2013.04.14
The Poor Widow´s Mite
Luke 21: 1- 4
Jesus is on the way
to the cross…… He is still the compassionate Suffering Servant of the LORD……
come to seek and save the lost….. He is still inviting sinners repent and cry
out to Him…. He continues to warn of the
consequences of refusing to repent and believe the Good News…. As we have studied
Luke 20……. Jesus has rebuked and shamed the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy……..
He pronounces judgment on them for refusing to repent…… But He is just like His
heavenly Father…… He has no pleasure in
the death of the wicked……. His joy is in the salvation of sinners….. Even
now at the end of His earthly ministry….. The Glorious Light of the Gospel is
going forth…. And some are repenting and believing….. And some are hardening
their hearts…..
Last week in the last
section of Luke 20…… we saw Jesus warning the people to beware of the scribes
and Pharisees……. He goes on teaching and warning the people as we continue on
in our text……I am going to start reading the last section of Luke 20 and then
continue into Luke 21….. Luke 20…..verse 45
Luke 20: 45- 47
NKJV
45 Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to
His disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long
robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues,
and the best places at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense
make long prayers. These
will receive greater condemnation.”
Luke 21: 1- 4 NKJV
1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their
gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two
mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more
than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,
but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”
Luke
20: 45- 47 Schlachter 2000
45
Als aber das ganze Volk zuhörte, sprach er zu seinen Jüngern:
46
Hütet euch vor den Schriftgelehrten, die gern im Talar einhergehen und die
Begrüßungen auf den Märkten lieben und die ersten Sitze in den Synagogen und
die obersten Plätze bei den Mahlzeiten;
47
sie fressen die Häuser der Witwen und sprechen zum Schein lange Gebete; diese
werden ein um so schwereres Gericht empfangen!
Luke
21: 1- 4 Schlachter 2000
1
Als er aber aufblickte, sah er, wie die Reichen ihre Gaben in den Opferkasten
legten.
2 Er
sah aber auch eine arme Witwe, die legte dort zwei Scherflein1 ein;
3
und er sprach: Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Diese arme Witwe hat mehr eingelegt als
alle!
4
Denn diese alle haben von ihrem Überfluß zu den Opfergaben für Gott
beigetragen; sie aber hat aus ihrer Armut heraus alles eingelegt, was sie zum
Lebensunterhalt besaß.
It is exactly Because
Jesus loves all of them in this crowd…. He
says….. You watch out…. They are hypocrites and liars….. They are full of pride
and greed…. Don´t be like them…. Today for us…. let´s not be like them…… We
can´t be pretenders…. We can´t be proud and stubborn…. Jesus warns the people to beware of the religious teachers…… He warned
against hypocrisy and pride and greed over and over again….. Then because
he is in the temple…. He sees a great example
for His teaching right in front of Him….. The poor widow….
In those days…… The
temple was the center of worship for the nation….. It is in the Temple that the
people went to confess their sins and to pray…. They came to the Temple to offer sacrifices and to give their
tithes….. It is in the Temple that they offered up fellowship offerings and
thank offerings…. Often the people would give money as a free will offering….. to say thank
you to the LORD for all that he has done for them…..
One part of the
Temple area was called the court of
women… It was where the 13 metal trumpet shaped boxes were placed…… The area
was called the treasury……Often the
scribes and Pharisees would make sure that everyone around them knew that they
we giving a lot! Trumpeting their gifts
before the people……. The huge numbers of coins would make a lot of noise going
down…. The Pharisees were very religious…….. The people respected them and
tried to follow them……
A main source of the Pharisees´ Pride was their rules and
rituals….. They were Very careful to obey the laws…. All 613 of them……. And
they washed and washed and washed….. I´m surprised they had any skin left on
their hands…. They were very critical of Jesus and the disciples for not being
obsessed with the law like they were……
Jesus saw into their hearts and told them to their
faces….. You sure look great on the outside…. Careful and clean on the outside….. But you are full
of wickedness on the inside….. They did everything to be seen by others as
Holy…..
Others like this
widow were humble and cried out to the Lord for mercy and help…… This widow quietly
gave everything that she had….. There are at least 2 great lessons for us
here….
1 This widow had great faith….. She gave everything
that she had….. She trusted the LORD!
2 It is not how much we give…. It´s our hearts…
Point 1…
1 This widow had great faith….. She gave everything
that she had….. She trusted the LORD! I´ll add that she gave joyfully….. He said this woman has given more than all of
them…… because the Lord saw right into her heart too…..
