Good Book - The Chinese Pakua

 

Fascinating Book...this book, The Chinese Pakua by author Ong Hean-Tatt is a secular book but it is truly fascinating to me.  Maybe you all have some knowledge of this already but my curiosity got the better of me at the library when I stumbled upon this volume.  I have renewed it seven times as it takes time to digest (slow-ish learner here for this).  It is another of those books that are a bit over my head but there are nuggets that are down to the common citizen’s level of understanding.

 The Pakua is that little green turtle-like looking symbol with the yin and yang swirl in the center, as seen pictured on the front of the book.  It is an amazing thing and historians have been able to dig up so much history from it, and Ong says that it stems all the way back to Adamic times!  (Adam and Eve, Adam, that is).

 Something, non-Chinese, about it, is that, a fellow named Leibnitz, a genius in mathematics, was shown this Pakua by a Jesuit priest in China, and noted all the binary notation for the numbers 1-63 on it and revolutionized mathematics forever, apparently.  Sorry students...Another very interesting thing is that this system is the “basis of all computer languages”.  Isn’t that interesting?

 Anyway, turtles were involved in the thinking up of this Pakua, by some emperor or other.  Shang -Di (God, the Supreme Ruler of Heaven, was worshiped throughout the Chinese history, except not so much during the Eastern Zhou time where many deities sprang up and folks began to worship their ancestors due to political and financial gain purposes and then this Pakua was in the middle of it all.  There was also the false Kitchen God which was invented by a Taoist priest but the priest was later executed for tricking the Emperor of the time.  However, the worship of this god continues to this day.

 About 500 BC things reverted back to more Shang-Di worship but also the worship of Heaven (ok, and Buddhism and Taoism got into the mix too.)  With all the syncretism of that mix and match of philosophy and religion, it’s difficult to pinpoint just exactly all that the Chinese beliefs encompass.

 There are about 3 pages’ worth of a list of all those main deities that are worshiped and how they got started.  Some were once real people; for example, Fu-Hsi is Adam, canonized.  Shen-Nung is Noah, canonized, and so on.

 Then there are the Four Heraldic Animals of the Pakua  (Red Phoenix, White Tiger, Black Snake and the Azure Dragon) that are supposed to be angels with the center of these being Shang-Di.  Alternate beings; names:  Mo-Li-Hung (Gabriel), Mo-Li-Hai (Michael), Mo-Li-Shou (Lucifer) and Mo-Li-Ch’ing (Azure Dragon, Green Dragon, Brahma four-faced Cherubim of Ezekiel).  You may have heard of some of them.

 Much of these things show up in the Hebrew-Kabalic legends and ancient history as well.  Some of the History of both the Hebrews and the Chinese parallel amazingly.  God did not leave other cultures and people groups alone even though He especially chose the Hebrews as His Chosen people so long ago.

 It is also of note, that many other cultures have similar legends and symbols:  Egyptian, Indian, and etc.  You will have to find out for yourselves.

 I could go on and on but this is already more than a short book report, I’m telling you the story.  If you are as curious as I have been, find a copy and delve in.  

 I haven’t quite finished; there are 264 pages and I’m on page 187, so a ways to go, and I don’t know how many more library trips to renew…but I have been dying to share this book with you all.

 Ong is a Malaysian and this book was printed in Malaysia (Pelanduk Publications).  As far as I can tell, the man is not a Christian, although he certainly could have become one by his knowledge and understanding of the early Scriptures and also of the gospel of Jesus and how all of the above dovetails into the Chinese Pakua.  I seem to ascertain that the author is a devout Taoist.  I assume he is still alive so maybe we can say a prayer or two for him that he will see the light of Christ and make Jesus his Savior and Lord.  Then Shang-Di, can truly be his God and Father.

 

    ~ERC  September 2020~

Good Book - Harriet Tubman Freedombound

 

The run for freedom was marked with danger on every side:  masters with dogs on the chase after them; alligators; water moccasins (snakes); and people who would love the reward money for squealing on them and giving up their hiding places.  Harriet Tubman, a "Hero of History" won her freedom from the brutality of abusive slavery, on the "Underground Railroad".  

