Forgive me for this one. It goes way back in time before any of you were even born…or thought of… I am going all the way back to the year 1979…yeah – I know…practically the “ice age”…humankind as we know it, had just started learning how to use tools…and ventured out of deep, dark, dank […]
Again, context is everything. These two groups were not natural allies. The Herodians supported the “rule of Herod” who cooperated with the Roman rulers and oppressors – and he was actually given his authority by them. Herod was in Rome’s pocket. He was their puppet, their stooge, their lackey and their pawn… The Pharisees on […]
What’s a King to do? Your son, the heir – the only heir – is getting married! The feast or the party has got to be epic! It has to be a phenomenal banquet, without problems, without room for error. It all must be bigger than life-itself! It has to destroy all previously known parties…destroy […]
Love ‘em or hate him…there was not a lot of wiggle room. Dependent on whom you talked to, Jesus made a lot more enemies then he did friends. All of his friends were of questionable integrity. His enemies, on the other hand they were the “salt of the earth.” Why would anyone in their right […]
And the parable’s keep on coming…week-after-week-after-week, but that is Matthew’s gospel for ya’. Jesus is a teaching…and his teachings are against the “Temple elite.” He continues his conflict, rails against and widens his distance from the Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees and priestly class, as well as the “Jerusalem elite and the wealthy.” The Pharisees are especially […]
It is all about “interpretation.” What I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND is that people can make the scriptures “say” practically anything – “they want to.” It’s all about “their interpretation.” Personally, I don’t like it when the scriptures are taken out of their original context and “USED” by anyone in a negative fashion. My druthers […]
Jesus knew the Isaiah scrolls, he knew them well. It was Isaiah who wrote, “Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.” “The vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his […]
One brother “talked the talk.” The other brother “walked the walk.” Jesus asks: Which of the two did his father’s will? We all know about “talkers.” “Talkers” will tell you exactly what you want to hear. Usually, but not always they are “quite insincere.” They will tell you anything! These are the ones – who […]
For us, the story of the two sons – presents a relatively simple choice. “Results” are more important than “appearances.” But just so you know and are aware – it wasn’t always so…. Sometimes, “appearances” were more important than “the actual results.” Now some might say: The “older son” was the “better son” because he […]
How very Protestant. How very Lutheran. How very Reformation Era! Entry into God’s Kingdom is not gained by “our work” or by “our action,” but solely based on the “generosity of our God.” Which is simply to say – “you can’t work your way into heaven.” You cannot “buy your way into heaven…” There are […]