Many people in the
world today would look at this story and say…… What a foolish old lady……
Wasting the little that she had for the church(temple)….. But Here in the Word
of God….. we see who the real fools are…. Remember back in Luke 12…. Jesus told
a parable about the rich fool…… let´s look at the end of Jesus´ teaching….
The Bible says that
we can trust the Lord to provide for us……. turn to…. Luke 12…verse 20…
Luke 12: 20- 24
NKJV
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul
will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have
provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is
not rich toward God.”
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to
you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what
you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither
storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than
the birds?
Luke
12: 20- 24 Schlachter 2000
20
Aber Gott sprach zu ihm: Du Narr! In dieser Nacht wird man deine Seele von dir
fordern; und wem wird gehören, was du bereitet hast?
21
So geht es dem, der für sich selbst Schätze sammelt und nicht reich ist für
Gott!
22
Und er sprach zu seinen Jüngern: Darum sage ich euch: Sorgt euch nicht um euer
Leben, was ihr essen sollt, noch um den Leib, was ihr anziehen sollt.
23
Das Leben ist mehr als die Speise und der Leib mehr als die Kleidung.
24
Betrachtet die Raben! Sie säen nicht und ernten nicht, sie haben weder Speicher
noch Scheunen, und Gott nährt sie doch. Wieviel mehr seid ihr wert als die
Vögel!
Here in this text….. we
see who the real fools are…. Verse 21….
Luke 12: 21
NKJV Schlachter 2000
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is
not rich toward God.”
21
So geht es dem, der für sich selbst Schätze sammelt und nicht reich ist für
Gott!
The NLT translates
this verse….
Luke 12:21
NLT Neues Leben
21"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly
wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."
21
Ihr seht, wie dumm es ist, auf der Erde Reichtümer anzuhäufen und dabei nicht
nach Reichtum bei Gott zu fragen.«
We who have given our
lives to the LORD….. can trust The LORD to take care of us….. v 22
Luke 12: 22- 24
NKJV Schlachter 2000
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to
you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what
you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither
storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than
the birds?
Luke
12: 22- 24 Schlachter 2000
22
Und er sprach zu seinen Jüngern: Darum sage ich euch: Sorgt euch nicht um euer
Leben, was ihr essen sollt, noch um den Leib, was ihr anziehen sollt. 23 Das
Leben ist mehr als die Speise und der Leib mehr als die Kleidung. 24 Betrachtet
die Raben! Sie säen nicht und ernten nicht, sie haben weder Speicher noch
Scheunen, und Gott nährt sie doch. Wieviel mehr seid ihr wert als die Vögel!
The Lord says seek me
and don´t worry….. stop worrying….. How much more value are you than many
sparrows…..
This widow knew that
God the Father is the husband to the widow….. and the Father to the
fatherless…. She came to the Temple to
worship! To rejoice in His presence…..
Turn to Psalm 68…. V
4-6 english and 5-7 in German
Psalm 68: 4- 6
NLT
4Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing
loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His
name is the Lord— rejoice in his presence!
5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this
is God, whose dwelling is holy.
6 God places the lonely in families; he sets the
prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a
sun-scorched land.
Psalm
68: 5- 7 Neues Leben
5
Singt zu Gottes Ehre und lobt seinen Namen! Lobt den, der durch die Wüste
reitet. Herr ist sein Name, freut euch in seiner Gegenwart!
6
Vater der Waisen und Helfer der Witwen - das ist Gott in seiner heiligen
Wohnung.
7
Gott gibt dem Einsamen ein Zuhause; er befreit die Gefangenen und schenkt ihnen
Freude. Wer sich aber gegen ihn auflehnt, für den hält er Hunger und Not
bereit.
Look at verse 5……verse
6 German…
5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this
is God, whose dwelling is holy. 6
Vater der Waisen und Helfer der Witwen - das ist Gott in seiner heiligen
Wohnung.
She knew that God Himself is the defender of
Widows…… We heard that in the Psalm that
we read in the Worship time this morning….
Turn to Psalm 146….
Psalm 146: 1- 10 NLT
1 Praise the LORD! Let all that I am praise the LORD.
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will
sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there
is no help for you there.
4 When they breathe their last, they return to the
earth, and all their plans die with them.
5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as
their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God.
6 He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in
them. He keeps every promise forever.
7 He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the
hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.