She was an amazingly courageous woman.  She eventually became a conductor on that railroad and helped others of her fellow slaves successfully make that same run for freedom.  Once, conducting even at "gun point" to get some terrified "passenger" to co-operate and overcome their fear of recapture and compelling them to fight for their own immediate liberty.  Praise be, she even managed to smuggle her own siblings and parents to the safety of Canada's borders.

This particular biography of Harriet Tubman, is called Harriet Tubman Freedombound and is written by Janet & Geoff Benge.  It is aimed at children, around the 8-13, or so, age group range but adults can still be enthralled by her adventures.  I am.

Although her main mission and "call" was slave rescue, at one point she advised generals during the American Civil War and directed the improvement of conditions in war hospitals among other duties.

Harriet believed that "slavery is the next thing to hell" (page141).  She fought hard and long for such liberty therefrom.

In light of the ongoing struggle for those of other ethnic backgrounds, even today, with all the demonstrations as can be seen in the news and being carried out in various places around the world, but mainly in the USA, I bring this book to light.  Do read of this plight especially if you have not known about it or want to "feel" it.  Then know the revelation of greater empathy for these people who still, often, are living in fear of unjust reprisal due to the color of their skin even from "good living" next door neighbors. 

                                                      ~ERC  October 2020~

ISBN 1-883002-90-7

Copyright 2002

Published by Emerald Books

Ravages of Pretense

 

The questions had been flying through the air, targeted at Jesus, trying to shame and discredit Him to the throngs of ordinary people.  These people had great esteem for Jesus and hung on to His words as if they were their very life.

The increasingly frustrated, annoyed and even jealous, religious leaders tried and tried again to bring Jesus down.  This time they employed an indirect "attack" and sent "spies", bribed and primed with a specific double-edged question. 

This question was designed to either cut Him down to miniscule size in the eyes of the crowds and/or to make the Romans, under whose rule the Jewish people were captive, suspicious of sedition and rebellion.

So was Jesus loyalty to Caesar, the Roman Emperor, or to God.  We know that, from the earlier part of Luke 20, that Jesus effectively rebuffed and refuted both sides of the equation by His wise, masterful rebuttal.  He informed the devious inquirers, 

"Give what belongs to Caesar, to Caesar; and what belongs to God, to God" (vs 25).

That silenced them.  The Sadducees then had a go at Jesus, in regards to resurrection.  As you may remember, the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection or an after earth life, so their question was more a mockery than sincere.

They made up such a far-fetched story to lend superciliousness to their arrogant demeanor.  They said a woman had married seven brothers in succession after each previous one had died, leaving them each childless.  In the end the widow passed on was well.  They asked whose wife she would be in the resurrection since all had had her to wife.

Jesus answer, again refuted their brazen pomp. He told them that they were mistaken about the afterlife.  You see, there is no marriage, nor dying in the resurrected state; just as the angels are even now.  Some of those listeners declared Jesus a "Good Teacher" but we do not read of any of their lives being changed to a more genuine, from-the-heart, allegiance to Jesus nor to God.

As noted in the blog entry, Questions, Questions and More Questions...

If only they had instead, shown some positive change acknowledging  Jesus and who He was (and still is).  If only they had been obedient and sought out understanding of the Law of God, as written by Moses that they purportedly treasured, they would have been on the right track to obeying and believing in Jesus and that He was their Messiah.  They would not have made excuses for not realizing and/or admitting who Jesus was but instead, accepted Him as their Messiah.  They would not have continued to plot Jesus' arrest and death.

After that we learned about Jesus comparing Himself to a cornerstone.  In those ancient times, a cornerstone, well-placed, was used to align the walls of a building.  The cornerstone itself had to be more or less perfect in shape in order to proceed with the construction of the structure so as to be sound and withstand the elements and wear and tear.

The cornerstone could be rejected.  We know that the Jewish religious leaders, for the most part, rejected Jesus.  The analogy did not miss its mark in the minds of those men.  Although they were silenced and dared not ask further questions, they had not stopped trying to trick or trap Him in order to arrest Him and/or demean Him in the eyes of the general Jewish populace.

