Making sure to be ready and to belong to the escaped ones

In Daniel 12:1 is spoken of a time that the archangel Michael, or the great prince who as a grand defender and guardian protects [L stands by] God’s people [10:13, 21], will stand up [arise (Jude 9; Revelation 12:7)]. All people should know that there will be a time of much trouble [distress], the worst time since nations have been on earth, but at that time God’s people will be saved [rescued]. Therefore, Jesus warns to stay alert, to keep watch because nobody knows when Jesus will come (Matthew 24:42).

Followers of Christ should remember what they have received and heard, and obey it, and turn from their sin! For if they don’t wake up, they shall be surprised, because Jesus will come like a thief, and people don’t know at what moment he will come upon them (Revelation 3:3).

We have to give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith, so that when the time arrives we shall not find ourselves not ready to follow in the footsteps of the righteous, who shall be allowed to enter the narrow gate to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus compares that coming day and the required readiness with the owner of a house who also does not know when a thief would come along. Had he known his house was about to be broken into, he would have stayed up all night, vigilantly. He would have kept watch, and he would have thwarted the thief and not let his house be broken into. So we too have to be ready because we know the Son of Man will come, but we can’t know precisely when. He might be coming at an hour we do not expect (Matthew 24:43-44; Luke 12:39; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15).

Jesus asks

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master put in charge of his household to give them food at the proper time?” (Matthew 24:45)

The sent one from God, Jeshua, the son of man and the Kristos (Christ) we can have as our trustworthy servant, the one Whom the Highest Master has put in charge of all the servants of his household. We, who want to serve Jesus, are simple servants, but that does not take away that we do not have to take our responsibility seriously.
When the times of the latter days arrive we should belong to those servants whose master (Jesus Christ) finds them doing their work when Jesus returns on this earth. (Matthew 24:46)

Jesus who always tells the truth, assures us and most solemnly say to his followers that the master will choose that servant to take care [put him in charge] of everything he owns. (Matthew 24:47)

When that servant would not be ready and [L at an hour when he] is not expecting him that is appointed by the Most High, then the master will treat that caught unaware servant like one who did not do his job and consider him a worthless servant. (Matthew 24:50-51)

In those days, after that tribulation, when the earth shall shake, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. [Mark 13:24-25; Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:10; 2:31; 3:15; Haggai 2:6,21] Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth (lying dead and buried) will awake and rise up (Daniel 12:2) to see with those, who are still alive at that time, the Son of Man coming in the clouds with tremendous power and glory (Mark 13:26; Daniel 7:13–14).

Then there might be weeping and gnashing of teeth, indicating agony and remorse, but it shall be too late to discuss over distress and anger, because everybody has been warned long before and could have found the Biblical Truth. When the time after the big war has arrived, and Jesus shall be seen as the returned one from God, then it shall be time for the righteous to come out of the world of mammon, showing to the world they do not belong to this world but to God and His people, so that they will not share in the world her sins, and so that they will not receive any of her plagues (Revelation 18:4). All then shall have to know that then the time has arrived when those particular chosen ones who are alive and left behind [or alive and are left] will be gathered [caught; taken; raptured] together with them [the resurrected ones] into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is how we, the resurrected and the living, will be with him forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Events seem to be happening at a break-neck speed, so that it is almost impossible to keep up. We have major headlines coming out almost hourly, Russia (the bear), Syria, Iran, Iraq, the Asian and African countries. Many of these have a role in prophecy during the last days.

When believing in God and believing also in Jesus (John 14:1) we do know that in Jehovah, our Father’s house, there are many mansions, which all should be prepared and ready to receive the Master.

Let us, who have obtained salvation through Christ, make sure that when the time is near, right at the door, that we shall be ready. So that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming (1 John 2:28), after having able to stand strong and firm in those troubling or perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1). We have to be prepared and have made ourselves strong enough to go through that time of great trouble and can stand up against those lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:2-5). As the Messiah loves us, so should we in the world having our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment (1 John 4:17).

Nobody shall be able to escape the judgement-seat of Jesus. It is not that some people shall already be gone to a hell, a purgatory or heaven. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Let us not lay up for ourselves treasures upon earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. Let us not give thieves an opportunity to break through and steal (Matthew 6:19) and remember that whatever we deserve for the good or bad things we have done in our period here on earth, shall come unto us. They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life shall then receive their reward, but those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment, shall be condemned, find the path unto the resurrection of damnation (2 Corinthians 5:10; John 5:29).

We can only hope that when Jesus returns, we ourselves and many of our friends, shall be counted to those with faith (Luke 18:8) and belonging to the ones whose name is written in God’s book to be saved [L All who are found written in the book; C of life; Ex. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Da 10:21; Mal 3:16; Luke 10:20; Rev. 20:12.].

