The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant 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. You cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him”, and in chapter sixteen and verse fifteen of his book Luke wrote how Jesus told the Pharisees, “you are they which justify yourselves before men where we read:
And he said unto them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
The verse reads, “And he said unto them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts:” Luke began with the words, “and he said unto them” or “and Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed to the Pharisees”, “you are they which justify yourselves” which means “you, Pharisees, are the people who render, show, exhibit and evince themselves to be righteous and just” “before men” or “in the presence and in front of people both male and female”; “but God” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “knows your hearts” or “perceives, understands and is acquainted with the Pharisees' souls or minds, as they are the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”. Luke shared how Jesus revealed the true “soul” of the Pharisees who sought to portend themselves as “righteous” in the presence of others.
The verse continues, “for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke added the words, “for that which is highly esteemed” or “because, since and on account that the lofty and exalted things” “among men” which means “with people whether male or female” “is abomination” or “exists as foul and detestable” “in the sight of God” which means “before and in the presence and face of the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Luke shared how Jesus declared “lofty and exalted things” among people are as “foul and detestable” in the presence of “God”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how God “values” different things than people. Wealth, fame, notoriety and riches are often “esteemed” with men, but these things have “little significance” in God's sight. True value comes when a person has a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, and this is because relating to God is eternal. All other “treasures” are “temporal”, and they will vanish as soon as a person stops living on earth. Those who are wise will “invest” in the “eternal things” of God and keep themselves involved in “everlasting treasures” which shall never pass away and are “valuable” in His “sight”.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus told the Pharisees, “the law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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