not everyone's financially savvy

Friday, April 28, 2023

TRAPS against CHRIST

On scribes and Pharisees:

Matthew 23:4

King James Version

4 For they bind heavy burdens

and grievous to be borne,

and lay them on men's shoulders;

but they themselves will not move them

with one of their fingers.

JESUS sought the lost.

And the sinful.

He was here for them.

He plucked Matthew from his old job.

Matthew 9:9

King James Version

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence,

he saw a man, named Matthew,

sitting at the receipt of custom:

and he saith unto him,

Follow me.

And he arose,

and followed him.

JESUS was a natural magnet for everyday folks.

Matthew 9:10

King James Version

10 And it came to pass,

as Jesus sat at meat in the house,

behold,

many publicans and sinners came

and sat down with him and his disciples.

Of course, his enemies disapproved of all that.

Matthew 9:11

King James Version

11 And when the Pharisees saw it,

they said unto his disciples,

Why eateth your Master with publicans

and sinners?

JESUS overheard, and replied:

Matthew 9:12-13

King James Version

12 But when Jesus heard that,

he said unto them,

They that be whole need not a physician,

but they that are sick.

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth,

I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:

for I am not come to call the righteous,

but sinners to repentance.

At another time, they trap Him again.

Matthew 22:15-17

King James Version

15 Then went the Pharisees,

and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

16 And they sent out unto him

their disciples with the Herodians, saying,

Master, we know that thou art true,

and teachest the way of God in truth,

neither carest thou for any man:

for thou regardest not the person of men.

17 Tell us therefore,

What thinkest thou?

Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar,

or not?

JESUS had a ready answer:

Matthew 22:18-22

King James Version

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness,

and said,

Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

19 Shew me the tribute money.

And they brought unto him a penny.

20 And he saith unto them,

Whose is this image and superscription?

21 They say unto him, Caesar's.

Then saith he unto them,

Render therefore unto Caesar

the things which are Caesar's;

and unto God the things that are God's.

22 When they had heard these words,

they marvelled, and left him,

and went their way.

Another trap set before the LORD, came from the devil himself.

Matthew 4:8-9

King James Version

8 Again,

the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain,

and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world,

and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him,

All these things will I give thee,

if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

In answer, JESUS put the devil in his place.

Matthew 4:10

King James Version

10 Then saith Jesus unto him,

Get thee hence, Satan:

for it is written,

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,

and him only shalt thou serve.

Now, you know what JESUS thinks of money.

You know what He thinks of worldly power.

You also know who owns the world.

Is it any wonder the world is the way it is?

Who do you follow?

JESUS and money

JESUS declared:

Matthew 6:24

King James Version

24 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.

What did JESUS think of money?

Did He think about finance?

How to support His ministry, and all?

As a child, I do know He was mighty mad one time.

John 2:13-16

King James Version

13 And the Jews' passover was at hand,

and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 And found in the temple

those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,

and the changers of money sitting:

15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords,

he drove them all out of the temple,

and the sheep, and the oxen;

and poured out the changers' money,

and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves,

Take these things hence;

make not my Father's house

an house of merchandise.

He could create money -- if He wanted to.

Matthew 17:24-27

King James Version

24 And when they were come to Capernaum,

they that received tribute money came to Peter,

and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

25 He saith, Yes.

And when he was come into the house,

Jesus prevented him, saying,

What thinkest thou, Simon?

of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute?

of their own children, or of strangers?

26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers.

Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27 Notwithstanding,

lest we should offend them,

go thou to the sea,

and cast an hook,

and take up the fish that first cometh up;

and when thou hast opened his mouth,

thou shalt find a piece of money:

that take,

and give unto them

for me and thee.

JESUS also called Matthew, a tax collector, to be His disciple.

Matthew 9:9

King James Version

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence,

he saw a man, named Matthew,

sitting at the receipt of custom:

and he saith unto him,

Follow me.

And he arose,

and followed him.

JESUS is my example for how to look at finance.

He is the BEST example of living by GOD's laws.

As such, the world tested Him a lot.

Hoping they'd trap Him.

As you shall see in the next post.

Image: Clipart Library

NO shame in ignorance

1 Peter 3:8

King James Version

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind,

having compassion one of another,

love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

This blog aims to put things in perspective.

Be not ashamed if you know nothing about money.

Did we know anything about it, when we were born?

Money was created for this world.

In GOD's world, there's no use for it.

If you can't seem to wrap your head around numbers, breathe easy.

The world was designed that only a few could.

And even if they think they could, they're no match for the LORD.

No one could be more pure, precise, and perfect than GOD.

They can try all they want, but they don't have His mind.

So, don't feel bad if you feel poor, are penniless, in debt, or can't seem to get things going.

The world was rigged for a few.

And we believers in JESUS are not included.

John 15:19

King James Version

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

Now, it's time to see what JESUS thought of money.

Head over to the next page.

Image: Clipart Library