 

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Preceding

Matthew 10:11-15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Searching for the Sheep

Matthew 13:36-43 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Zizania in the Field Explained

Matthew 16:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Disciple Must Disown Self

Matthew 22:11-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: King’s Inspection and Marriage Garments

Matthew 24 about temples or Houses of God and the end of the age

Matthew 24:1-2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Desolation, Oppression and the Parousia – The Setting

Matthew 24:3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Desolation, Oppression and the Parousia – The Apostles’ Question

Matthew 24:4-8 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Part One – Beware Being Misled

Matthew 24:9-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Part Two – The Acts of the Apostles Foretold

Matthew 24:15-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Sign 1: Encamped Armies. The Sign Great Oppression Is Near

Matthew 24:29-35 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer Part Two – Sign 2: The Parousia. A Sign after the Great Oppression

Matthew 24:36-41 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: About That Day and Hour

Matthew 24:42-51 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Stay Awake!

Left in the dark or being in the dark seeing light

Separation of local judgment regarding 70 CE from the global ultimate-coming prophecies of the Second Coming and Final Judgment

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Additional reading

1. You know neither the day nor the hour
2. Only once and with consequences
3. With the gift of Jesus comes an awesome responsibility
4. Sign of the Times and the Last Days #1 The Son of man revealing
5. Signs of the Last Days
6. The days are coming
7. To be prepared and very well oiled
8. Devotees and spotters
9. The chosen ones to fear or not to fear
10. God my fence, my hope for the future
11. Dealings with ruling authorities
12. Rapture Exposed
13. Rapture what does it mean?
14. The Rapture or admittance with Christ
15. Gather together with Jesus Christ
16. Raptured in clouds

Matthew 15 An argument with the Scribes – Teachers and traditions

TRADITION AND THE HEART

[“The Mouth and the Heart”]
(Key Word: Traditions)

In the 15th chapter of Matthew we do find Pharisees and teachers of the law [scribes] who asked Jesus

“Why don’t your ·followers [disciples] obey the ·unwritten laws which have been handed down to us [traditions of the elders]?

When Jesus replies them he demands them why they do not obey God. Regularly Jesus is challenging the religious elites and leaders of his time here on earth. In certain countries they like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues or churches and the places of honour at banquets. Lots of them got accustomed to the praises of men, but at the same time had their passions for God cooled. By many we can see that even their knowledge of the Scriptures became self-serving. Also today we might see many who love to show that they have a high position or may say what others have to do or may not do.

Also today we find certain people who want to use their position to control people or others who keep to certain traditions but do not follow the Law of God. For Jesus it is clear that it is not what people put into their mouths [goes into the mouth] that makes them unclean [pollutes/defiles the person], but it is what comes out of their mouths that makes them unclean or pollutes/defiles the person.

For us today it is not bad to remember that Jesus in the beginning of our common era told his disciples to stay away from the Pharisees. We to should leave certain so called “theologians” aside or should ignore those who say what we have to do, but do not keep to it themselves. A nice example can be found in the Catholic Church were clerics told the people that they should behave themselves, whilst they misused children. Spiritual abuse or manipulation was and is for certain religious leaders their preferred tool. In many of the main churches we also see that their leaders or preachers are blind leaders or guides, like those Pharisees, who are called hypocrites by Jesus. We should know that if a blind person leads [guides] a blind person, both will fall into a ·ditch [pit; hole].

Today there are also lots of people who preach Christians do have not to do any works any more because they are saved. Though the master teacher Jeshua (Jesus) learns us that we should be very careful how we behave or what we do and what we say.

Out of the mind [heart] come evil thoughts [intentions; ideas], murder, adultery, sins, stealing, lying [false witness/testimony], and speaking evil of others [slander; blasphemy]. {Matthew 15:19}

We should remember that it are these things which make people unclean [polluted; defiled].

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Preceding

Matthew 14:35-36 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: If They Might Just Touch Him

Matthew 9:18-26 – What others say about Jesus knowing how to care for people

Matthew 9:32-34 – How others look at the blind, speechless and demoniac being healed

Object of first woe

Next: Matthew 15:1-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Tradition and the Heart

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Additional reading

1. Not making yourselves abominable
2. Memorizing wonderfully 61 – 1 Corinthians 6:9 Unrighteous shall not inherit
3. When having found faith through the study of the Bible we do need to do works of faith
4. Male domination and tyranny giving opportunities to defile the Name of God
5. Responsibility for children who were molested by clergy
6. Manifests for believers #1 Sex abuse setting fire to the powder
7. Manifests for believers #2 Changing celibacy requirement
8. Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church
9. Move ahead with the commitment against child sex abuse says Pope Francis I
10. Pope Benedict will hide
11. The Field is the World #4 Many who leave the church
12. Catholic church asking for forgiveness and promising to take action against child-abusers

