.  Again, these were the religious leaders of God's people.  They should have been able to tell if God was at work, or if Jesus was just a man making false claims about Himself.  As followers of Christ today, we should be able to determine what is truly God's work in the world.  If we are following Christ and living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we should never be confused about what is of God and what is of man.  Jesus told them that a certain man told his son to go into the vineyard and work.  Then verse twenty-nine states, He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.  The son told his father he would not go, but later repented and went.  I believe that we can equate this son with those who at first are outside the will of God, and that would be anyone who does not accept God's authority in their life.  Then they repent and obey God's command.  We know that we can only do this through our faith in Christ.  Verse thirty  states, And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.  The father came to a second son and told him the same thing, to go and work in the vineyard.  The second son respectfully said that he would.  I believe that this would be those, who like the chief priests and elders, claim that they are doing what God wants them to do, but really reject His authority in their lives.  No matter how respectful we may claim to be to God, we must do more than pay lip service to His commands.  In verse thirty-one Jesus asks, Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.  Jesus asks the chief priests and elders which of the sons did the will of his father.  This is a question we need to ask ourselves.  Are we really doing what God is calling us to do, or are we only claiming to without any real obedience.  The chief priests and elders answered that the first son obeyed.  It is better to at first say that we aren't going to do God's wili and then do it, than to say that we will and then not do it.  Jesus told the chief priests and elders that publicans and harlots would go into heaven before they did, because the chief priests and elders were professing to obey the heavenly Father and they weren't.  The publicans and harlots would enter because even though they had said they would not obey the heavenly Father, when they accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord they did obey Him.  The chief priests and elders could not get into heaven unless they also accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Self righteous would never grant them entry into heaven.  Verse thity-two says, For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.  Jesus said that John the Baptist came to the chief priests and elders proclaiming the way of righteousness, and they did not believe him, whereas the publicans and harlots did.  When we hear the gospel proclaimed, unless we accept it as truth in our lives, then no matter how good of a person we may be, we like the chief priests and elders will not enter heaven.  The only way to everlasting life with the Father in heaven is through faith in the Son in this life.

Matthew 21:23  says, And 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?  This time, the chief priests and elders came to Jesus, not to learn from Him, but to question His authority.  I believe that the chief priests and elders thought that they were the authority, and they had not authorized Jesus to teach or anything else.  There are some religious leaders today that think that all authority is theirs, and some that even think that they control the salvation of all who worship under their authority.  The church, as an earthly organization, will never control salvation nor the service of a person called by God to fulfill His purpose.  In verse twenty-four Jesus said, And 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.  Jesus said that He would ask them one question, and if they could answer it, then He would tell them by what authority He did the things He was doing.  The chief priests and elders thought they could accuse Jesus of acting without authority, but as they found out, we are never smarter than God.  All they had to do was answer one question, and that is really all anyone has to do to be saved.  The question we have to ask in order to be saved is whether or not Jesus, with the authority of the heavenly Father, came to provide the one and only way to salvation, with faith without wavering.  Though this was not the particular question that Jesus asked them, I believe that Jesus already knew that the chief priests and elders did not believe that He was the Messiah.  Verse twenty-five says, The 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?   Jesus asked the chief priests and elders if the baptisms that John the Baptist preformed were of God or of man.  In other words, were they willing to acknowledge that John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ, or was he simply a man acting under his own authority.   The chief priests and elders were unsure what to answer.  First, they said that if they said John the Baptist was sent by God, then they would have to answer why they don't believe him.  Then verse twenty-six states, But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.  They then reasoned that if they said that John the Baptist was not sent by God, then they would upset a lot of people who felt that he was a prophet sent by God.  That is the same question everyone has to ask about Jesus.  Is Jesus the Savior of the world, or is He just some man.  We cannot base our answer on what other people think, but must base it solely on our own faith.  Verse twenty-seven declares,  And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.  The chief priests and elders, the religious leaders of the day, could not answer Jesus' question because they weren't looking to God for the answer.  Jesus said since they couldn't answer His question, then He wouldn't answer theirs, which was by whose authority was Jesus doing His works.  Until we accept that Jesus is indeed Who He says that He is, we cannot hope to understand how God works in the world.  Just like the chief priests and elders, we can never discredit God by our own reasoning powers, but must simply come to Him through faith in Christ.