Jesus words of wisdom as seen in His most ingenious replies is amazing to us  However, we too can ask Him for such wisdom.  He may give it directly through the Holy Spirit and/or from our reading, meditating upon and obeying God's Word.  Jesus' answers of wisdom silenced His interrogators.  He then asks them a question that is difficult to understand but let's take a look....

Do read about it in Luke 20:40-44.

If Jesus was only just David's descendant, how could he refer to Jesus as "Lord"?  Isn't "Lord" reserved for those older - much older - than one's self?

Jesus was not "just a descendant".  No.  He was far greater; therefore, David called Him "LORD".

"The Lord said to my Lord..." (Luke 20:42).

This, by the way, is a quotation from Psalm 119:1, penned by David, about twenty-four generations earlier.  In addition to that, it is to be discovered, that the word, "Lord" has two connotations in the Hebrew language.  Both are applied here (www.gotquestions.org).   The first "Lord" refers to Eternal God of the universe - the Great I AM, omnipotent God and Creator, whereas the second "Lord" refers to Messiah, the Christ or Son of David (this term again).  According to the promise God gave to King David to have an heir forever on the throne (no change of dynasty), Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this promise.

As we all know, Jesus is Eternal.

The Messiah (Lord) sits at God's right hand, triumphing over His enemies; in fact, using them as His footstool!

Thus David, speaking of the Messiah, was speaking prophecy.  The Pharisees agree that it was the Messiah being referred to (but obviously NOT that Jesus was/is the Messiah) and so Jesus uses this to impact His meaning in their minds.  Would any of them, "get it"?

Jesus' question about the "Son of David" title being reference to the Messiah, yet David (a great king and ancestor) calls the Messiah "Lord," then Messiah must be greater than "just a son" of David.

Do you follow?

If David could speak to "the Lord Messiah, then He must have been alive at David's time and greater than David especially as seen in his referring to Him as "Lord".

How the gears of the minds of those Pharisees must have whirled, sadly to little positive consequence.  They only sought to arrest and have this wonderful, almighty God and Lord, whom Jesus was insinuating was greater than just a human descendant of David, killed.

This prophecy of David must have been guided by the Holy Spirit to write exactly what He did.  It was just as God had wanted Him to pen it, and so it was (reference:  www.gotquestions.org).

Next we read about Jesus warning His disciples about the Teachers of the Law.  I like these little asides Jesus often imparts to them, even in the midst of the throngs flocking about them.  Indirectly, the word would get out to them too but Jesus expressly teaches His disciples who would one day, believe it or not, become the apostles (minus Judas Iscariot).

Look at the description -- quite the CV!  They better not apply for any job!  The list enumerates:  "walk around in long robes in market places, especially to be greeted and respected there (yes, being greeted thus, and with a title, really feels good -- no doubt); chose the important seats in the Temple (those reserved seats were right up there in the front near the sacred scrolls where all eyes would be focused); they loved the best places at the feasts right near the host, again where all eyes could see them; they took advantage of/devoured widow's houses (even though the law of Moses forbade being paid for their teaching of the law, they could still accept gifts.  They encouraged widows, who could ill-afford such gifts, to give more than they actually were able.  These widow were already among the poorest of the poor.  If the teachers of the law had been practicing it accordingly, they would have helped them, not devoured their houses); and they prayed looooonnnng prayers - not from the heart but for show to give the impression they were very devout and religious.

In summary of all that, the Teachers of the Law failed to interpret Scriptures correctly (refer to the example of the widows) and to respond to them correctly.  They were full of pride, making outward show of piety (the quality of being religious or reverent - showing true reverence for God and devout fulfillment of religious obligations).  They took advantage of vulnerable widows and robbed them of their homes.

The pretense of piety was vulgar and for external show.  Such people, Jesus remarked, would have greater punishment (Luke 20:45-47 NIV).  These are the reasons Jesus gave warning to His disciples against the Teachers of the Law.