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Related articles

1. Who are Child Sexual Abuse Predators?
2. Catholic Church sexual abuse cases
3. Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States
4. Catholic Church sex abuse cases by country
5. Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Boston
6. “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the religious elites, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” ~Jesus
7. The argument with the Scribes (Mk 9:14-9:14)
8. Blind Guides
9. “Watch out for the religion scholars.” ~Jesus
10. Jesus asks the Pharisees a question (Mt 22:41-22:41)
11. Today’s Scripture – May 1, 2018
12. The Disciples Understood
13. Unwashed Hands Questioned Again
14. It’s What’s on the Inside that Counts
15. Call no one profane or unclean
16. Unclean
17. Five Frequently Asked Questions About Religious Spiritual Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse
18. Domestic and Sexual Violence in the Church: A Sisterhood Reality Show Review

Matthew 13 – Parables on Kingdom mysteries

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
PARABLES ON KINGDOM MYSTERIES

Today we start looking at Jesus presenting some parables to those who were around him. In these times coming closer to the end times we do find lots of people who claim that they do not have to do any works any more because they are saved. For them it is clear that we do not have to do anything any more because (according to them) by the death of Christ all sins are forgiven, so it does not matter any more if we do some sins.

This thirteenth chapter for some Americans  bearing a number that brings misfortune, may bring bad luck in the end of their life, because they did not want to see that they still had to do a lot of work to make sure to go through the small gate of the Kingdom of God.

The followers and disciples of the Nazarene master teacher wondered why this eloquent rabbi so many times told stories which where not always so clear or were in a form of a parable. When the talmidim asked their master why he used stories to teach the people and spoke to them in parables, Jesus answered,

“You have been chosen [L It has been granted/given to you] to know [understand] the secrets [mysteries] about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot know these secrets [L it has not been given/granted to those others].

With such a remark you may question who might be chosen to get to know those secrets Jesus was talking about. We must know that Jesus was sent by his heavenly Father to bring the Good News of the Kingdom of God. That Only One True God gave the whole world His son. He was not for just a few. But it is up to all people to come to recognise the sent one from God and to accept him as the sent one from God and as the son of God. Depending on what people want to believe and who they want to follow they shall either be able to receive insight and come to understanding, or as Jesus warns those around him, when they prefer to hold fast on human traditions and human teachings instead of Scriptural teachings they will not be able to see clear, because first of all those human dogma‘s make it often very confusing for people or trick them in the wrong teachings. The apostle Matthew tells us in the previous and this chapter that we should open our ears and eyes and come to see the one who God has sent, so that by listening to the words of the master (instead of those of so called theologians) God shall see the heart of each individual and let His calling ripen so that understanding will be given more, and they will have all they need [an abundance]. But those who keep doubting or do not accept that Jesus is the sent one from God shall have more difficulties to understand what is said. Those who close their heart for God and His sent one shall receive not so much understanding. We are even warned it can be worse, namely that even the knowledge or understanding they have will be taken away from them. This is why Jeshua (Jesus Christ) uses stories to teach the people [L speak in parables]: because we might see a lot of people who look, but do not really want to see and to perceive.

Today we do find lots of godless people, but also lots of people who call themselves Christian, but do not adhere the teachings of Jesus Christ, neither do they worship the God of this Nazarene master teacher from the tribe of David. Jeshua, being born in a devout Jewish family (Essene family) worshipped the Only One True God Who is One and not three. He also wanted people around him to come to know that One God of Israel. He too could see that lots of people loved human traditions and preferred to keep to the words of philosophers and people who worked in the temples, but had introduced own findings in their teachings instead of keeping to the Torah.

Those people who liked those in charge of the temple and loved what they wanted to hear instead of loving what the Torah really said are exactly the same as the ones who today hang on the lips of the clergy but do not read the Bible or Word of God. They hear, but they don’t really hear or understand. So we can see how the things Isaiah said in his prophecy were already fulfilled in Christ’s days, but still count for today too.

In these present times we also see lots of people who have taken them their own idols and gods and who are drifting about from one sort idea or hype to an other. They might sometimes listen with half an ear or go from one group to an other to listen and to keep on hearing or listen intently, but they will not understand.

We should listen to Jesus carefully and take care that we shall not become some one he could see around him who was looking but not seeing. Let us make sure that we look intently and have ears for what Jesus as son of God and authorised person of God has to tell us. Let us make sure that we come to hear, see and learn to perceive and comprehend.

We should not mind what others do find about our belief. Believing in only One God shall not be liked by many. Those who follow Jesus as their brother and not as their god shall receive a lot of opposition. Many shall try to thwart those who accept Jesus as the son and do not take him as their god. For the minds [hearts] of these people have become stubborn [dull; calloused; hardened] and we should know that they do not [hardly] hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their minds [with their hearts] and come back [turn; return] to Jesus and be healed, because the God of Israel is a God of order and God of clarity, loving His children and prepared to receive them back, when they where gone. But the world shall have to know that good and evil shall become separated. It is totally wrong to think that all people would come into heaven or into the Kingdom of God. Therefore Jesus gives us all those stories or parables so that we shall come to see and understand that we should be working at ourselves and have to be building ourself up in good soil, so that we can grow properly and become fruitful.