Matthew 21:18 says, Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.  The next day, Jesus returned to Jerusalem, this time without all the crowds preparing the way.  We are told that Jesus was hungry.  We either have to accept that Jesus was just as human and subject to all the physical needs and temptations as anyone who has ever lived, or we have to deny that He is the Messiah.  If Jesus only kept from sinning because He was unable to sin, then we have a false salvation.  Jesus had to fulfill the law through faith in and obedience to the heavenly Father, not because He was incapable of temptation.  Verse nineteen states, And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.   Being hungry, Jesus went to a fig tree and found it barren.  He then declared that no fruit should grow on it again, and the fig tree withered and died.  I don't believe that Jesus did this out of anger.  The purpose of the fig tree was to bear figs, and the tree was not living up to its purpose.  A fig tree that doesn't bear figs is useless.  I believe that Jesus was using this opportunity to teach the disciples about bearing fruit.  Their purpose, and ours as followers of Christ, is to bear spiritual fruit for Him.  If we do not, then spiritually we will wither and die.  This does not mean that we are suddenly unsaved, but that we are spiritually unproductive, or barren.  If someone comes to us spiritually hungry, we must be ready to feed them with the gospel.  Verse twenty says, And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!  The disciples marveled at how quickly the fig tree withered away.  If we are not fulfilling Christ purpose for us today, our usefulness in His kingdom may just as quickly fade away.  Verse twenty-one says, Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  Once more Jesus told the disciples about the power of faith, and that power did not end with the disciples, but is still there for us today.  This type faith, to wither a fig tree or move a mountain as Jesus told the disciples they could do, comes with a big"if."  Jesus told the disciples if they had faith and doubted not that they could move mountains.  I also believe that this type faith will never ask for anything that does not glorify God.  Even with the greatest of faith, if we are acting to bring honor or riches to ourselves, I do not believe that God will honor our faith.  Even if we somehow are successful and receive the honor and riches of the world for ourselves, we will not have been successful through the blessing of God.  This is not a name what I want and claim it promise.  This is a promise that with an unwavering faith that we can accomplish anything that God calls us to do, so that He might be glorified.  Verse twenty-two states, And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.  As just stated, this has to be in accordance with God's will and to glorify Him.  True prayer seeks God's will and not our own desires, as was demonstrated by Jesus' prayer in the garden.  I don't believe that we can ever make this about God giving us everything we want simply because we have faith that He will.  Not everything that we want brings glory to God.

Matthew 21:10 says, And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?  Jesus's entry into the city moved the whole city.  The people of the city wanted to know what all the commotion was about and Who Jesus was.  We today need to be proclaiming Christ in such a way that lost people will want to know Who He is.  Verse eleven states, And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.  The people now professed Jesus simply to be a prophet from Nazareth.  I believe that until they were asked this question that they were seeing Jesus as more than just a prophet, but now that they had to tell others Who Jesus was, all they were willing to say was that He was a prophet from Nazareth.  This made Jesus no more than any other prophet.  Some people today feel the need to prove by physical evidence that Jesus indeed lived as the Bible states, but ultimately we must simply accept Him as Savior and Lord by faith.  Some concede that Jesus was a great Prophet, but this is not enough.  We must proclaim Jesus as Savior and then allow Him to be the Lord of our lives if His death, burial and resurrection are to have any effect on our lives.  Verse twelve states, And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,  Jesus had the multitudes following Him, but now He began to upset their worship, which had become profitable to them.  The temple had become a place of merchandising instead of a house of worship.  We must be careful today that we don't allow material things to come between God and us, especially in the church.  Verse thirteen says, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.  Jesus reminded the people what the scripture said about the temple, or God's house.  It was intended to be a place of prayer, but the religious leaders had turned it into a den of thieves.  This was those who were supposedly the religious leaders of God's chosen people who were corrupting worship.  When we gather together in God's name, we need to make sure that we are doing so in a way that honors Him.  Verse fourteen states, And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.  People were still coming to Jesus for physical healing, and He was healing them.  Still, this was not the primary reason Jesus came.  Jesus came to bring spiritual healing.  Even if God heals us of all our physical ailments, if we do not profess Christ as our Savior, then it is only a temporary healing.  Verse fifteen states, And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,  Then, once again the chief priests and scribes saw what was happening with Jesus, and they were very displeased.  We would think that when religious leaders saw wonderful things happening and people worshipping that they would be happy, but they were angry instead.  I believe that this was because their position, and their own self-righteous, was being threatened.  Hopefully, if we as Christians see great things being accomplished for God today we will join in the praising, and not be angry because God is working through someone else to accomplish these great things.  Verse sixteen says, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?  The chief priests and scribes again questioned Jesus, asking if He didn't hear what the people were saying.  The people were pronouncing Jesus to be the Son of David, or the Messiah.  Jesus once more referred the chief priests and scribes to the scripture.  If they had really been the religious leaders that they professed to be, then they would have recognized Jesus for Who He is.  The scripture will always point us to Christ, some looking ahead the to His coming the first time, and some looking back on His having come and ahead to His return.  Verse seventeen states, And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.  Jesus left the people who were praising Him and the chief priests and scribes in Jerusalem and went to Bethany and lodged there. Most of the crowd were following Jesus for the wrong reasons, and the scribes and Pharisees were totally defiant, so Jesus left.  Jesus is not going to be in the midst of those who attempt to make Him into someone that He is not, no matter how many are gathered together.  If we want Jesus in our midst, where even two or three gather, then we must acknowledge Him for Who He is, our Savior and Lord.