This is called a "hypocrite".  Here's a definition thereof, which I found in a meme, online,

"Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a lie" (author unknown)

They taught the Scriptures which they would have known thoroughly.  They practiced outwardly but it was not from the heart.

What about us?  When we compare our lives with that of those Teachers of the law, how do we measure up against them?  We must always examine our own hearts and not point fingers at others, for as surely as we point a finger at others, there are three fingers pointing back at ourselves.

I've been reading through the Anne of Green Gables series of books, and in some of the incidents there is rampant, hurtful gossiping going on.  In some ways it was humorous, it being a work of fiction by L. M. Montgomery; yet her work reflects human nature rather accurately, thus all the more unkind.  Some of the characters made a show of piety but had tongues that wagged mercilessly against the defenseless.  Often, in the story, the character would get their comeuppance so it was "happily ever after".   In real life, that mostly does not happen and a person must endure the brunt of such actions.

So we must look at our OWN hearts and minds and measure them up against God's Word and make our talk and walk, jive.  Ask questions such as follows to avoid and minimise living a life of pretense.

Is our Christian life of prayer and praise, sincere?  Do we live a life of compromise?  Have we been obligated to be a leader in these things because no one else will lead, yet we don't really do so from gratitude and thanksgiving for all Jesus has done for us?  Do we do it for show because we like being in the limelight and love the attention?  OR, does it truly flow from our hearts alight and brimming with true worship and thankfulness?

What do you think God, our Heavenly Father, may be saying to you?  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the areas that need attention. This is not to condemn yourself but to transform to be more Christ-like and imbue the fruit of the spirit in all godliness and honesty.

Look at this,  it says it all...

We are all still in the process and progress of transformation and changes need to be made.  Thank God for His Word and the Holy Spirit.  We can say this, which I love...

Pause.

We can ASK the Lord God to do that and help us live a humble, honest life as we transform to become more like Christ and build relationship with our Heavenly Father through the Messiah, Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, belong to Him, we are therefore, children of God and he will not set us adrift to fend for ourselves.  The ravages of pretense will not be able to hold sway in our life when we submit our forthright hearts to Him.

May God our Heavenly Father bless our lives as we live to please Him daily.  May we all hunger and thirst after God.

                                                       ~ERC  September 2020~

Reference:

SPM The GOSPEL According to Luke - A Study Gide to Bible Knowledge; Issachar Sdn Bhd; copyright 2005.

www.gotquestions.org

Based on: Luke 20:41-44 and 45-47

Part 4 video

Prayer - Refreshing Brook

 

Father, thank-You so much for times of refreshing we can have through the ups and downs and battles of life.  You said in Psalm 110,

"You drink from a brook beside the way; therefore he will lift up his head high" (vs 7 NIV).

In these times of refreshing, even though we have enemies and difficulties in life, may You rule!  Make those enemies Your footstool and be our Deliverer in times of strife and trouble. Refresh and restore our souls, Father.

We know You will never change Your mind and You will be our Priest and King forever.

You are at our right hand ready to aid us at any time; the right hand of strength, honor and glory.  We give You praise again for those times of refreshing as we spend time with You, meditating upon and considering Your Word.   Considering how You lead and guide us through.  You lift us up and make our feet stand in high places where we can hold our heads high, not with pride but with Your dignity, above it all.  We, Your children, Your sons and daughters.

I praise and thank-You, asking this request to fight valiantly for us in all our trials and troubles.  We know You do and therefore give You thanks.  May we all desire more of You and match that with our actions to come humbly into Your presence and learn from You.  We are confident of Your teaching wrapped in love.

When You do this for us it's like a wondrously cool, drink from a clear, pure brook on a very hot day.  

Satisfying.  

Refreshing!

Father, in Jesus' Name we give you thanks.

                                                    ~ERC  June 2020~

Based on Psalm 110, especial focus on verse 7

Sing, Times of Refreshing, with Marty Nystrom

Sing, When Trials Come with Keith & Kristyn Getty

Good Book - Silent Grief

 

She exited the door of the hospital and stepped outside; she then slipped into the car, numb with the deep grief of fresh child loss.  It was the emptiest her arms had ever felt....