In Mark and Luke (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37) we learn that people were astonished at Jesus his teaching because his message had authority. We may not forget that this authority came from his heavenly Father, Jehovah God. Those who were given to him to listen to him he told about the Law (Matthew 5:17-20) of which Jesus did not come to abolish this or the Prophets, like those who say we do not need to do works believe. They forget that Jesus came to fulfil those writings and to make clear what we should or should not. In the fifteenth chapter we shall come to hear Jesus talking about purity and hear his warning against false teachings. In chapter 18 comes then the parable of the person who cannot forgive. Luke gives us the parable of the good Samaritan and is not afraid to show how Jesus criticises the religious leaders and tells the story of the rich fool, like we may encounter many (Luke 12:13-21).

Too many people do forget that they have to prepare themselves for the return of Christ (Luke 12:35-48). Too many people do forget what it means to walk on the right path, which is only a narrow road and that all people shall have to make their own choice and should make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because Jesus tells us that many will try to enter and won’t be able. And that is a recurring idea in the teachings of Christ.  (Luke 13:22-30)

It is not because Matthew does not tell about the parable of the lost coin, showing the importance to repent (a work to be done) (Luke 15:8-10) or the lost son (Luke 15:11-32) (to return to the Father) or about the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-18) that we must not pay attention to the stories and warnings not told by Matthew.

To come to know the secret of the kingdom of God which has been given to the apostles we should learn from all those parables, not forgetting to look for willing to understand and to perceive.

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Preceding

True God giving His Word for getting wisdom

Daily portion of heavenly food

From Bibles and other religious writings and those who witness for Jehovah

Matthew 11– Intro to The Nazarene’s Commentary: Encouragement for John and Reproach for cities

Matthew 12:46-50 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Family of Messiah

False teachers and false prophets still around

Christians having the right heart to call others to go to God

Sharing the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge

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Additional reading

1. Souls and Religions with Nirvana and light
2. Blindness in the Christian world
3. Fog, brass and light for the eyes
4. Science, belief, denial and visibility 2
5. Coming to understanding from sayings written long ago
6. the Bible – God’s guide for life #9 Gospels not only place to find ‘the mind which was in Christ’
7. The Metaphorical language of the Bible
8. Jehovah steep rock and fortress, source of insight
9. Daily Spiritual Food To prepare ourselves for the Kingdom of God
10. Words to inspire and to give wisdom
11. Digging in words, theories and artefacts
12. Hearing words to accept
13. Outflow of foundational relationship based on acceptance of Jesus
14. Atonement And Fellowship 3/8Missional hermeneutics 2/5What is a Christian?
15. Only six of ten commandments of God still important to British Christians
16. Not being saved by faith in Christ alone
17. When having found faith through the study of the Bible we do need to do works of faith
18. Two states of existence before God
19. Sanctification and How To Pursue It
20. Responsibility bigger than those who talk about worldly matters
21. Thought for those who think it is not necessary to do any works any more
22. Today’s thought “Blessed people …” (July 27)
23. Knowing The Truth and Loving The Truth
24. Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
25. Actions to be a reflection of openness of heart
26. A race not to swift, nor a battle to the strong
27. At the end of your life

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Related reading

1. Jesus Didn’t Tell Parables for the Reason You Think
2. Are You Teaching Your Kids About the Parables of Jesus?
3. Of Sheep and Parables
4. I Dare You: The Parable of the Lost Coin
5. Hidden in Plain Sight
6. Matthew 13: Parables
7. 5 major mistakes while interpreting the Bible
8. It stopped with them Only Listening
9. Deceiving Yourself
10. What Would Jesus Say?
11. Mysticism Needs No Defense
12. Kingdom of God
13. ​ Which one are you?
14. Class: Parables of Jesus, Matthew 13
15. When the Kingdom of God Dominates Your Life
16. Do You Believe in the Divine Conspiracy?
17. The Father Delights to Give Us the Kingdom
18. “And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?” ~Jesus
19. What Jesus Said
20. “Thou Lovest Righteousness and Hatest Wickedness”
21. what we see often depends on how we look
22. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” ~Jesus
23. Unlearning to Learn
24. Fruitful Living
25. The Kingdom of God is like a Farmer Growing Crops
26. Four Prayers Based on the Parable of the Soil-Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8)
27. “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them.” ~Jesus
28. Matthew 13丨C. H. Spurgeon
29. Matthew 13丨John Calvin
30. When God is Important to Us, We Find Joy
31. Upside Down Kingdom Parables: No Cost Too Great
32. Choose the Giver over the gift.
33. Upside Down Kingdom Parables: Wheat and Weeds (pt. 1)
34. Listen
35. Don’t Be Surprised By Gospel Rejection
36. AW Pink (1886-1952): The Prophetic Parables (p1)
37. Cultivating Your Heart for a Spiritual Harvest
38. God’s Kingdom: the Word
39. Matthew 15: Watch your mouth
40. Understanding Parables
41. Trained By The Rabbi
42. Matthew 25:1-13 ESVThe World as the Field

