Jesus, the law, the Pharisees, and prophecy are topics, today. A new disclaimer is presented. Also, there is more on knowing GOD as doers and not hearers only. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Idontgoon” (Level 1 with 1 point, a member since April 26, 2013) posted the following:
Why did Jesus Christ condemn the Pharisees if they followed the law perfectly?
How important are sins of the heart, even though they are not expressed? What about thoughts?
THE BATTLE AXE: A Tree Falls To The South (07/13/2013)—(5) In the same way there are natural events and processes that are known by their regular occurrence, there are spirit events and processes whereby GOD may be known. Among men, godliness is the continuous display of divine substance through the actions and activity of created beings and living creatures. Like dutifulness and faithfulness, godliness is known from actions, and not merely by words. Intellectual argument, conjecture, debate, logic, philosophy, reason, and speculation can not establish spirit matter, sacred truth, and divine power. Needed are such operations by the Spirit of GOD as acknowledgment, confession, obedience, praise, rebirth, repentance, and sanctification. Those who immerse themselves in discussion and reflection without also carrying out, obeying and performing the things of GOD in accordance with the Spirit, do not sow and may not reap a harvest: It is not enough to have love, and not show it; it is not enough to have faith, and not show it; it is not enough to have knowledge of GOD, and not apply it. See Luke 6: 46-49, Colossians 2: 6-9, 1st Corinthians 13: 1-10 and James 1: 19-27, King James Version.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go inyourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Matthew 23: 12-15, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Money-changers in The Temple? (06/23/2013); Believers and the Cross (06/24/2013); Blessings, Curses and Woes (10/03/2013); After We Die? (10/04/2013); Both Born Holy? (04/29/2013); Scripture at Funerals? (04/30/2013); Law Violated? (01/21/2011); GOD Violent? (01/22/2011)
“Idontgoon”, here are a few points many have found helpful for a correct understanding of the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees. Many of the same issues continue for believers, today:
(1) The doctrines and teachings of the Pharisees emphasized outward display and public demonstrations of commitment to ceremony, law, ritual, and tradition. Covenant with GOD was pursued as a carnal, material, political and social reality without proper discernment and realization that aspects of divine spirit must reside within every believer.
(2) The Pharisees held many ideas concerning recorded prophecy that were inappropriate and incorrect. For more than 400 years, since the time of Malachi, there were no anointed prophets of GOD after the model of Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, etc. John the Baptist, son of a Levitical priest, was a controversial figure among the Pharisees.
(3) Jesus could not be recognized as an appearance of GOD using flesh despite his divine performance of exorcism, healing and miracles. Given the agitation and influence of the Pharisees, he could not be embraced as a model to mankind put forth under the law, displaying the indwelling Spirit of GOD, and bringing to pass things proclaimed by the ancient prophets.
(4) Through the ministry of Jesus, sin is revealed to be no spirit substance from GOD; and the will of GOD is shown to not be subject to sin. Sin may dominate self-will in created beings and living creatures. By water baptism, those who die to sin and are “born again” (from divine DNA, so to speak), receive the same spirit content that resided in Jesus, and that makes believers no longer subject to sin. Included are faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, righteousness, wisdom and wrath against sin.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. For example, (5) What many call “sins of the heart” are regular human experiences of the flesh. Included are appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, craving for sexual activity); sense (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching) as well as psychological and mental functions (e.g., desire, fantasy, forgetting, imagination, recall). The flesh is with us all (believers too) from cradle to grave; and the combination of self-discipline with divine content provide the peculiar strength for godly living.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Washington, DC
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