8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts
up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the godly.
9 The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares
for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
10 The LORD will reign forever. He will be your God, O
Jerusalem, throughout the generations.
Psalm
146: 1- 10 Neues Leben
1
Halleluja! Meine Seele lobe den Herrn!
2
Ich will den Herrn loben, solange ich lebe. Ich will meinen Gott loben, solange
ich bin.
3
Setzt euer Vertrauen nicht auf die Mächtigen dieser Welt; sie können euch nicht
helfen.
4
Sie hören auf zu atmen und kehren wieder zur Erde zurück und mit ihnen sind all
ihre Pläne gestorben.
5
Doch glücklich ist der, dem der Gott Israels1 hilft, der seine Hoffnung auf den
Herrn, seinen Gott, setzt.
6 Er
hat Himmel und Erde gemacht, das Meer und alles, was darin ist. Seine Zusagen gelten
für immer!
7 Er
schafft den Unterdrückten Gerechtigkeit und gibt den Hungrigen zu essen. Der
Herr befreit die Gefangenen.
8
Der Herr öffnet die Augen der Blinden. Der Herr richtet die auf, die
verzweifelt sind. Der Herr liebt die Gottesfürchtigen.
9
Der Herr beschützt die Fremden unter uns. Er sorgt für die Waisen und Witwen,
aber er vereitelt die Pläne der Gottlosen.
10
Der Herr wird regieren für immer und ewig. Jerusalem2, dein Gott ist König für
alle Zeit! Halleluja!
What a wonderful
Psalm….. What wonderful promises…… Look at verse 2…. I will praise the Lord as
long as I live…… look at v5…. we can be joyful….. He is our helper…..
Then v6… He keeps
every promise Forever….
v7…. He gives justice
to the oppressed… He gives food to the Hungry… The Lord frees the prisoners…..
V 9…. He cares for
the orphans and widows….. Remember…. orphans and widows were the very least
likely to survive….. There was no one to care for them…… They were helpless and
totally dependent on God….. And on and on we can go….. He has promised I will
never leave you or forsake you…..
Praise the LORD! He is Risen…..
In the OT we see that
God used a widow who gave all that she had…… to care for Elijah during the
drought and famine…. turn with me to 1 Kings 17…
1 Kings 17: 8-16 NKJV
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9
“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have
commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to
Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there
gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little
water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called
to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not
have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and
see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for
myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as
you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and
afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of
Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run
dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’”
15 So she went away and did according to the word of
Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour
was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the
Lord which He spoke by Elijah.
1
Kings 17: 8-16 Schlachter 2000
8 Da
erging das Wort des Herrn an ihn folgendermaßen:
9
Mache dich auf und geh nach Zarpat, das bei Zidon liegt, und bleibe dort;
siehe, ich habe dort einer Witwe geboten, daß sie dich mit Nahrung versorgt!
10
Und er machte sich auf und ging nach Zarpat. Und als er an das Stadttor kam,
siehe, da war eine Witwe dort, die Holz sammelte. Und er rief ihr zu und
sprach: Hole mir doch ein wenig Wasser im Gefäß, damit ich trinken kann!
11
Als sie nun hinging, um es zu holen, rief er ihr nach und sprach: Bringe mir
doch auch einen Bissen Brot mit!
12
Sie aber sprach: So wahr der Herr, dein Gott, lebt, ich habe nichts Gebackenes,
sondern nur eine Handvoll Mehl im Topf und ein wenig Öl im Krug! Und siehe, ich
habe ein paar Holzstücke gesammelt und gehe hin und will mir und meinem Sohn
etwas zubereiten, damit wir es essen und danach sterben!
13
Elia sprach zu ihr: Fürchte dich nicht! Geh hin und mache es, wie du gesagt
hast; doch bereite mir davon zuerst einen kleinen Brotfladen und bring ihn mir
heraus; dir aber und deinem Sohn sollst du danach etwas machen.
14
Denn so spricht der Herr, der Gott Israels: Der Mehltopf soll nicht leer werden
und das Öl im Krug nicht weniger werden bis zu dem Tag, da der Herr es auf den
Erdboden regnen lassen wird!
15
Und sie ging hin und machte es so, wie Elia gesagt hatte. Und er aß und sie
auch samt ihrem Haus viele Tage lang.
16
Der Mehltopf wurde nicht leer, und das Öl im Krug wurde nicht weniger, nach dem
Wort des Herrn, das er durch Elia geredet hatte.