Matthew 21:1 says, And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,  Jesus was nearing Jerusalem, but He stopped at Bethphage and the mount of Olives.  Then, He sent two of His disciples into the city.  In verse two, Jesus said, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.  Jesus told them the reason for the trip.  When God sends us somewhere, it is always for a purpose.  We simply need to listen to Him to know what it is.  The disciples were to find an ass, or donkey, and a colt with her, and they were to untie them and bring them to Jesus.  Although Jesus had told them what to do, the disciples had to have faith in Him to do it.  They could have been arrested for stealing the animals.  When we know beyond a doubt what Jesus has instructed us to do, we simply need to do it.  Verse three states,And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.  Jesus may have understood that the disciples would be apprehensive, so He told them if anyone asked why they were taking the donkey and colt, to tell them that the Lord needed them and they would soon be returned.  God is never going to send us out to simply take what belongs to another person.  If it is something necessary to accomplish His work, He will make our use of it okay.  Verse four says, All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,  Once more, this was to be the fulfillment of a prophecy.  Matthew did not sit down and write this as it was happening, but wrote it looking back on the events and could easily see the fulfillment of this prophecy.  Sometimes, we may not see the full extent of what God is doing through us until we step out in faith and look back later at what He has done.  Verse five says, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.  As the scripture foretold, Jesus was not coming as a conquering King on a mighty steed, but as a meek Servant sitting on a borrowed donkey.  We can never allow our expectations of Christ to prevent us from seeing Who He really is.  Even on a borrowed donkey, Jesus was the one true King.  Verse six states, And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,  Even if they may have been apprehensive, the disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do.  I cannot say for sure that they were apprehensive, but I can say for sure that if God calls us to do something that we feel apprehensive about, that as long as we are certain that it is what God is telling us to do, then we must simply obey Him.  Verse seven says, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.  I believe that one way that the disciples knew that what Jesus told them to do was okay was because they evidently found the donkey and the colt as He had said they would, and they brought them to Him.  I believe that we likewise will find that when God sends us to do something, we will find proof that He is indeed in charge of our going.  They used their clothes to make it more comfortable for Jesus, just as we must use what we have today to make it easier for the gospel to be shared.  Verse eight says, And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.  The multitudes made the road itself smoother, with clothes and tree branches, but they still did not really know Who Jesus was.  They were caught up in following Him for material reasons.  There are people today who are happy to proclaim Jesus as their Savior as long as everything goes well in the world.  Verse nine declares, And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.  The multitudes were going before Jesus proclaiming Him to be the Messiah and calling Him blessed.  I believe that part of the problem was that they were going ahead of Jesus and attempting to make Him into what the wanted the Messiah to be, instead of following Jesus and understanding Who He really is.  We can never get ahead of God if we are to be true followers, and we can certainly never attempt to make Jesus conform to what we want Him to be instead of Who He is.

