King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, October 09, 2024
Chapters: Luke 6, Matthew 5
Message: The Blessed Attitude
Hello My Friend,
This may be my last devotional posted for a few days as the hurricane is expected to come through later tonight with power outages expected. I will remain in God’s Word and do the best that I can to get everything up to date. This really has been a trying year on my family, from my husband being out of work to my own job, then my mom’s stroke, to a house that is falling apart as it is, and me carrying the load of it all. I know that without God with me that I would be going insane. As I am reading the chapters for today I am reminded of just blessed I am even when everything seems to be falling apart, [Matthew 5:3-6 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.]
As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, Luke, also records the dispute that the Pharisees had with Jesus over the disciples picking corn and eating it from the fields.
[Luke 6:1-5 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? 3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; 4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? 5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.]
[the second sabbath after the first,] This was not a normal Sabbath, which was the last day of the week, this was a ceremonial Sabbath, pertaining to the feast that was still underway. My question is that if they were so concerned about the Sabbath then why were they there? Once again, Jesus called them out and by the way, there was nothing against the Law about what they did, they were on public property, where they just grabbed a few that were on the ground, which was actually permitted under the Law, [Deuteronomy 23:25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.]
Nevertheless, the Pharisees, in order to spy on the Lord, to find some cause to discredit Him, made this innocent act a sin, but since they were so concerned about breaking the Law on a Sabbath, He was going to prove to them that He truly is the Lord of the Sabbath on an actual Sabbath.
[Luke 6:6-10 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. 9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? 10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.]
[Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil?] Seriously? Were these men going to condemn Jesus for lifting a hand to help someone on a Sabbath? The Bible states that those who know to do good, but do not are sinning in themselves, [James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.]
The Pharisees being convinced in their hearts, that anything Jesus did was unlawful, were too stubborn to bear witness to the truth. Jesus, even looked over the crowd a second time to see if any would listen to Him, but there was none so He performed the miracle right before their eyes, which led to Jesus speak out.
[Luke 6:17-21 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.]
[And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples,] Jesus, was not focused on the crowd as He already knew their hearts, He was focused on His disciples, and that would have been any of them in the crowd who truly believed in Him. While Luke touches on a few of these blessed attitudes, Matthew goes all out in full detail.
[Matthew 5:3-12 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.]
[Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:] We may be facing all kinds of affliction, trials, and tribulation, but in the end we will be blessed for our faithfulness, if not here, in heaven and beyond. Those who are not faithful are going to face the judgments that the world is facing.
[Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.]
[Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour,] Jesus, shows that those who truly follow Him are the salt of the earth, meaning they are sent out in the world to preserve it from putrefaction and destruction by preaching the Gospel and living it themselves. So Christians that have ceased to live Godly lives will face the judgments of the world, [Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.]
Salvation, is not free ticket out of hell card to do as we please, but it is also not a door to follow the Law in order to keep our salvation either. Those who accept Christ are saved by grace, but the faithful do tend to fulfill some of the commands written within the Law as the Holy Spirit convicts them. In order to have a blessed attitude, it is important to know the Scriptures so that we can remain salty in our efforts. Why? It puts the world and religious in their place. Now, if these men were so knowledgeable about the Law then they ought to know what God was saying in regards to it. So, Jesus, goes on to touch on the first ten commands and what they ought to know and be doing from the Law.
[Matthew 5:17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.]
[That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,] These were the richest, most religious, and influential men in all of Israel, yet they we no more closer to God than the poorest person that did not know Him. Serving God and following a bunch of religious rules has nothing to do with our salvation, we must receive Christ as our Saviour for that. Our labor has nothing to do with keeping our salvation, but everything to do with our thankfulness and gratitude for the sacrifice Jesus made to save us. And that also includes things we may not want to do, like love our enemies.
[Luke 6:24-30 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.]
[him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other;] Say what? If someone smack you in the face, Jesus wants you to turn the other cheek? It sounds like Jesus wants us to be pushovers and let everyone walk all over us. That really is not the case, we have to look at this the same way that Jesus does, if we only show love and kindness to the ones who are good to us, then no one else will see Him through us. Yes, it is not always easy to be a Christian, and you often wonder why you do the things you do when it seems you get nothing, but heart ache. Well, Jesus explains it this way.
[Luke 6:32-36 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.]
[for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.] God, sends the rain on the just and unjust. Let me tell you, the world, and even some Christians, may be living as they please and get blessed because God is kind and merciful to the just and unjust, but the true blessings come when we stop worrying about what everyone else is doing, pay attention to what we are doing, and just show them Christ by teaching them Christ through our works. Jesus, goes on to point that out as well, through a parable.
[Luke 6:39-42 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.]
[every one that is perfect shall be as his master.] Those who truly accept Christ as their Saviour and live their lives through His example are perfected as they walk in His righteousness. An evil and corrupt religion wants to paint Christians against each other, the blind leading blind through exposing everyone’s, but their own sin, but we do not have to stoop to their level or be bullied into taking their side. God, gives us one of two options, You either accept Christ or reject Him. If you accept Him, then He expects you to be faithful to and commit to Him, if you reject Him, then at least you were not lying to anyone. In fact, Jesus, has a question for all who proclaim Him as Lord, but do not do the things He says.
[Luke 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.]
[why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?] That was a very good question, they called Him Lord, Rabbi, or Master, but did not do one thing that He instructed. You see, they had no intention of believing on Him, and they did not want the people believing on Him either, if they did, then they would lose out on all that fame and fortune. We cannot have it both ways, in order to walk with Christ it does take a sacrifice. Simply put, if we want to be blessed by God, then we need to prove it by becoming a living sacrifice, [Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Luke 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You know my heart, my thoughts, and even my actions before I do them. I know that I am who I am today because of what You did for me. I am not the same creature I was when You picked me up out of the hole I was in, but You are not done with me yet. You have much work more for me to do, not that it might keep my salvation, but that You might be seen through me. Forgive me for neglecting You when life gets so overwhelming, that is when I need to draw near to You more. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me the strength that only You can give me to have a blessed attitude. Let me be the disciple You need me to be, to be a witness and testimony for those who need You, and even those who have lost their savor. I pray this in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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