This widow believed
that she and her son were going to die…. She accepted the prophesy of Elijah
and obeyed by faith….. And because everything that a true prophet of god says
comes true……. It was exactly as Elijah said…..v 16
1 Kings 17: 16
NKJV Schlachter 2000
16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar
of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by
Elijah.
16
Der Mehltopf wurde nicht leer, und das Öl im Krug wurde nicht weniger, nach dem
Wort des Herrn, das er durch Elia geredet hatte.
Notice it was the Word of the LORD which He spoke by
Elijah…. The Lord used her faith to provide for her and her son and for
Elijah…..
Back to the text for today…. This widow put in all…. Everything that she had……
because of her great faith…… Let´s move on to the second point…..
2 It is not how much we give…. It´s our hearts…..
Luke 20: 45-47
NKJV
45 Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to
His disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long
robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues,
and the best places at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense
make long prayers. These
will receive greater condemnation.”
Luke
20: 45-47 Schlachter 2000
45
Als aber das ganze Volk zuhörte, sprach er zu seinen Jüngern:
46
Hütet euch vor den Schriftgelehrten, die gern im Talar einhergehen und die
Begrüßungen auf den Märkten lieben und die ersten Sitze in den Synagogen und
die obersten Plätze bei den Mahlzeiten;
47
sie fressen die Häuser der Witwen und sprechen zum Schein lange Gebete; diese
werden ein um so schwereres Gericht empfangen!
V46….. Beware of the
scribes (Schriftgelehrten)…. The Scribes
were the Pharisees of Pharisees….. They were the Pharisee´s Lawyers……. Experts in all matters of the law….. They
were hypocrites…. Pretending to be
Holy….. (Shine heilig)…. Loving the praise of men…… But they are the ones……v 47…
47 who devour widows houses…..
47 sie fressen die Häuser der Witwen houses…..
The Scribes were not
righteous….. they robbed the poor and defenseless… they were wicked and
greedy….. It is just after these warnings from Jesus to His hearers that He
watched how the rich gave in the Temple…. That brings us again to the widow…..
Why was she so very poor….? Did these Scribes and Pharisees devour her house……?
Maybe…… We know that the leaders of Israel were responsible to care for the
widows…. The very fact that this woman was so poor….. was an indictment against
the leaders of Israel….. turn to Exodus 22….v 22
Exodus 22: 22- 24
NLT
22 “You must not exploit (oppress or take advantage of
) a widow or an orphan. 23 If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to
me, then I will certainly hear their cry. 24 My anger will blaze against you,
and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your
children fatherless.
Exodus
22: 22- 24 Neues Leben
21
Unterdrückt auch keine Waisen und Witwen.
22
Wenn ihr es doch tut und sie zu mir schreien, werde ich ihren Hilferuf erhören.
23
Dann wird mein Zorn entbrennen, und ich werde euch mit dem Schwert töten
lassen, sodass eure Frauen Witwen und eure Kinder Waisen werden.
This was serious
business….. These Scribes and Pharisees knew that they were hypocrites…. They
knew the law very well…. They were already condemned because of their sin and greed…..
Not only were they not to take advantage of the orphans and widows…. They were
commanded to give to them……
turn to Deuteronomy
14: 28…..
Deuteronomy 14: 28, 29 NLT
28 “At the end of every third year, bring the entire
tithe of that year’s harvest and store it in the nearest town. 29 Give it to
the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the
foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they
can eat and be satisfied. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all your
work.
Deuteronomy
14: 28, 29 Neues
Leben
28
Am Ende jedes dritten Jahres sollt ihr die gesamte Ernteabgabe des betreffenden
Jahres in die nächstgelegene Stadt bringen und dort aufbewahren.
29
Sie ist für die Leviten bestimmt, denn sie besitzen kein Land und haben kein
Erbe unter euch, sowie für die Ausländer, die Waisen und die Witwen in euren
Städten, damit sie sich satt essen können. Dann wird der Herr, euer Gott, alles
segnen, was ihr tut.
Look at that…. The
leaders of Israel were to give some of the tithe to the widows….. Everywhere
you look in the law…. Deuteronomy chapters 14, 16, 24…….. we see God commanding
the people to leave a little of the harvest in the field…… and grapes on the
vine for the widows and the fatherless…. And the strangers in the land… It was
a specific command at Passover time as well….. And everytime the LORD says
leave some for the poor…. He promises to Bless them……
Let´s review the 2
points for today...