Matthew 20:29 says, And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.  After Jesus had taught the disciples what it meant to follow Him, they were once again on the move.  As much as we might want to simply sit and learn from Jesus, after we spend our time alone with Him, He expects us to be go out into the world and share the gospel.  Great multitudes were still following Jesus as He was on His way to His ultimate destination, which was Jerusalem.  The multitudes were still following for material reasons and not spiritual ones.  When we follow Christ, it must be because of our spiritual relationship with Him through our faith in Him.  Verse thirty states, And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.  Two blind men sitting by the wayside heard that Jesus was passing by and cried out for Him to have mercy on them.  When we first encounter Christ, we are like these blind men, sitting helpless by the wayside spiritually.  The only way to be healed is to cry out to Jesus to heal us.  The only way to have our spiritual sight restored is through faith in Christ, and being spiritually blind is even more devastating than being physically blind.  Verse thirty-one says, And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.  Instead of having compassion on these two blind men, the multitude rebuked them and told them to be quiet.  We cannot afford to be guilty of keeping people from Christ simply because they are disturbing us.  Evidently the multitude around Jesus felt that they were entitled to control who came to Him or even called out to Him.  We, as followers of Christ, can never claim the right to keep anyone from coming to Him.  The blind men did not listen, but cried out even more loudly to Jesus.  When we do cry out to Jesus, no matter who may attempt to stop us from doing so, He will hear us.  We really don't even have to cry out louder, because Jesus will hear anyone who calls out to Him by faith.  Verse thirty-two says, And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?  Jesus asked the blind men what they wanted Him to do, although I am sure He already knew.  God wants us to make our needs known to Him, even though He already knows what we need.  Asking God and believing that He will deliver when we ask  according to His will expresses our faith in Him.  Verse thirty-three states, They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.  The two blind men answered that they wanted their eyes to be opened, or to be able to see.  They had faith in Jesus to restore their sight, but there was so much more that they could have asked for.  We are not told if they believed that Jesus was the awaited Messiah, or if they just saw Him as a great man of God.  Even if we come to Jesus because of a physical problem, our first request should be that He forgive our sins.  Verse thirty-four declares, So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.  Jesus had compassion on them, and restored their sight.  It does not say that He said that their sins were forgiven, but it does say that they followed Him.  We are not really told whether they followed Him by faith in His being the Messiah or just out of gratitude or curiosity.  When someone experiences a miracle in their life today, they may or may not accept Jesus for Who He really is.  To be truly healed, we must come to Jesus first asking for forgiveness.

Matthew 20:17 says, And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,  Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, and the twelve disciples were with Him.  Wherever Jesus leads us today, we must go.  I know that as followers of Christ the Holy Spirit is with us at all times, but we must still make sure that we are where God is leading us.  In verse eighteen Jesus proclaims, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,  Jesus was preparing the disciples for His coming betrayal and death.  Again, this is not what they were looking for from following Jesus.  They were still looking for Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom, in which they would have a big role.  We can never come to Jesus based on our own desires, but must come based only on His promise of salvation.  Verse nineteen continues, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.  Instead of setting up an earthly kingdom, Jesus said that He was to be mocked, scourged, and crucified, but that was not the end.  Jesus also said that the third day He would rise again.  Our focus should not be on the mocking, scourging, and crucifixion, though they were terrible, but on the resurrection the third day.  Verse twenty states, Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.  The mother of James and John came to Jesus with certain demands on their behalf.  Though it is good for a mother, or father, to bring their children to Jesus, they cannot come making demands about how their children will serve Him.  Verse twenty-one says, And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.  Their mother, who was also looking for an earthly kingdom, wanted James and John to have positions of honor and power in Jesus' kingdom.  We can never feel that we deserve a special place in the kingdom of Christ, but must simply follow Him in obedience to His will.  Verse twenty-two says, But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.  Jesus answered, asking if they were able to suffer what He was going to suffer, though they may still not have understood what He was asking them.  We need to ask ourselves today if our faith will stand in the face of adversity.  James and John said they could, but still were looking for an earthly kingdom.  Verse twenty-three states, And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of 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 shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.  Jesus said that they would indeed follow Him in suffering, but that any position of honor in His coming kingdom was not His to give.  This right was reserved for the heavenly Father.  Jesus died to bring salvation to all who will accept it by faith, and this is really all that we are promised.  We cannot follow Christ simply because we expect to be rewarded for doing so, whether in this world or the one to come.  Verse twenty-four declares, And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.  When the ten other disciples heard what was being asked for James and John, they became angry.  We really should never become angry about what another Christian might ask of Christ, but should be satisfied with allowing Jesus to answer them Himself.  Verse twenty-five states, But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  Jesus reminded the disciples that the princes of the Gentiles had authority over the Gentiles, and that those princes who were greater exercised authority over the lesser princes.  That is the way the world works.  This was not based on a moral superiority of the princes.  In verse twenty-six Jesus says, But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;  Jesus tells us that we are not to be like the Gentiles, seeking to be superior to other Christians.  Jesus tells us if we want to be great in His kingdom that we are to minister to those around us who are in need.  We do not follow Christ so that we can feel superior to anyone, but serve Him so that He may be glorified.  