"And you should not be afraid of those killing the body and the soul not being able to kill, however, you should fear rather the one being able both soul and body to destroy in hell."1
In context Jesus makes the point not to fear man, and if you are to fear anyone fear God, but God will not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love... Jesus continues by saying, "are not two sparrows sold for a small sum and one of them will not fall to the ground apart from the Father of you."2 God sees all, Trust in God, vengeance is his and he will avenge his children! If he knows the hairs on your head, surely he knows the plight of the afflicted, if he cares for the sparrow he cares for you. It is not the afflicted that should fear, but it is those who would afflict the afflicted, these men should fear God.
A great principle of truth is that truth loves the light, those who love the light come into the light, as their deeds are good. The light exposes the darkness therefore the darkness hates the Light. Authority that oppresses its people, though it claims to have the "light" deceives. One doesn't take light and put it in a secret place, but puts it on a lamp stand for all to see. Men who do things in secret, they do not put forth truthful vision, these are not good leaders. The Bible states without vision the people perish. Beware of these who act if only they have the authority to receive from God, it is like them hiding light in secret places, but the nature of light is that it is put on a lamp stand for all to see.
Some have called Nixon a visionary, he ran for president on a platform of the law and order, he appealed to what some called the "silent majority." These were the working class of the country who felt isolated from the racial issues, war protests, and the growing division between the poor and rich. Often men play on the fears of people, security, comfort... fear is a great motivator but not a true one. He won the election by a slight margin and promised unity but his presidency was plagued by things done in secret coming to light. He seemed to have a different vision than what he put forth to the people. Such is an example of light hidden in secret places. Light is to be put on a lamp stand for all to see.
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate. Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”3
God cares for the least of these, for the despised, those rejected by men, so much so that we see often God raises up the despised, like David, as such confounds the wise and strong. "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in His presence."4 This is Jesus, he was despised and rejected by men, he took on our sorrows, if God dwelt among us in such a way, surely we should not despise the poor and the afflicted. When we despise the least of these, we do not know him.
We are not to despise small beginnings, as character is formed in the refiners fire. Jeremiah spoke of a people who admit no wrong, they say "what have we done?" They claim to be wise, I know the way, follow me... but they all went their own course like a horse charging into battle. God told Jeremiah my people do not know my Justice.5 They had their own form of wisdom and prudence but did not seek God's justice. They say, "we are wise and the law of God is with us, but behold the pen of the scribe has made it into a lie."6 What kind of wisdom do they have? they have rejected the word of the Lord, they practice deceit for greedy gain, they say peace, peace, but there is no peace... They are men of the today who say God bless you, I am praying for you, while they turn their hearts from the poor and afflicted.
"Moreover, whoever might have the goods of the world and might see a brother of him having need and he closes up his heart, how is the love of God abiding in him?"7
A popular saying today is "speak the truth in love" but we see that love requires deeds. John explains such, "Little children we should not love in word nor in tongue but in deed and in truth."8 Faith without love does not please God. Truth acts in love and deed. So how I love is seen in how I treat my brother, especially over money, as our heart points to where our treasure is. If I hate my brother, the love of God doesn't abide in me, if I see my brother's need and turn my heart from him, the love of God doesn't abide in me. If I do not treat my brother the way I would want to be treated then I do not love him. I can not mistreat him because he owes me money. It can not be, because it is who Jesus is, to love the poor, the least of these.
"I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?"7
Now, religious people like to judge the drunkard and the sexual immoral, cast them out, give them over to Satan, I believe it makes them feel like the Pharisee, I am so good.... But what about these other sins in the church? A thief steals in secret but swindlers will steal while you are looking, a swindler takes by an open display of force.9 They are extortionists, men who run over the poor and weak, they say "it is your fault because you did not stand up for yourself," theirs is a survival of the fittest mentality, such contradicts the gospel being proclaimed to the poor, weak, and afflicted of our society. These are the Pharisee of Jesus' time, devouring widows homes for tithes, these are in the church today. Those who would exploit the widow, orphan, elderly, the poor and afflicted, God's children, Fear God! Vengeance is mine says the Lord.