1 This widow had great faith….. She gave everything
that she had….. She Trusted the LORD!
2 It is not how much we give…. It´s our hearts…
1 This widow trusted
God not in men….. The leaders of Israel had failed to really love and serve the
People….. They really only used the people….
2 It has never been
about what we do or how much we give..….. We cannot be perfect….. We cannot be
good enough…. It has always been about our hearts…. Why we give…. Why we love
and serve…… If Jesus has given us a new heart and if His Holy Spirit is at work
in us…… Then we give and love and serve as unto the Lord……… That is a Sacrifice
that truly pleases the Lord……
Believers are blessed when they give from a pure
heart……. That is totally
different from the current popular lie…. This sinful idea of giving to force
God to bless you….. According to the Bible teachers today…… Those rich men had
every right to demand that God bless them 100 times more than they gave…..
Really?
Friends….. Jesus was
not blessing those rich men who gave in the temple for a show…..He warned
them….. He showed them their hearts…..
They needed to be
rebuked…… They needed to repent……
Jesus was even now offering them a chance to repent and cry out to him for mercy….. Remember our heavenly Father is
by nature a Savoir and a redeemer…… He calls to a wicked and rebellious people
over and over…. Why will you die….. Repent and live... Turn to Ezekiel 33….
v10
Ezekiel 33: 10,11 NLT
10 “Son of man, give the people of
Israel this message: You are saying, ‘Our sins are heavy upon us; we are
wasting away! How can we survive?’ 11 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign
LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to
turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness,
O people of Israel! Why should you die?
Ezekiel
33: 10,11 Neues Leben
10
Und du, Menschenkind, sag zum Volk der Israeliten: `Ihr sagt: Unsere Sünden und
unsere bösen Taten lasten schwer auf uns; wir sterben dahin! Wie könnten wir am
Leben bleiben?´
11
Sag zu ihnen: `So wahr ich lebe, spricht Gott, der Herr, ich freue mich nicht
über den Tod eines gottlosen Menschen, sondern ich freue mich viel mehr, wenn
er sein Verhalten ändert und am Leben bleibt. Kehrt um! Kehrt um und ändert
euer Verhalten! Warum wollt ihr sterben, Volk der Israeliten?´
Jesus is offering the
crowd even at this late hour a chance to repent and believe the Gospel…..
Remember…. The
religious leaders could not talk against
His words of Life….They were always left speechless……. And the religious
leaders never denied the miracles… How could they….. they knew the people that
He had healed…… Lazarus was right there…. So was the man born blind…… and on we
could go….. they were all around them….
They were very religious….. They were going about to establish their own
righteousness….. turn to Romans 10…v 1
Romans 10: 1- 4
NKJV
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for
Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For
I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to
knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of
God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who
believes.
Romans
10: 1- 4 Schlachter 2000
1
Brüder, der Wunsch meines Herzens und mein Flehen zu Gott für Israel ist, daß
sie gerettet werden.
2
Denn ich gebe ihnen das Zeugnis, daß sie Eifer für Gott haben, aber nicht nach
der rechten Erkenntnis.
3
Denn weil sie die Gerechtigkeit Gottes nicht erkennen und ihre eigene
Gerechtigkeit aufzurichten trachten, haben sie sich der Gerechtigkeit Gottes
nicht unterworfen.
4
Denn Christus ist das Ende des Gesetzes zur Gerechtigkeit für jeden, der
glaubt.
Jesus Christ is the
end of the law….. The goal……. The NLT says this…
Romans 10: 4 NLT
Neues Leben
4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for
which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right
with God.
4
Denn mit Christus ist die Absicht des Gesetzes vollkommen erfüllt. Wer an ihn
glaubt, wird vor Gott gerecht gesprochen.
It´s Jesus folks…… He is their only hope….. He is our only hope….. We
will never be righteous on our own…. We will never be good enough….
The truth is they v 3…..
Romans 10: 3b
NLT Neues Leben
v3b have not submitted to the righteousness of God. V3b haben sie sich der Gerechtigkeit
Gottes nicht unterworfen.
They did not want
this man to rule over them…. Romans chapter 1…. They just refused to repent and believe the Good News….. They hardened
their hearts…. That's the tragedy…. They
chose pride and rebellion and the things of this world……. over true
riches…..
