- Matthew 21:23 - 46
- Psalm 26:1 - 12
Matthew 21:23 - 46
Jesus is debating with, and attempting to teach, the elders and the priests of the temple he had just cleared out. These leaders of the temple did not recognize John the Baptist and they weren't going to recognize Jesus either. The bible says that they wanted to arrest Jesus but they were afraid of the crowds that were following him (21:46).
I understand that those living in the time that Jesus was born having disbelief and doubts about this man called Jesus and his fulfillment of the prophecies. I am sure I would have been skeptical too. What I don't understand is how these people can witness the miracles performed by Jesus and still not believe. Worse, not only do they not believe -- they want to prosecute -- and eventually it is done. We know it was God's plan all along but that doesn't mean it's any less heart breaking that there were those who longed for the suffering of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 26:1 - 12
In this Psalm David begs that the Lord not judge him the same as He judges the wicked, the evil doers, the liars and the murderers. I think that for most of my life I have really thought that I was this wicked person and my only hope was Jesus Christ and changing my wicked nature.
Well, my only hope IS Jesus Christ because without him I have no salvation. I know I am a sinner but I'm realizing more and more that I'm not as wicked a person as I thought I was. I remember a hearing a sermon when I was younger about how we are all so wicked and that even the newborn babe is wicked because we are sinners by nature.
Yes, we are all sinners. Yes, we cannot achieve salvation on our own because we have sinned and because we will sin for the rest of our lives. But I don't think that means that I am wicked. I have just seen over and over again lately how the Lord hates wicked people -- and it's people who have evil in their hearts and people who refuse to submit to the Lord.
There is no evil in my heart. There are sinful desires in my flesh but they don't burn all the way to my heart. My heart belongs to Jesus Christ, and it is finally time that I can shed the thought that I am wicked and realize that I am but a sinner. I think I finally realize that wicked people and sinners aren't necessarily the same thing.
Well, my only hope IS Jesus Christ because without him I have no salvation. I know I am a sinner but I'm realizing more and more that I'm not as wicked a person as I thought I was. I remember a hearing a sermon when I was younger about how we are all so wicked and that even the newborn babe is wicked because we are sinners by nature.
Yes, we are all sinners. Yes, we cannot achieve salvation on our own because we have sinned and because we will sin for the rest of our lives. But I don't think that means that I am wicked. I have just seen over and over again lately how the Lord hates wicked people -- and it's people who have evil in their hearts and people who refuse to submit to the Lord.
There is no evil in my heart. There are sinful desires in my flesh but they don't burn all the way to my heart. My heart belongs to Jesus Christ, and it is finally time that I can shed the thought that I am wicked and realize that I am but a sinner. I think I finally realize that wicked people and sinners aren't necessarily the same thing.
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