Jesus' Ultimatum

Jesus' Ultimatum

Jesus confronted the Pharisees with an ultimatum. He gave commandments and decrees that were contrary to the law. How people responded demonstrated whether they viewed the law greater than God who stood before them, or that He was the ultimate source of truth.

The First and Greatest commandment in the law was that a person have a total love and devotion for God. This then was their test of that, where no man can serve two masters, and where one is loved, and the other hated.

The Pharisees served and obeyed the law. Jesus said they hated Him and the Father in Heaven, for they chose the law and a love and dedication to the law; not God.

We witness today the same scenario play out. Jesus decreed good works lawful, on the Sabbath, as contrasted to evil works. The decree could not have been plainer: Two categories of works, performed by two categories of people; those with good hearts, and those with evil hearts (hearts, minds, souls).

Evil hearted people will opt for what they believe benefits them, looking at things from a strictly physical perspective; not a spiritual one. They in turn choose the Sabbath over the Lord of the Sabbath, thinking God is more interested in blind obedience; a blind faith, instead of a living faith that expresses itself through action, and not the inaction of doing nothing one day a week.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: °For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: °I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. °Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? °Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. °And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. — Matthew 25:41-46

Jesus came to the Jews. He walked among them; the ‘people of the law’ who boasted in the law and Sabbath… the same ones who passed by the wounded man on the road to Jericho.

Who does the will of God here? The Sabbath keeper who is too busy doing nothing to stop and help another in need? Or one not under the law; not keeping the Sabbath who is quick to help others in their distress and need? It is a simple thing to stop and give a thirsty person water.

The criteria here Jesus cites about who goes into the kingdom of God, eternally, and those who do not, and the law has nothing to do with it. It is those who express their love and compassion for others. Love and compassion; expressions of the Spirit, due to the presence of the Holy Spirit, given to those who repent and believe the Gospel.. of Christ Jesus; God Incarnate, due to having a love of Him to the exclusion of all else, especially the law; the law people were kept under UNTIL the revelation of faith, in God — not the law.

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )

Acts 17:11

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