In verse twenty-seven Jesus continues, And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:  I believe that this simply tells us that there is no room for self glorification in the kingdom of Christ.  If we begin to feel that we are somehow to be held in higher esteem than other Christians, then we are not following what Christ teaches us.  If we want to be chief among others, we are to serve them.  Even then, we don't serve others for our glory, but we serve them that Christ might be glorified.  In verse twenty-eight Jesus concludes, Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  Jesus once more attempted to get the disciples to understand His purpose.  Jesus did not come to be an earthly ruler by His power, though He could have.  Jesus did not come to force people to follow Him, but He came to minister to people and die  as a ransom for their sins.  We can never expect to be greater than Jesus, and somehow feel that those around us should praise us and place us in a position over them.  No matter our part in the kingdom of Christ, we are all equal in our relationship to Him.  There should be no one who feels that we have to come through them to get to Christ.

Matthew 20:1 says, For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.  In this parable, Jesus would be the householder.  The early morning could be the time when Jesus first began His ministry and those who followed Him the first laborers.  I believe Jesus was saying more than that though, and that the first laborers would be those that accept Him as Savior and Lord early in life.  Verse two states, And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  These laborers agreed to work for a certain amount.  When we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, we agree to work for a certain price, and that is forgiveness and everlasting life with God.  This is all that we are promised.  Verse three states, And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,  Three hours later, the householder saw people standing idle.  Until we accept Christ into our lives, no matter how busy we may be in the world, we are standing idle before God.  Verse four says, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.  These laborers, who started later, were only promised that they would be paid what was right.  Even if we start to follow Jesus and work to advance His kingdom later in life, we can be sure that Jesus will always be fair with us.  In verse five Jesus says, Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.  The householder went twice more, at the sixth and ninth hour, and hired others to work for the day.  I believe that one other thing that we can determine from this parable is that today is the only day that we can be certain that we have to work for Jesus, so no matter how late we start, we need to be at work.  Verse six says, And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?  Toward the end of the day, the eleventh hour, the householder found others standing idle, and asked them why.  When Jesus comes to us, no matter how late in the day, or in our lives, if we are not doing His work, which first requires accepting Him as Savior and Lord, He may ask why we are standing idle.  Verse seven states, They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.  Until we accept Jesus, there is no way to be employed in His kingdom.  After those who were hired first, there was no specified amount stated as the wages that those who were called later would receive.  When we come to Jesus, He does not specify what material rewards we may may receive.  We must simply follow Him and be at work for His kingdom, no matter how early or late in life we may start.  Verse eight states, So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.  Jesus says that the householder had the laborers called, and paid them from last to first.  The householder could have paid them in the reverse order, from first to last, and sent them away before the next group was paid, but he was not doing anything in secret.  I believe that this is a statement that Jesus never promises more to one person than to another and then secretly rewards one above the other.  The gospel message is the same for all.  Verse nine states, And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.  Those who started late received the same pay as those who started early in the day.  No matter what point in our lives we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are all promised the same reward, and that is everlasting life with God.  Verse ten declares, But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.  Those who started first expected more, but received the same pay.  We cannot expect a greater reward simply because we come to Jesus early in life and work longer sharing the gospel.  The only reward, or pay we are promised is everlasting life with God, and this is the same for everyone, even those who accept Jesus late in life.  Verse eleven states, And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,  Jesus said that those hired first, even though they received what was promised, murmured against the householder.  We must be careful that we never murmur against anyone who comes to a saving knowledge of Christ late in life.  We cannot afford to feel that we are somehow cheated by working longer for Christ.  The only promise we have for accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord is everlasting life with God, and we should never murmur when someone else accepts salvation. Verse  twelve continues, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.  The complaint of those who were hired first was not that they hadn't been paid what was promised, but that they expected more.  When we work for Christ, it should be for His glory and not for our own reward.  Verse thirteen says, But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?  Jesus said the householder asked those first hired if he had done them wrong, or if he had paid them what he had promised.  No matter how long we may serve Christ, all that we are promised is everlasting life with God through our faith in Jesus.  We should never complain about anyone who receives the salvation of Christ later in life.  Verse fourteen declares, Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.  We, like the first hired, are to take what is ours, in our case salvation, and go our way satisfied.  That Jesus offers salvation to others should make us rejoice, not murmur.  Verse fifteen asks, Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?  Jesus, like the householder, asks us if it is not lawful for Him to do what He will with what is His.  Salvation is a gift that can come from Christ alone, and He freely gives it to all who come to Him in faith.  If we begin to feel that we are more worthy or deserving of more reward or blessing than someone else who accepts Christ as Savior, then our thoughts are evil. Verse sixteen concludes, So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.  I believe that this refers to a person's attitude about their position in God's kingdom.  Those who through self pride feel that they should be first will be last, and those who serve with a feeling of unworthiness will be first.  Then Jesus adds that many are called, but few are chosen.  This is not because some are automatically lost, but because few put their faith in Christ.

