Gospel gems – Lying to achieve a goal

And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. Luke 23:2

The people had nothing to “get” Jesus on so they resorted to lying. Exodus 20:16 tells us, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

There is never a time to lie! Let’s look at some of the key points in the verse:

·        “Perverting” (Greek 1294) to distort i.e. misinterpret or corrupt

Was Jesus distorting or corrupting the nation? Absolutely not

·        “Forbidding to give tribute”

Matthew 17:27 tells of a time when Jesus paid the tribute (tax)

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Not only did Jesus pay the tax but he did it to not offend anyone.

·        “saying he himself is a king”

There are 17 verses in the King James Version with the words, “King of the Jews”, not one of them is Jesus talking. Each time the phrase was used it was used by others.

False accusations are the way of the world. The next time you want to tell “a little white lie” remember the following verses:

A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. Proverbs 14:5

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; Colossians 3:9

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Respecting the Sabbath

[15] In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. [16] There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. [17] Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? [18] Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. [19] And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. [20] So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. [21] Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. [22] And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. Nehemiah 13:15-22

The people had returned to their “old ways” Nehemiah 10:31. Nehemiah reestablishes the rules of the Sabbath. He stops the buying and selling on the Sabbath. He went so far as to lock the gates of the city to guarantee those merchants and their wares would not enter in. He told the merchants not to come to the gates on the Sabbath as this was forbidden. He threatened harsh results if they did not heed his words.

We no longer fall under the rules and restrictions of the law, but the law was our schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24). Learning and applying from the schoolmaster is a great way to live our life. We should live the principles of the Bible. Once Christ came the disciples started to worship on the first day of the week, Sunday, instead of the Sabbath, Saturday.

I thought it was so fitting that this blog topic fell on a Sunday. As we keep today as a day of worship and rest dwell on the wonderful attributes of our Lord.

Dwell on His:

Awesomeness

Blessings

Creation

Direction

Excellentness

Fairness

Goodness

Holiness

Immutableness

Justice

Kindness

Longsuffering

Magnificence

Nobleness

Omnipresence

Perfectness

Quiet still voice

Righteousness

Sovereignty

Truth

Unity

Victory

Wisdom

eXciting future

unYielding love

Zeal

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Exodus 20:8 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25  

Have a blessed day,
Donna