Paul’s warning about false stories and his call to quit touching the unclean thing

Paul’s warning about false stories is in the first letter he wrote to Timothy, a Christian elder. Paul told Timothy to keep the congregation clean and to help his brothers and sisters to stay loyal to Jehovah.

1 Timothy 1:18, 19: 18 This instruction* I entrust to you, my child Timothy, in harmony with the prophecies that were made about you, that by these you may go on waging the fine warfare,+ 19 holding faith and a good conscience,+ which some have thrust aside, resulting in the shipwreck of their faith.

The Greek word that Paul used for “false stories” means “a lie” or “a made-up story.” One book says that a false story is a religious story that has no connection with what is real. (The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia) Perhaps Paul was thinking about the religious lies that came from old stories that people made up and that made others curious.*

Paul said that these stories were dangerous because they “furnish questions for research.” This means that people who pay attention to these stories start having questions about things that are not true and then use their time trying to find the answers.

The adversaries of God (also called Satan) do like to bring division in those who are looking for God and into those who want to be part of the Body of Christ. Christendom has lots of preachers who worship another god than Jews, like Jesus worshipped only One True God. They follow lots of human teachings which where brought into the religion by the years, by so called “theologians” who claimed to be clergy ordained by God.

We must be fully aware that there are lots of people who like to twist the words of the bible, which we consider the infallible Word of God. They offer the world a false religion to fool people. That is why the Bible says that he makes himself into “an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14) For example, the religions of Christendom say that they follow Christ, but they teach lies like the Trinity and hellfire. They also teach that some part of humans lives on after the death of the body. Many think that Christmas and Easter please God, but the things that people do during these celebrations really come from false worship. False stories will not fool us if we pay attention to God’s warning to separate ourselves from false religion and

“quit touching the unclean thing.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).

When we hear the majority of people we may get the impression it all does not matter so much. But we may not be mistaken. God gives enough warnings and lets the world know that He is a serious God of order who wants people to recognise Him as the Only One true God. As a jealous God He also does not like it that graven images or pictures are  made of Him and other gods to pray to Him and other gods. He detest any form of heathen worship. But lots of people want to convince you and others that it does not matter to participate at those many heathen festivals, like Halloween, Christmas, Easter and so on. They want you to believe all those stories about Santa Claus, the elf’s, Easter bunnies do no harm. Such teachers are the ones Paul and other apostles warn for. Because they allow wrong actions to be done by you, and you to be a partaker of heathen festivals, which is an abomination in the eyes of God.

A map of the world, showing the major religions distributed in the world as of today. A different type of map which views only the religion as a whole excluding denominations or sects of the religions, and is colored by how the religions are distributed not by main religion of country etc. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We may never forget that the first and biggest lie, which false teachers bring is:

You can do whatever you want; you decide what is right and what is wrong.

We often hear this on television, in movies, in magazines, in newspapers, and on the Internet. Because we hear this lie all the time, it is easy for us to start to think that way and follow the immoral ideas of the world. But the truth is that we need God to tell us what is right and what is wrong.

Jeremiah 10:23: 23 I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.+

The second lie is:

You are now saved and free to do whatever you want. God will never change anything on the earth.

This idea makes people think only about today. They do not care about the future or about pleasing God. Several preachers wants the Christians to believe they are saved for ever and have not to worry any more about what they do or if they sin, because according to those false teachers they always will end up in heaven.

Such thought of not having to do any works of faith is a false teaching which lures lots of Christians in not bothering any more to do good and to avoid doing wrong. Lots of people start to think like them and then become “inactive or unfruitful” in their service to God. They become partakers of this world corrupt system, avoiding you to escape the entrapments of this world.

2 Peter 1:4-8-11: 4 Through these things he has granted* us the precious and very grand promises,+ so that through these you may become sharers in divine nature,+ having escaped from the world’s corruption produced by wrong desire.* 5 For this very reason, put forth all earnest effort+ to supply to your faith virtue,+ to your virtue knowledge,+ 6 to your knowledge self-control, to your self-control+ endurance, to your endurance godly devotion,+ 7 to your godly devotion brotherly affection, to your brotherly affection love.+ 8 For if these things exist in you and overflow, they will prevent you from being either inactive or unfruitful*+ regarding the accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 For anyone lacking these things is blind, shutting his eyes to the light,*+ and has become forgetful of his cleansing from his sins+ of long ago. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling+ and choosing sure for yourselves, for if you keep on doing these things, you will by no means ever fail.+ 11 In fact, in this way you will be richly granted* entrance into the everlasting Kingdom+ of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.+

False teachers blind people or shut their eyes for their actions and for abstaining from certain actions the people of the world like to do. They give the impression it does not harm to be of this world and to partake into all the actions of this world.