"When a mother leaves the maternity ward," she murmured to herself, "she should be euphorically cradling a precious bundle of joy." 

"I'm not", she reflected heartbrokenly.

Very few had even known she was expecting.  Now this.  She and her husband would have to grieve in silence.  All her husband's and her hopes of lovingly parenting this child, dashed.

All the above is a condensed composite of what some may feel due to miscarriage or other types of child loss.  Sometimes, when other folks do know of the miscarriage or stillbirth they might say to the raw-with-bereavement, parents, innocently enough, "Never mind, you can try again."

Small comfort.  Very small comfort.  In fact, it's hurtful.  It's as if that one life didn't matter - life is cheap, there's more where that came from...

Or maybe, the friends and family just don't understand the sudden melancholy of the couple because they didn't know the cause.

This is the issue that Clara Hinton discusses in her book, Silent Grief.  She herself (and her husband), experienced such grief, so she knows the range of emotions:  deep sorrow, anger, bewilderment, etc. that threaten to overwhelm fathers and mothers, the world over, who have endured their loss (es), very often, in silence.

Like, "out of sight, out of mind".  Others might think, "aren't they over that, yet?!"  It (not, he or she) was not even a full-term-live and wriggly-in-your-arms baby.  What's the deal?"

Or, it may come across that the couple feels folks just don't care and so the grief goes further inward and silent.  On the contrary, Hinton says, folks do care but because they may never have experienced child loss, they just don't understand and are not sure how to comfort.

Hinton does reveal some ways for parents to cope and sheds light that the "sun will shine again despite the loss" and that grief may lessen despite never quite going away.

The author also addresses parents who have incidences of missing children and adult children who have "succumbed to accidents or illness".  One of her examples is of King David's baby by Bathsheba, who died.  She also interviews many men and women who have shed buckets of silent grief-tears in the inner sanctums of their homes.

What prompts me to share this particular book?  A few days ago, my husband was watching the news, and I just so happened to  catch a snatch of it which caught my attention.  The news announcer spoke of some supermodel celebrity (can't recall which one) who'd recently had a miscarriage and wanted to share her story, virally.  This, in the hopes of it helping others work through and overcome their grief, together; something that is not normally done, publicly but is repressed, often unhealthily, in private.  

All the hopes, dreams and preparations in expectancy of a newborn, suddenly brought to a standstill; jolted and jerked, to a final stop.  All the hopes and dreams for even a child who has now gone missing or died "too young"; all stopped.  The the awful silence, unbearable.

The celebrity couple's trial reminded me of this book I'd read ever so long ago.  I hope and pray that any one of you, my readers, in similar circumstance, will realize that you are not alone.  That just maybe, you will be able to learn how to move from one day to the next with some relief and light to help you live on and give ways to enable your family and friends to understand you even a little bit.

Maybe also, friends and family could read this book and gain some insight as to why their friend or family member, who experienced her/his loss, is still grieving and is, perhaps, still, exhibiting "not normal" behavior.  There is no time limit.

Well, shall leave that with you.  Do try to find a copy of Silent Grief; read and gain comfort, gain understanding; gain empathy.

Heavenly Father, comfort one and all who have had the trauma of child loss in their lives. Comfort their aching hearts and empty arms.  Father, bring the missing children home, alive.  You weep with us because You love us and care about what happens to us. Bless and keep each one.  In Jesus Name I ask.

Here're some Bible verses that may make a connection to your feelings:

Psalm10:1 (NIV)

"Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"

Psalm 5:1, 2, 11, 12 (NIV)

"Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament.  Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray...spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.  Surely LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield."

May our Heavenly Father bring solace to you with His words.

                                                          ~ERC  October 2020~

                   

Prayer - Do Your Eyes Fail?

 

She peered at her book as best as ever she could but the years had not been so kind to her eyes, and try as she may, she could no longer read the words, which had now dissolved into an inscrutable blur for her.  Sadly, she lay the book aside and felt her way to the kitchen to brew a pot of tea.  At least she could still do that.  Just hope no one rearranges the outlay of things...

