All men that come in contact with their works shall be forced to draw conclusions as to the power that inspires them. And so the glory, the honor will be placed where it properly and exclusively, will be given to the Father in Heaven. Faith is the lamp; love is the light; the good works are the illumination. as little as the lamp can pride itself upon its light, so little can the Christian glory in their good works; All glory must be God's.
Your light, given to you from above, not to be used according to expediency, but to shine.
Jesus himself applies this parable: " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works. Matt.5:16. Good works Jesus has just urged. He now proceeds to give a definition of good works from the law. He makes clear his position with regard to the law: Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill the teaching of the kingdom, the Gospel which he came to proclaim, is a doctrine radically different from the teaching of Moses, but it doesn't invalidate the demands of the moral law as taught by Moses, it does not substitute a new moral law. Whatever, in the revelation of the 'Old Testament', is type and prophecy, finds its completions, its realization in Christ the redeemer. (Col. 2,17).He fulfills the prophets. The whole Old Testament is a divine revelation and has religious significance, which should find recognition and proper understanding in the New. So long as the earth shall stand, the sacredness of the scripture of olden times, shall remain so absolutely unimpaired that not even an iota , the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, nor a tittle, the slight projecting point on some of its letters, shall fall to the ground. Their is a story in the midst of of the proclamation, implying a fulfillment which was to be made, and was in fact made, in and through the person of Jesus Christ. 'In Christopher J.H.Wrights book ," "Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament writes," these are the words Jesus read. These were the stories he knew. These were the songs He sang, these were the depths of wisdom and revelation and prophecy that shaped his whole view of 'life. This is where He found his insights into the mind of Father God. The further you go in the understanding the "Old Testament, he says," the closer you come to the heart of Jesus. He says" ( After all, Jesus never really "read" New Testament). Which means the "Old Testament" was" Jesus " Bible."
In the mean time all men should know: 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.
Here is a conclusion. Since the above is Christ's view, He is bound to take a stand with references to the transgressors of that rule. He who sets aside even those commandments that seem small and of little import,he that disregards as much as one of the little horns or hooks, which change the meaning of an entire passage, falls under the condemnation, he is considered to be the least in the kingdom of heaven. For this teaching is essential in educating men as to the true righteousness of, life,, in holding up before Christians a proper rule of conduct: "Better known as Our "solid foundation' of our faith! we must stop, taking new members, Jamming them in Gospels, when they first come, and if they come back for three "Sunday's in a row, we put them on the board, as Church leaders, They couldn't tell Christ from Babe Ruth, if Christ was to come back, unless Ruth was wearing his Yankee hat! You know your "Church" is in trouble, if the Pastor, stops studying scripture, for the the next step, he stops praying, and then he involves the congregation in community outreach, to cover-up the real purpose of his ministry, the teaching of Christ!
The minister himself there would be the perfect realization of teaching and doing.
The chief accusation which Christ brought against these people, is recorded in many passages of the Gospels; cp. Matt.23: For I say :unto you,you shall not see me henceforth, to ye shall say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
But if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave the gift and go on your way and make up with your brother, then come back and offer your gift. The forgiving attitude is pictured from a happening which was very frequent among the Jews, which was thoroughly familiar, a Jew might bring his "Corban," his gift used of every kind of bloody and unbloody sacrifice which was brought to the Temple, Matt.8:4; 15,5; 23,8. But the very act of handing it to the officiating priest at the altar there comes in remembrance. It suddenly flashes into his mind that he has been guilty of an act or a word which might provoke a brother. The way to deal with situation might seem to be to keep on with the worship, get through it right away, then hurry and make peace with you brother.
Christ tells us to interrupt our worship and go on our way seeking forgiveness first, The implication of Christ is that the people were really kept under a false impression, by being permitted to draw the conclusion that they were listening to the exact words of Moses. The words here as stated are found in the law, Lev. 19, 12; Num. 30, 3; Deut.23,22. But the interpretation left much to be desired, it put no desire on inner truthfulness of the heart. Jesus insists that all hatred is contrary to all humaness, opposed to the spirit which he was striving to foster. His is a different law V. 44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that course you, do good to them that hate you. and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you. Cursing is met with blessing; hatred, which leads to injuries, with well doing, Abuse of all kinds, culminating from religious hatred, with prayer and intercession. For its object is always to find ways and means of of winning adversary and gain him for the Lord.
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