“Let her alone. She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial.” ~Jesus

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Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 12, Judas Iscariot, Lazarus, Martha, Mary, Religious Leaders

Breaking news! Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead so the religious leaders decide to kill Lazarus. Talk about not getting it.

OK, back to the real story. Mary spends a fortune on perfume to anoint the feet of Jesus.

Jesus knew what was going on. Jesus always does. Jesus can see into our hearts.

That is the real story here. Jesus knows. I can’t fool him. I shouldn’t try.

My focus needs to be on pleasing him.

Mary knew that is the main thing. The religious leaders didn’t know it. Judas didn’t know it. 

“Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules?” ~Religious scholars to Jesus

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Jesus, Matthew 15, Religious Leaders

Religious Charade

It is sad but religious people are consumed with “the rules”. Jesus knew it very well. He encountered it all the time.

Question to myself. Am I consumed about the rules and who is or isn’t following them?

I need to listen very close to Jesus. Jesus brings clarity to what is important. Am I on the side of Jesus or the religious leaders?

After that, Pharisees and religion scholars came to Jesus all the way from Jerusalem, criticizing, “Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules?”  (Matthew 15:1-2)

“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” ~~Jesus

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Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 22, Power, Religious Leaders, Scripture

The Religious leaders of Jesus day were always trying to trip him up with trivial religious questions. You would have thought they would have known better or at least learned not to try because it always backfired on them.

Jesus answers are important for us though. We live in a religious culture and easily fall into the same traps. The trap is thinking I know God because I am religious, go to church, pray before meals, etc.

Two things are essential to not falling into error. The first is really knowing the scripture. Having God’s word in my heart. The second is having the power of God in my life.

So …. after answering a number of their questions, “no one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.”

You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” ~~Jesus (Matthew 22:29)

 

“There will be lying religious teachers among you.” ~Apostle Peter

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2 Peter 2, Apostle Peter Sayings, Lie, Prophets, Religious Leaders, Truth

No Lying Zone

Being a religious teacher doesn’t mean you are telling the truth about Jesus. This stuns me but I must learn to discern the truth from a lie. Some ministers lie. Peter promised this would be true.

I must be able to tell right from wrong. To not do so can lead me downhill and off the cliff. Destruction and death follow suit.

Is the message one of unity or division. Am I being pitted against others? Am I encourage to look down at others or even hate them?

I need to consider the message as a reflection on the messenger. God’s goal for me is to follow the truth. I need to find ministers who teach the truth about Jesus and don’t lie.

But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong.

~Apostle Peter – Source: 2 Peter 2:1-2 (The Message Bible)

"My Father is working straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I." ~~Jesus

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Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 5, Religious Leaders, Sabbath, Work

Jesus rattles the religious leaders. He does it all the time. It is intentional. No, I didn’t mean to do that kind of world with our Master.

One day, a Sunday, He healed someone. The religious leaders criticized Him. “The Law” didn’t allow for that. No work. Period!!

It didn’t stop Jesus. All Jesus does is what He sees the Father do. Jesus sees God working 24/7. He does the same. His mission is be obedient to what God wants Him to do. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Jesus understands that God’s goal is one of obedience. No wiggle room. Be obedient. That is it.

Jesus challenges us to see what God is doing and do it. We are His ambassadors. That may get us in trouble with the religious leaders. So be it. Obedience is more important than sacrifice.

“My Father is working straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I.”  ~~Jesus (John 5:17 The Message)

"They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy." ~~Jesus

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Jesus Sayings, Mark 7, Religious Leaders

Religious Language

Jesus is very direct about how religious leaders are focused on justifying what they teach to match their way of seeing things. That is not God’s way.

Jesus challenges us not to see things from a religious point of view. We must have a heart after God, seek what God wants us to do and say, and do that only. The focus is on God and not what we think or believe.

God’s goal for us is to speak His truth. It is not to represent what we think. What we think is not relevant.

“They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy.” ~~Jesus (Mark 7:7  The Message)