Peresopnytsia Gospels. 1556-1561. Miniature of Saint Matthew. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Already early in the beginning of manhood man became to dread the presence of God because they were under His wrath. The children of Adam and Eve present to us a picture of good and false religion. Cain his offering was not done in the right way and was rejected, which made him furious and made him to kill his brother Abel. Later in history man sought all sorts of ways to elucidate things he could not understand and therefore started making different gods. They also started to split the elements of nature into characters of God, often giving reason for them to worship elements of natural phenomenons and creating ones-more false gods. Trying to declare the events in our world lots of philosophies were brought forward. Many people got carried away by such philosophies and by teachers using lots of such theories. Also today we can see that false teachers take many captive through their words full of philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on the teachings of the Jewish Nazarene Jeshua, Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:8-9: 8 Look out that no one takes you captive* by means of the philosophy and empty deception+ according to human tradition, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ; 9 because it is in him that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily.+

Neither Jesus nor his disciples ever quoted oral Jewish tradition to support their teachings but, rather, appealed to the written Word of God. (Mt 4:4-10; Ro 15:4; 2Ti 3:15-17) It is the Word of Gdo as presented in the Scriptures which we should hear and take into account.

Mt 4:4-10: 4 But he answered: “It is written: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from Jehovah’s* mouth.’”+

5 Then the Devil took him along into the holy city,+ and he stationed him on the battlement* of the temple+ 6 and said to him: “If you are a son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: ‘He will give his angels a command concerning you,’ and, ‘They will carry you on their hands, so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.’”+ 7 Jesus said to him: “Again it is written: ‘You must not put Jehovah* your God to the test.’”+

8 Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.+ 9 And he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah* your God you must worship,+ and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”+ 11 

Jesus as the son of God never wanted to test God and preferred doing God His will, not his own will. Jesus gave an example to us how we, like him, should obey only Jehovah God and not try the Most High God to see how far we can go or what we can do to better ourselves. All people should come to understand not human teachings are going to bring the all life saving knowledge. Man should know that the Most High God provided all knowledge man should know to come to live a proper life giving him the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God.

Ro 15:4: 4 For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction,+ so that through our endurance+ and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.+

Though it might ask patience fro mus it are the writings in those old manuscripts, reprinted in the different Bible translations, which shall bring hope and comfort. We must pay full attention to those words in that Book of books, Bestseller of all times, that was written for our instruction in order that through the steadfastness and encouragement in the scriptures we may have hope. False teachers do bring false hope and might even take away the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God, because you going in against the Will of God.

From the early gatherings of the followers of Christ we can see that observance of the unscriptural Jewish traditions amounted to a “fruitless form of conduct” that Jewish persons had ‘received by tradition from their forefathers [Gr., pa·tro·pa·ra·doʹtou, “given along from fathers”].’

1Pe 1:18:  18 For you know that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were set free*+ from your futile way of life handed down to you by your forefathers.*

The “things given aside” (The Greek word pa·raʹdo·sis means, literally, “a thing given beside”) and hence “that which is transmitted by word of mouth or in writing.” (1Co 11:2, Int) we should be very careful with and always compare it with what is written in the Bible. The word paradosis as used in the Christian Greek Scriptures is applied to traditions that were proper or acceptable aspects of true worship, as well as to those that were in error or were followed or viewed in a way that made them harmful and objectionable. the false teachers are those who present such sayings which are in error with the bible, God’s Word.

Several Jews, upon becoming Christians, abandoned many false Jewish traditions. When some false teachers in Colossae urged taking up that form of worship, Paul warned against “the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men.” Though evidently he meant, especially, the traditions of Judaism (Col 2:8, 13-17) we also can transpose it to the Celtic and Germanic traditions which were integrated by the false church, first the Catholic Church and later also not abandoned by many protestant churches.

Viewing tradition in the sense of guidelines handed down orally or by example, the information that the apostle Paul received directly from Jesus could properly be passed on to the Christian congregations as acceptable Christian tradition. This was so, for example, regarding the celebration of the Lord’s Evening Meal. (1Co 11:2, 23) The teachings and example set by the apostles constituted valid tradition. Thus, Paul, who had personally toiled with his hands so as not to be a financial burden on his brothers (Ac 18:3; 20:34; 1Co 9:15; 1Th 2:9), could urge the Thessalonian Christians

“to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition [pa·raʹdo·sin]” they had received. One who would not work was plainly not following the fine example or tradition of the apostles. (2Th 3:6-11).

