Matthew 6: 22-24

(Matthew 6: 22-24)

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

In Revelation chapter 13, the Antichrist knows that his time has come and tries to bring people to hell. Hell was not made for human beings, but to confine evil angels who have sinned in the kingdom of God. This land is like hell. Because all human beings follow the evil spirit.

Satan prevents the spirit in all humans from returning to the kingdom of God. As a last resort, the antichrist is to prevent people from buying or selling unless they receive the number, mark, or name of their name on their forehead or right hand.

These words also appear in Ezekiel. God sent an angel and said, "Let the city cry for the sins of this city, mark it on the forehead of those who cry, and do not judge them. For adults and small children, all those who sigh for the sins of this city and do not cry, kill them." The antichrist is saying that by imitating God's way.

Throughout the Bible, man's greatest idol is wealth. The god of wealth in Luke 16:13 is the word Mamon (Aramaic). The language of Ur in the Chaldeans where Abraham lived is called Aramaic. God says in Revelation 14.『 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 』 Those who serve riches will receive the mark, and those who serve God will not receive the mark. If you don't receive the mark, your body will live in hell on earth, but the spirit will be heaven.

Elijah was fed through the crows, and the exodus people ate the flavor that descended from heaven. But today people do not believe in God's providence. When an extreme situation comes in this world, I know whether my master is God or wealth.

Among the candidates to run for the US presidential election in 2020, the promise he made in the last election is to bring biometric chips to every human living in the United States. The chip is said to be used for medical or security purposes. However, the chip was said to have been procured from a Korean company. There has been a heated debate as to whether the issue of inserting the berry chip into the body is an apocalyptic 666 mark of generationalism or has nothing to do with religious salvation. However, if this chip develops a step further and integrates with the technology of A.I., it will be a different story.

After talking to Jesus and the rich young man, the official, Jesus said in Mark 10:21.『Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 』 This rich young man was an advanced official. He was a successful person. However, he longed for eternal life. He came to Jesus and knelt down and talked. At that time, Jesus said that because he loved him. Even though Jesus loved and spoke, the rich young man did not receive the words of Jesus. The word love is agape. But in Mark 10:22,『 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 』 He was an official, rich, and religious. But he left Jesus. Those who have idols of riches do not follow grace even if they receive grace. God doesn't see it in appearance. It means seeing the heart.

In Mark 10:23『And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God』 He cannot enter the kingdom of God. What are the criteria for riches? It will depend on whether it is connected to greed or not. If the rich or poor are greedy, they cannot enter the kingdom of God until they repent. What Jesus tells the rich young man is about wealth. Riches were used as mamons.

In Mark 10:24『And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God』 The disciples said, "Who would go to heaven if it was so difficult for the rich to go to heaven?" In this next chapter, Zacchaeus appears. Zacchaeus' interest was only Jesus. Zacchaeus was customs officer was judged by people. But Jesus saw Zacchaeus who was judged by people and came down from the tree. And, "Let's go to your house together." Zacchaeus himself said, "I will give half of my wealth to the poor."

The Lord comes to people like Zacchaeus. That day, Zacchaeus' house turned to heaven. It must be a joy to follow God's Word rather than to get riches. However, today we see many cases where many people in the Church do not follow God's Word to get riches. They take it for granted.

Those who have not repented of their riches are like the Hebrew people who did not exodus. Repentance for riches means abandoning greed for riches. Greed for riches comes from Satan. The basis of this greed is idolatry. When Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, the people made a golden calf idol and worshiped it. If people still worship God and still have greed for riches, it is no different from what they were then.

In Mark 10:25『It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.』 In this way, the church emphasizes tithing, and teaches, "You must pay your tithing thoroughly." This leads to the words "Caesar's things to Caesar and God's things to God." The word tithing seems to have become a proper noun. Is it tithing by law? Or is it a donation made with the righteousness and the heart of God? Jesus said, "Pharisees prefer money more." Abandoning greed for riches will be the way to salvation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Matthew 2:7-11

(Matthew 2:7-11) Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.   When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. In ancient times, gold, frankincense, and myrrh were mainly offerings to kings or gods. Biblical scholars say, "In 243 BC, the offerings of Seleucus II Callinicus dedicated to the Temple of Apollo in Miletus included gold, fra...
Read more

Matthew 2:1-6

  (Matthew 2:1-6) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,   Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (Matthew 2:1-6) Jesus came down to the earth according to the prophecy of the Old Testament 『 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler ...
Read more

Matthew 2:12-15

(Matthew 2:12-15) And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.   And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:   And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. "It might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." The prophet quoted by Matthew is Hosea. In Hosea 11:1 My son means a young Israeli community. It is to tell how God called the Israelites from Egypt in the past to "Israel apostate through Baal." “ Called ou...
Read more