Thy Will
In context Jesus makes the point not to fear man, and if you are to fear anyone fear God, but God will not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love... Jesus continues by saying, "are not two sparrows sold for a small sum and one of them will not fall to the ground apart from the Father of you."2 God sees all, Trust in God, vengeance is his and he will avenge his children! If he knows the hairs on your head, surely he knows the plight of the afflicted, if he cares for the sparrow he cares for you. It is not the afflicted that should fear, but it is those who would afflict the afflicted, these men should fear God.
A great principle of truth is that truth loves the light, those who love the light come into the light, as their deeds are good. The light exposes the darkness therefore the darkness hates the Light. Authority that oppresses its people, though it claims to have the "light" deceives. One doesn't take light and put it in a secret place, but puts it on a lamp stand for all to see. Men who do things in secret, they do not put forth truthful vision, these are not good leaders. The Bible states without vision the people perish. Beware of these who act if only they have the authority to receive from God, it is like them hiding light in secret places, but the nature of light is that it is put on a lamp stand for all to see.
Some have called Nixon a visionary, he ran for president on a platform of the law and order, he appealed to what some called the "silent majority." These were the working class of the country who felt isolated from the racial issues, war protests, and the growing division between the poor and rich. Often men play on the fears of people, security, comfort... fear is a great motivator but not a true one. He won the election by a slight margin and promised unity but his presidency was plagued by things done in secret coming to light. He seemed to have a different vision than what he put forth to the people. Such is an example of light hidden in secret places. Light is to be put on a lamp stand for all to see.
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate. Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”3
We are not to despise small beginnings, as character is formed in the refiners fire. Jeremiah spoke of a people who admit no wrong, they say "what have we done?" They claim to be wise, I know the way, follow me... but they all went their own course like a horse charging into battle. God told Jeremiah my people do not know my Justice.5 They had their own form of wisdom and prudence but did not seek God's justice. They say, "we are wise and the law of God is with us, but behold the pen of the scribe has made it into a lie."6 What kind of wisdom do they have? they have rejected the word of the Lord, they practice deceit for greedy gain, they say peace, peace, but there is no peace... They are men of the today who say God bless you, I am praying for you, while they turn their hearts from the poor and afflicted.
"Moreover, whoever might have the goods of the world and might see a brother of him having need and he closes up his heart, how is the love of God abiding in him?"7
A popular saying today is "speak the truth in love" but we see that love requires deeds. John explains such, "Little children we should not love in word nor in tongue but in deed and in truth."8 Faith without love does not please God. Truth acts in love and deed. So how I love is seen in how I treat my brother, especially over money, as our heart points to where our treasure is. If I hate my brother, the love of God doesn't abide in me, if I see my brother's need and turn my heart from him, the love of God doesn't abide in me. If I do not treat my brother the way I would want to be treated then I do not love him. I can not mistreat him because he owes me money. It can not be, because it is who Jesus is, to love the poor, the least of these.
"True faith is in deeds of love."9The greatest mistreatment of the poor occurs because of pride and the love of money. We think highly of ourselves when we look at the poor and exalt ourselves over them. As John says, those without sin deceive themselves, like the Pharisee we see in the temple, who thought himself righteous, look at me God, I give ten percent of all my goods, I am so good, you are so happy with me that I am not like this man... Also we see it in the mindset of the people of Jesus's time; when the temple falls on the men who were in debt, the people ask Jesus, surely these men were evil? They related their debt with being evil, now this tower falls on them, but Jesus responds, hypocrites, are you not also in debt? Surely we are in debt to God, such is the Grace of God and should this not be our mind-set? But are we not also hypocrites when we judge another for their debt, when we are in debt?
"I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?"7
Brother goes to law against brother, they attack one another, swindle one another, cheat and steal from one another, of course all of this before unbelievers. They can accept no wrong, nor admit no wrong, they are very prideful, pompous people, who love money and its glory. They look down on people, their nose in the air, they think themselves better than others. They do disgraceful things to men because of money, because of some debt owed to them they think they can break the greater commandments of God, but they condemn themselves, they are not wise, nor prudent men. "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" Paul writes, these will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived... nor thieves, nor the greedy... nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."8
Thy Will