Each of us shall have to decide fro himself or herself in which way he or she wants to follow human teachings and human traditions or the Word and the Will of God. Those who want to call themselves Christian should know that God’s Word should come in the first place. all should also know that when one chooses to follow human doctrines, like the one of the Trinity a.o., it shall be decisive for what happens with that person. We always should remember

Mark 7:7-8: 7 It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.’+ 8 You let go of the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men.”+

Isaiah 29:13: 13 Jehovah says: “This people approaches me with their mouth, And they honor me with their lips,+ But their heart is far removed from me; And their fear of me is based on commands of men that they have been taught.+

Following false teachers shall not bring us far. Just the other way around, it shall bring us on the wrong track, further away from the entrance to the Kingdom of God.

The truth is that Jehovah will soon change things on the earth, and we must show by the way we live that we really believe that there is Only One True God above all gods and that He had sent His only begotten son, who did not do his own will (which he would have done when he – Jesus -would be God) and gave his body as a ransom for our sins to liberate us from the enslavement of sin and the curse of death. In that son of man we should find our hope, because God authorised him to be a high priest for God and a mediator between God and man. We may be looking forward to the time this man of flesh and blood, who was taken up in heaven to sit next to God, shall come back to the earth to judge the living and the dead. Make sure that you are ready for that time.

Matthew 24:44: 44 On this account, you too prove yourselves ready,+ because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.

Mark 13:35: 35 Keep on the watch, therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming,+ whether late in the day or at midnight or before dawn* or early in the morning,+

Make sure you prove yourself ready by being alert, always on the lookout,

Mark 13:33: 33 Keep looking, keep awake,+ for you do not know when the appointed time is.+

Romans 13:11 : 11 And do this because you know the season, that it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep,+ for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became believers.

1 Thessalonians 5:6: 6 So, then, let us not sleep on as the rest do,+ but let us stay awake+ and keep our senses.+

*

Footnote:

• The book of Tobit, or Tobias, which some people think is part of the Bible, is an example of the false stories that existed in Paul’s time. It was written about the third century before Christ. This book is full of false beliefs and stories of magic. It tells impossible stories but says that they are true.

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Preceding articles

Matthew 7:13-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #1 The Narrow Gate and the way to destruction

Matthew 7:15-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #2 False prophets and fruitage

Matthew 7:13-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #3 Matthew 7:21-23 The ones Jesus never knew

Position and power The early days of Christianity

False teachers and false prophets still around

Good or bad preacher

Teachings, prophets, wolves in sheep’s covering and a narrow gate

2015 the year of ISIS

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Additional reading

1. Warning
2. Should We Love The Ungodly?
3. Satan Has Many Roads That Lead To Him But Jesus Only Has One
4. Settling for Less
5. Fundamentals of Iglesia Ni Cristo. 26 Points Contrary to the Holy Bible.
6. Beware of Counterfeit Catholicism
7. Prophecy or Divination?
8. The beginning of false religion
9. High-living North Carolina ‘prosperity gospel’ pastor indicted for bilking church in massive tax fraud scam
10. Being Religious and Spiritual 6 Romantici, utopists and transcendentalists
11. Lord in place of the divine name
12. Displeasures and Actions of the Almighty God
13. Relapse plan
14. Perishable non theologians daring to go out to preach
15. Halloween custom of the nations
16. Christmas in Ancient Rome (AKA Saturnalia)
17. Great things, Voice of God and terrors
18. Satan the evil within

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Further related posts

1. My experience today with detecting cults / false churches
2. Brian Leonard Golightly Marshall False Messiah Part 1
3. The Warlord Of Religion 
4. True and false religion
5. It’s Never been about Religion!
6. Cookie a day: Topic-Man-Made Tradition
7. Speck In Your Eye
8. “Westboro Baptist Church cheers on Hurricane Irma via Twitter”
9. Calvinism & Christianity
10. If God spoke to us audibly
11. Why Are there So Many “Gods” & Religions?
12. Know God in a Year #191 Religion Gone Bad
13. Church History is good to know
14. Confounding the Idols: A Rebuke of the Impotency of the Modern Church
15. What Is A False Prophet?
16. “Cain,Tubal Cain, Mystery Babylon & The Image of the Beast”
17. Confident Evangelism: Roman Catholicism
18. What makes a false religion, false?
19. Babylon Is Fallen
20. The Danger Of Hyper-Grace
21. Falling for Anything

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• Why should we hate ourselves for tribe, religion, others – Maku
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• Mike Lee warns Democrats: Your hostility to religion makes average Americans feel despised by their leaders
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Matthew 7:13-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #3 Matthew 7:21-23 The ones Jesus never knew

MT7:21 Not everyone saying to me, ‘Master, Master!’[1] will enter the Heavenly Realm but the one doing the will[2] of my heavenly Father. MT7:22 Many will say to me in The Day:[3] ‘Master, Master, did we not prophesy in your name?[4] And, in your name cast out demons?[5] And, in your name did many dynamic works?’[6] MT7:23 And then I shall confess to them: “I never knew you![7] Get away from me,[8] those working unlawfully!”[9]

[1] Master, Master: They are clearly Christians who recognize that “Jesus is Lord!” This address of the King is seen of the goats in Matthew 25:44.