Nowadays, when our eyes fail, we can often do something about it:  prescription spectacles; cataract removal; cornea transplant; retina reattachments and the like.  Praise the Lord for all these innovations.

The psalmist said,

"My eyes fail looking for God's salvation and His righteous promise to him" (Psalm 119:123).

Was wondering what his promise was and think it could be that he lived his life very well according to God's Word and now he was waiting for the blessing.  (God's promise to the Israelites during their nomadic wanderings in the wilderness and then again when they entered the Promised Land had been promise of blessing if they obeyed God's laws, commands, etc.  However, this psalmist seems to have had an awful lot of oppressors and troubles despite his righteous living, instead.  He seems bewildered but trusting with some patience yet wanting the fulfilling of the promise.)

Like Isaiah remarked,

"When the time is right, I the LORD, will make it happen" (Isaiah 60:22).

Of course, that was referring to the "smallest family becoming a mighty nation" which in and of itself, is a blessing; obedience to the "be fruitful and multiply" command.

We each have our "promises" we wish someone or another will fulfill.

For that result,  psalmist was looking for God's salvation, perhaps, from his troubles.  We followers of Jesus Christ, echo along with the Holy Spirit, "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:17).  Jesus' promise to come back for us (1 Thessalonians 4:`3-5:11) and to then be with Him for all eternity.  Sometimes our eyes fail (so to speak) while we wait for that promise to happen.  We can comfort ourselves and help ourselves to persevere with the knowledge that when the time is right, the Lord will make it happen.  He is our salvation.

Heavenly Father, we do thank You, the Giver of all good gifts and the Fulfiller of all Your promises, that You say Jesus will "come quickly"; we believe it.  Your salvation - the bringing of Your children up to be with Christ our Savior and You, forever and forever, will come.

We praise Jesus our Savior all the day long.

Help each of us to take heart and hide Your promise within that "You WILL make it happen".

May we make it our story to praise you all the day long as we look forward to Your coming.  

Jesus gave sight to the blind and that free of charge; unlike our eye doctors of today.  Even though our "eyes may fail", lead us not into the temptation to despair.  May our vision be of You, of Your Son and all you have accomplish for us.  May we wait in perfection submission, happiness and rest as we watch and wait for Your coming, knowing Your timing is the "right time".

May we be filled with Your goodness and live a life showing it to others, all the day long.  May we rest in the blessed assurance we have in the salvation of the remission of our sins through our repentance and acceptance thereof.  

May we keep this in our hearts, and sights, and give life to our eyes as we have visions of Rapture before us. We praise You, the One from whom all blessing flows.

In Jesus' Name we hope, trust, praise and pray.  May His Name ever be upon our lips as we await His coming with watchful eyes that do not fail.

                                                            ~ERC  September 2020~

Based on Psalm 119:121-128 (Ayin)

Sing, Blessed Assurance, with Jeremy Riddle, Worship Circle Hymns, with reverent and sincere, persevering watching for Jesus.  We may be faint, yet be pursuing.

 

Questions, Questions and More Questions

Things were heating up for Jesus.  There was a plot afoot to kill Him; the religious leaders questioned Him in front of the general congregation of the people in the Temple and out on the street in an attempt to discredit and shame Him and His teaching.  They sought a way to arrest Him.  Good thing they were afraid of the people.  They did not want to be stoned or to have a riot stirred up and consequently be called into question for it by their Roman conquerors.  This did not mean this growing maligning desire desisted.

Quite the contrary...In their frustration with Jesus they bribe men to act as 'spies' to try to find opportunities to trick and trap Jesus into saying something they could accuse Him of saying or doing that went against the law (Jewish or Roman) and give legal reason to arrest Him without a peoples' uproar.

Do read about this in Luke 20:20-26.

The paid spies set out then, masquerading as "sincere seekers".  Jesus knew very well what they were up too though. The "secret agents" asked the question they were primed to present;

"Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not" (verse 22 NIV)?