Matthew 19:25 says, When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?  After what Jesus told the rich young man and made His statement about a rich man entering heaven, the disciples were were amazed.  They wondered who could be saved.  As many people do, they may have equated having riches with being obedient to God.  That would leave them amazed, that those they thought blessed by God would find it nearly impossible to get into heaven.  In verse twenty-six, Jesus answers, But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.  The disciples wondered how anyone could be saved, and Jesus gave them the answer.  Jesus tells us that salvation by our own abilities is impossible, but that salvation by faith in God is possible.  What we cannot do for ourselves, no matter how rich or poor we may be, God has done for us.  God has made salvation free to those who accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord.  I don't believe that we can claim Jesus as Savior and not make Him the Lord of our lives.  When we do, material things will no longer be the motivation in our lives.  Verse twenty-seven states, Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  Peter, always the out spoken one, tells Jesus that the disciples had forsaken everything to follow Him.  Peter then basically asks Jesus what was in it for them.  Peter and the other disciples were still looking for Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom, and having given up everything to follow Jesus, Peter wanted to know where they stood.  We cannot follow God just looking for earthly blessings.  Verse twenty-eight says, And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  I believe that the main point here is that if we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we must patiently serve Him in this world, knowing that at His return we will be rewarded by being in heaven with Him forever.  The disciples were not called to be glorified, but to serve.  In reaching out with the gospel, they in effect were judging the twelve tribes of Israel, or the Jewish nation.  In verse nineteen, Jesus declares, And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  Jesus tells us that anyone who puts following Him above everything else in the world, from material possessions to family, will be richly rewarded with everlasting life.  We can never out give God.  Verse thirty then warns, But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.  The disciples had recently asked Jesus which of them would be first in His kingdom.  We cannot serve Christ simply wanting to be more honored in His coming kingdom than other Christians and thinking that we should be.  Jesus tells us that many who think they should be first in His kingdom will be last.  The good news is, that even if we do think more highly of ourselves than we should, if we are truly followers of Christ, we will be a part of His everlasting kingdom.