[2] The one doing the will: It is not enough to confess, ‘Jesus is Lord.’ (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3) The Nazarene will not accept such a double confession if the life and works are lawless and contradictory to the profession. Not words, but doing the will are vital (James 1:22) and this “doing” involves refraining from slander and caring for the needy (James 1:26-27).

[3] The Day: This likely refers to the parousia-Judgment upon the Return of the Lord (Matthew 12:36; 16:27; 24:46-51; 25:1-46; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 John 2:28; 4:17; Revelation 11:18). The word “day” is used often with regard to the Return of Christ in his foretold Parousia (1 Corinthians 1:8; 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 1:6, 10; 2 Peter 3:7, 12; Revelation 6:17). The evidence seems to suggest that both the righteous and unrighteous will have opportunity to express themselves, whether outspokenly or in shame (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 John 2:28).

[4] Did we not prophesy in your name: Unfortunately it was false prophecy (Luke 21:8). Various renderings: TCNT: was it not in your name that we taught; PHI: didn’t we preach in your name; TCNT: we did miracles. The word “prophet” literally means “to speak before” others and not necessarily foretell events by inspiration. Men who claim to be “the Anointed,” and speak by Christ’s authority, and point to a multitude of “works,” and preach “Christ is here!” and, “The Appointed Time is near!” may need to reexamine themselves before their Lord actually arrives.

[5] Cast out demons: Many are the evangelists and prophetic preachers who point to their exorcisms as signs authorized by Christ. Many of these point to Mark 16:17, ‘And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.’ (KJV; this is a highly questionable text which is omitted in many translations because it does not occur in older reliable mss). However, a comparison of modern texts all will agree this portion was not among the original words of the Nazarene. Paul states that such signs ‘will cease,’ and are, ‘childish.’ (1 Corinthians 13:9, 11) Paul further identifies ‘the Man of iniquity’… with inworking dynamic works of Satan’s lying signs and portents. (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10) The Nazarene himself warns that such “signs” are misleading and will be part of the claims of the pseudo-Anointed and false prophets (Matthew 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22).

[6] Dynamic works: This is DYNAMEIS in Greek and is usually translated “powerful works” or “miracles.” The term could include any “works” requiring a dynamic effort: international publishing, electronic and satellite communication, great real estate holdings, enormous growth, etc.

[7] I never knew you: That is, the Nazarene never had a real relationship with these claimants despite their loud protestations to the contrary. The Nazarene Saint need not give a defense before the Judgment of Christ for his works of love and charity will be known by his Lord (Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 9, 15).

Various renderings: TCNT: then I shall say to their faces; RHM: never have I acknowledged you; KNX: you were never friends of mine.

[8] Get away from me: A fearsome thing to hear! (Matthew 25:45, 46) Various renderings: TCNT: go from my presence; NEB: get out of my sight that traffic in wrong-doing; PHI: you have worked on the side of evil; BECK: you who are so busy doing wrong.

[9] Working unlawfully: There is no accusation that these had buried their talents but all the work and energy they expended were unlawful. They were “workers of lawlessness” but their work is misguided, or unlawful, and not what the Nazarene ordered. In Matthew it is “lawlessness” and in Luke it is “unrighteousness.” Compare Psalm 6:8 and Philippians 1:15 for two kinds of workers. To be a Friend of the Nazarene one must keep the 60 “commandments” found in the Gospels.

Exorcism by Katrin Alvarez, was awarded with the Allan Edwards Award in the Painting on the Edge competition in Vancouver, Canada in 2007.

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Preceding articles

Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 7: Matthew 7:1-5 Judgment and neighbor love

Matthew 7:12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Summary on the Torah’s Fulfillment

Matthew 7:13-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #1 The Narrow Gate and the way to destruction

Matthew 7:15-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #2 False prophets and fruitage

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Further reading

1. Not What We Say, but What We Do
2. Another perspective of Matthew 7:21-23
3. Weirdness that Happens when writing about Exorcists
4. Exorcisms and Demons
5. God’s Desires Are Far More Simple than Our Attempts to Appease Him
6. Empty Words Won’t Save You
7. Astral Philippines III (Exorcisms)
8. #168 – Victorian Spiritualism
9. Really? I didn’t know that the priests are ruling the Hell… ;dd Please, send there your rapists also.

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Related articles

• The Bible’s Prologue Concludes
• As God Promised (1) – Muoka Lazarus
• Signposts of the Kingdom