Love and Mercy
Brothers and Sisters let’s look at Matthew 18 and Luke 9.
We note that today many people, especially in the world are at odds. About religion, about race, about politics. Should we who say we Love God with all we are and are not of this world be like them? Divide even amongst ourselves on these matters? I am not saying we should not stand for what is right, but as you state that, what is right? By whose standard?
Many people who like to judge will recite the verse in Matthew where Christ re quotes the law.
Matthew 18:15
15“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosedf in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Now people who don’t understand will use this to be the letter of the law. They will follow it and keep out those heathens that won’t repent!! Haha!!! Yet they followed the law and violated the heart of it as Christ said. The Bible isn’t wrong, God isn’t wrong. Man trying to understand and teach of Christ absent of the Holy Spirit causes this confusion.
Let’s look at the whole situation that brought them up to this very conversation. Where Jesus is quoting the law back to them as written in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Deuteronomy 19:15.
15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.
Following the gospel in Matthew and Luke we can see that the brothers where given power and sent out in pairs, accordingly to God’s order first, and for the law of witnessing second. They started to get egos. It is written how they even started arguing amounts themselves who would be greatest in the kingdom? Luke 9
They also had just failed a Test to cast out a demon from a child just before this and had to be told because they lack faith. They were still growing and learning.
They started having ego issues when they asked him who is greatest. Then he ego slapped them with the truth Matthew 18. And Luke 9:46.
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
That is why Jesus brought up the subject of the law in the First place. Because they were still blind spiritually and in the flesh. He wanted to teach them the greater meanings but had to get them to think they asked the right question to start that conversation leading to the ultimate teaching . Take them from thinking in the flesh to thinking in the spirit.
Again giving credence that man cannot understand what is not His. Only God reveals himself to whom he chooses. Those who love Him, not to bring fortune or fame unto himself or herself. To serve in joy and honor the King of heaven whose riches and fortune are far greater then that of man.
So he did this by restating the law. Which they knew. This lead Peter in the flesh to wonder hmm, ok I know the law. How many times should I allow my brother to sin against me. Before I treat him like a heathen with excommunication?
That was the right question, in the flesh.
Jesus then explains the heart of the law with mercy love and forgiveness. Because unless you truly love how can you forgive?
He teaches him no, don’t forgive him just seven times, but seven times seventy seven. Or seven seven seven the number of?
Let’s look at it:
21Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.g24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.h 25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servanti fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,j and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,k until he should pay all his debt. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
This is the heart of the law that many who claim to know Christ didn’t and don’t see. Though I say it plainly even today many because of the hardness of their hearts in their flesh will still ignore it. You read these sayings for a reason. Now take what you have heard and declare it on the roof tops. You received freely, give freely. As was your ransom from sin to salvation in Christ also given freely unto you.
This is the Way
Christ is Lord and King
Brothers and Sisters let’s look at Matthew 18 and Luke 9.
We note that today many people, especially in the world are at odds. About religion, about race, about politics. Should we who say we Love God with all we are and are not of this world be like them? Divide even amongst ourselves on these matters? I am not saying we should not stand for what is right, but as you state that, what is right? By whose standard?
Many people who like to judge will recite the verse in Matthew where Christ re quotes the law.
Matthew 18:15
15“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosedf in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Now people who don’t understand will use this to be the letter of the law. They will follow it and keep out those heathens that won’t repent!! Haha!!! Yet they followed the law and violated the heart of it as Christ said. The Bible isn’t wrong, God isn’t wrong. Man trying to understand and teach of Christ absent of the Holy Spirit causes this confusion.
Let’s look at the whole situation that brought them up to this very conversation. Where Jesus is quoting the law back to them as written in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Deuteronomy 19:15.
15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.
Following the gospel in Matthew and Luke we can see that the brothers where given power and sent out in pairs, accordingly to God’s order first, and for the law of witnessing second. They started to get egos. It is written how they even started arguing amounts themselves who would be greatest in the kingdom? Luke 9
They also had just failed a Test to cast out a demon from a child just before this and had to be told because they lack faith. They were still growing and learning.
They started having ego issues when they asked him who is greatest. Then he ego slapped them with the truth Matthew 18. And Luke 9:46.
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
That is why Jesus brought up the subject of the law in the First place. Because they were still blind spiritually and in the flesh. He wanted to teach them the greater meanings but had to get them to think they asked the right question to start that conversation leading to the ultimate teaching . Take them from thinking in the flesh to thinking in the spirit.
Again giving credence that man cannot understand what is not His. Only God reveals himself to whom he chooses. Those who love Him, not to bring fortune or fame unto himself or herself. To serve in joy and honor the King of heaven whose riches and fortune are far greater then that of man.
So he did this by restating the law. Which they knew. This lead Peter in the flesh to wonder hmm, ok I know the law. How many times should I allow my brother to sin against me. Before I treat him like a heathen with excommunication?
That was the right question, in the flesh.
Jesus then explains the heart of the law with mercy love and forgiveness. Because unless you truly love how can you forgive?
He teaches him no, don’t forgive him just seven times, but seven times seventy seven. Or seven seven seven the number of?
Let’s look at it:
21Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.g24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.h 25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servanti fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,j and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,k until he should pay all his debt. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
This is the heart of the law that many who claim to know Christ didn’t and don’t see. Though I say it plainly even today many because of the hardness of their hearts in their flesh will still ignore it. You read these sayings for a reason. Now take what you have heard and declare it on the roof tops. You received freely, give freely. As was your ransom from sin to salvation in Christ also given freely unto you.
This is the Way
Christ is Lord and King