Matthew 19:13 says, Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.  Once more, we have an account of little children being brought to Jesus and the disciples rebuking the children, or more likely those who brought them.  The disciples may have felt that the children would distract Jesus from His purpose.  We need to remember that the disciples were still looking for Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom.  We must never be guilty of not allowing everyone to come to Jesus if they want to.  In verse fourteen Jesus declares, But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus told the disciples to allow the children to come to Him.  Jesus also tells us that the kingdom of heaven is made up of those who come to Him with a childlike faith.  We simply have to accept that Jesus is Who He says He is without any doubt.  Verse fifteen says, And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.  Jesus laid His hands on, or blessed, the children and then He departed.  Jesus had not been kept from His mission.  If God blesses us today, we can be certain that He is also at work in the rest of the world.  Verse sixteen says, And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  This was not a child with a childlike faith, but a young man looking for a way to justify himself before God.  No matter how hard we try, we can never be justified before God by our actions.  In verse seventeen, Jesus replies, And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  Jesus asked why the young man called Him good, then said that God was the only One Who is good.  I believe that Jesus may have been asking the young man if he recognized Who Jesus was.  Jesus told the young man to keep the commandments.  The only way we could be justified before God by our own merit is if we were to keep all the commandments at all times, even in our thoughts.  In other words, it is impossible.  Verse eighteen states, He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  Then continuing in verse nineteen, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  The young man, still seeking to justify himself, asked Jesus which commandments he had to obey.  If we are seeking a right relationship with God, we have to acknowledge that God expects us to keep all His commandments.  They are not just words chiseled in stone, but words written in our hearts.  Notice that Jesus did not list the commandments that related to a person and God, but to those that related to a person's relationship to other people.  If our relationship to God is right, then these commandments will be easy to keep, and if it is not, then keeping the commandments does us no good spiritually.  Verse twenty states, The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  The young man was proud of his keeping of the commandments.  He said he had kept them all since his youth.  None of the commandments Jesus cited had to do with a person's relationship to God, though.  If we do not keep the commandments related to God, then keeping the ones related to people do us no good in the eyes of God.  Being a good person is not enough.  The young man asked what more he needed to do.  I believe that he thought the answer would be nothing.  In verse twenty-one, Jesus replied, Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  What Jesus told the young man now had to do with his relationship to God.  He was asked to put God ahead of his money.  If we are to be saved, we must give up everything that comes between God and us.  Verse twenty-two states, But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  The young man went away sad, because his possessions were more important to him than his relationship to God.  If a person allows what they own to keep them from following God, then that person should indeed be sad.  If temporal things keep us from everlasting life, then that is a poor trade.  Verse twenty-three declares, Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  This does not mean that being rich keeps a person out of heaven, but that the attitude that riches come before God does.  It is hard to not allow riches to come first.  Verse twenty-four states, And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  Once more, I believe that this is true because people allow possessions to come between God and them.  God never enriches us just for our own benefit, but expects us to use all that He blesses us with to help others.

Matthew 19:1 says, And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;  After teaching in Galilee, Jesus went to the coasts of Judea.  Jesus was often on the move, and the Holy Spirit is on the move and active in the world today.  We need to learn from what God teaches us and be going into the world with His message.  Verse two states, And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.  The disciples were not the only ones following Jesus.  We are told that great multitudes followed Jesus as well.  It would be nice if great multitudes were coming to Jesus today, but I believe that for the most part the multitudes were following Him for the wrong reasons.  They were coming for physical reasons and not spiritual ones.  Verse three declares, The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?  The Pharisees were following Jesus as well.  They were not following out of belief, though as some of the most devout of religious leaders they should have been.  There are those today who come to Jesus only for material reasons, and some who come simply to try to discredit Him.  Once more, they thought they could trick Jesus into saying something that they could use against Him.  This time, they raised the question of divorce.  They asked if a man could put away his wife for every cause.  Verse four states, And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,  Jesus once again asked the Pharisees if they had not read the scriptures.  God made people male and female, and that has not changed, no matter what we might like to think.  Verse five continues, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?  Jesus tells us that in marriage that two people, male and female, become one flesh.  God's law for marriage will never change.  Verse six declares,
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.  Jesus tells us that what God has joined together that man should never attempt to take apart.  The two become as one, both necessary for the completion of the other.  We have reduced marriage to a legal act and not spiritual one.  Verse seven states, They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?  The Pharisees attempted to justify divorce based on the teaching of Moses, or the scripture.  What Moses taught was more to protect the wife than to justify divorce.  The husband could not just put her out of the house without written documentation that he had divorced her.  In verse eight Jesus replies, He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.  Jesus told the Pharisees that Moses suffered, or allowed, men to put away their wives out of the hardness of their hearts, but this was not what God had intended.  God always intended for marriage to be until death.  In verse nine, Jesus continues, And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.  Jesus tells us what God intends.  Divorce is not acceptable except in the case of infidelity, and even then it is not ordered, but only allowed.  Verse ten states, His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.  The disciples then asked Jesus if it was best not to marry.  Maybe they had no faith in people remaining faithful, but Jesus had not said that marriage was wrong.  When we make marriage a legal institution instead of a moral, or spiritual one, we might ask the same question.  Verse eleven declares, But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. Jesus said that not all men were destined to not marry.  Marriage, the spiritual joining of a man and woman to become one flesh, was God's plan from the beginning.  Verse twelve states, For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.  Jesus said that some were born to be eunuchs, or unmarried, and some were forced to be that way by the world, and yet others remained that way for spiritual reasons.  This was never God's plan for all men, though.