The Pharisees' True Love

By Mary Vee
Luke 15

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.

Jesus had barely finished a story about a dishonest manager when a group of Pharisees listening in interrupted. They sneered and scoffed at the story. 

The other disciples of Jesus and I looked at them. We knew how much the Pharisees loved money. How they tricked the people into taking money to fill their own pockets instead of using the funds to help those in need or maintaining the Temple.

Jesus didn't turn away from them. He faced these men and said, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men."

Sady, the poor often believed the tales of the Pharisees. They longed to find another coin in the dust of their home to give to the priests so that a loved one could be forgiven or healed or... as if the money could do this. These poor would rather starve than see their loved one suffer. 

Jesus said, "But God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men, all the stuff you own and lavish before the world to see was paid for by the people who gave their last coins, thinking they were supporting the Temple. This is detestable in God's sight.

"Yes, the Law and the Prophets were taught until John the Baptist came, preparing the way for the Messiah. Since then, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached. You, though, are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others. What the people see and call monumental, God sees through and calls monstrous. 

"But there is now a compelling invitation to every man and woman. The good news about the kingdom of God. Know this, the sky will dissolve and the earth will vanish before one speck of the law fades. Can you keep the whole law?

"You cannot use your legalities to cover up your sins. Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery. The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. This is the law.
To explain his teachings, Jesus then told a story about a rich man. I'll write to you about this next time. 

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Nehemiah-Don't Be Sad, For the Joy of the Lords is Your Strength

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 8

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

The walls are finished, Israelites are living in the city, businesses are growing. 

Now that we felt like a nation, we needed to act like the nation God wanted us to be. Many of the people, including myself, didn't really understand what God expected from us. We'd mostly grown up in slavery in Babylon. Many Israelites were even born after our fathers had been taken as prisoners and had never seen this city before.

So, the time came to teach.

Photo Courtesy

A few years ago Cyrus, the king in Babylon at the time had sent the prophet Ezra to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple. Ezra is still here.

He and I met. We talked about the need to read the Law of Moses to all the people, to teach them the ways of God. 

We set up a time for all Israelites to meet in Jerusalem. It was the seventh month when we asked the people to gather in the square before the Water Gate. 

photo courtesy

On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest stood on a high wooden platform built for this very moment. Priests stood on his left and right. Ezra opened the book before men and women and children who could understand the words about to be read. Everyone could see him no matter where they stood. The people stood as he opened the book. 

Ezra started by praising the Lord, the great God. All the people lifted their hands and said, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

He read the Book of the Law of Moses aloud from daybreak till noon. The people listened, excited to hear every word.

Afterwards the Levites read from the Book of the Law of God, making the messages clear and giving meaning so the people could understand what was read.

Photo Courtesy

The people wept as they listened to the words of the law. Ezra and I were glad to see they were sorry, and wanted to help them move past their sorrow to see how much God loved them.

The Levites, Ezra, and I stood before the people. We said, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or cry. Instead, go and enjoy good food and sweet drink, and send food to those who have none. This day is sacred to our Lord. Don't be sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

When we'd convinced the people, they went away to eat and drink. They also sent food to those in need and celebrated with great joy because they now understood the words that Ezra first read to them.

Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version