Jesus is on the way to the cross….. to suffer and to die for our sins….. It is very
important to remember that the cross is
good news…… It is an invitation to come to Him…….. Remember Jesus saves everyone who truly comes to Him…… One
of my favorite Gospel invitations is in
the 5th Gospel Isaiah….. I would like to read it Isaiah 55….v 1
Isaiah 55: 1- 7
NLT
1 “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have
no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free!
2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you
strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will
eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.
3 “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and
you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give
you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
4 See how I used him to display my power among the
peoples. I made him a leader among the nations.
5 You also will command nations you do not know, and
peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
6 Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him
now while he is near.
7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very
thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on
them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Isaiah
55: 1- 7 Neues Leben
1
»Auf, ihr Durstigen, kommt zum Wasser! Geht los, auch wenn ihr kein Geld habt.
Geht, kauft Getreide und esst. Wer kein Geld hat, versorge sich kostenlos mit
Korn. Geht hin und besorgt euch Wein und Milch, ihr braucht nicht zu bezahlen.
2
Warum solltet ihr euer Geld für etwas ausgeben, das kein Brot ist, euren Lohn
für etwas, von dem ihr nicht satt werdet? Hört zu und esst Gutes und eure Seele
wird satt werden.
3
Kommt zu mir und sperrt die Ohren auf! Hört mir zu und eure Seele wird leben.
Ich will einen ewigen Bund mit euch schließen. Er soll so verlässlich sein wie
die Gnade, die ich an David bewiesen habe.
4
Seht her: Ich habe einen Zeugen für die Völker bestimmt, er wird ihr Fürst und
Anführer sein.
5
Ihr werdet unbekannte Völker rufen: Völker, die dich nicht kannten, werden um
des Herrn, eures Gottes, willen eilends zu dir kommen, weil der Heilige Israels
dich herrlich gemacht hat.«
6
Sucht den Herrn, solange er sich finden lässt. Ruft zu ihm, solange er nahe
ist.
7
Der Gottlose soll seinen Weg verlassen und der Übeltäter von seinen Plänen
absehen! Stattdessen soll er zum Herrn umkehren, damit er sich seiner erbarmt.
Ja, bekehrt euch zu unserem Gott, denn bei ihm ist viel Vergebung.
Close
They…. We could never
buy our way into heaven……. We cannot do anything now to make God more happy
with us….They refused the offer to be rich towards God……
What about us….?
Are we being
Hypocrites too……. Are we going about to establish ourselves as great Godly men
and women…… Showing ourselves to be righteous and Spiritual…… Judging and
thinking ourselves better than our Brothers and sisters? Or have we really
taken to our hearts the Word of Life……
I want to look at a piece of the Sermon on the Mount….
Matthew 6…. Beginning at v1
Matthew 6: 1- 4 NLT
1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be
admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2
When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing
trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of
charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever
get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who
sees everything, will reward you.
Matthew
6: 1- 4 Neues Leben
1
Nehmt euch in Acht! Wenn ihr Gutes tut, dann tut es nicht öffentlich, nur damit
ihr bewundert werdet. In diesem Fall dürft ihr nicht erwarten, von eurem Vater
im Himmel belohnt zu werden.
2
Wenn du einem Bedürftigen etwas gibst, posaune es nicht heraus, wie es die
Heuchler tun, die in den Synagogen und auf den Straßen mit ihren Wohltaten
angeben, nur um die Aufmerksamkeit auf sich zu ziehen! Ich versichere euch: Das
ist der einzige Lohn, den sie jemals dafür erhalten werden.
3
Wenn du jemandem etwas gibst, dann sag deiner linken Hand nicht, was deine
rechte tut.
4
Gib in aller Stille, und dein Vater, der alle Geheimnisse kennt, wird dich
dafür belohnen.
Give in secret…. As unto
the LORD who sees everything!
We need to confess our sins and let Jesus wash our
feet so that we can truly love and reach out to the lost…. Truly love and serve
each other… Truly
give…. Without letting our right hand know what the left hand is doing….We
need grace and truth in what we say and in what we do….
1 Timothy 1:5 NLT Neues
Leben
5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers
would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and
genuine faith.
5
Das Ziel meiner Unterweisung ist, dass alle Christen von der Liebe erfüllt
sind, die aus einem reinen Herzen kommt, aus einem guten Gewissen und aufrichtigem
Glauben.
Genuine thankfulness
and service….. love from a pure heart….. This is what shows the world that we
have been with Jesus…. We need more of Jesus today…….. Give me
Jesus….. you can have all this world……. Give me Jesus…
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