If Jesus had been setting Himself up to be "rival king" come to Jerusalem, and forbid payment of taxes to the Romans, He'd have been labeled a treasonous rebel.  Definite basis for an arrest.  On the other hand, if He had condoned payment, He'd have lost face with the Jewish throngs.  That would have instigated, at least, that coveted discrediting, if not an additional stirring up of unrest and riot.

Can you see how the trap was locked and loaded?

Look at the beauty of Jesus' reply.

"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar; and to God what belongs to God" (vs 25).

I just love that!  It's so incredibly amazing and awesome.  God's WISDOM!

Wouldn't you like to be able to answer questions like that?  I would.

The marvelous thing is...we can!

Did you know that?  The Bible says we can.  If you ASK, what will happen?  You will RECEIVE and in James 1:5, it states that if anyone lacks wisdom, they can ask of God and He will give it.

In Psalm 119:97-104, the psalmist wrote that he had more insight and wisdom than his teachers and elders!  Why was that?  This is because he read, memorized, recited, meditated upon and obeyed God's Word.

So this is a second potential way to gain wisdom.

What happened to the "counter-intelligence seekers"?  They were flabbergasted by Jesus' exceedingly wise reply.  They could not catch Jesus in His words, so they became speechless and therefore, quiet.

Ok.  Let's leave the spies to their stew and make an observation about paying taxes back then,  which, by-the-way, is still relevant today....

The Roman Emperor Caesar, was not a nice guy, in fact, he was an intolerable tyrant.  Jesus didn't say that because Caesar was brutal, no need to pay taxes.  NO.  As Christians, even now, we must pay our taxes despite the type of government:  good or bad.

"Jesus was stating a principle here, not a compromise.  To give what the government requires is the responsibility of every citizen and does not break any of God's laws" (SPM book footnote).*1

Further to that, the Sanhedrin was responsible for collecting the taxes and passing them on to the Romans.  Thus, their tricky question topic posed to Jesus.  However, Jesus left absolutely no wiggle room to be misjudged as being disloyal to the Emperor or to God.

The important thing, Jesus was saying, is that our loyalty and obedience to God is imperative and as citizens of both Heaven and Earth, we have to obey the laws of both.

Now, you may interject here, what about the case of the apostles behavior as recorded in the book of Acts who were arrested and sternly commanded NOT to teach in the name of Jesus and propagate  the gospel message through Him?

In Matthew it teaches us Jesus had commanded the disciples to,

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel..." (Matthew 28:19-20).

The law of the land said, "STOP it!"

Jesus said, "GO!"

What should be done?  Observe Peter and John's reply,

"Which is right in God's eyes:  to listen to you (mere men), or to Him (Jesus)?  You be the judges!...  is it right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than God" (Acts 4:18-19 NIV)?

Upon release, look what they did,

"...we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard..." (vs 20).

Their compulsion was to obey God in a way that went against the ways of a citizen of Earth but not of Heaven, which took necessary precedence.  This even to the point of earthly legal action against them.  They were willing to pay that cost of being a disciple.

This brings us to our present age.  Christians in some places INSISTING  on their right to attend church  despite the laws of good common sense and even of the earthly land, against so doing, in this COVID-19 era.  Often going against those laws of good common sense to wear a mask and observe social distancing; on top of this, making colossal verbal 'stink' of how this is their right.

Additionally, God's Word declares in Hebrews 10:24 and 25...

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the day approaching."

Yes, "God's Word says..."  Is it "a good deed" to rebelliously insist on meeting together, mask-less, rubbing shoulders, and perhaps causing someone to contract THE coronavirus?  We must respect on another.

God's Word also says,

"Everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial..." (1 Corinthians 6:13 NIV).

Yes, that was in regards to foods to eat or not to eat; however, I believe it can be applied in this instance.

Look at Jesus' answer to Satan as we read in Matthew 4:7 NIV,

"It is also written; Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

Is this enough to quash any designs we might have to quibble against the governmental powers that be who are trying to keep us all safe?

This is not political agenda, per se, as you can see the world wide statistics of those countries, who have largely, successfully stemmed the corona tide compared to those who are less than prudent about, at least, attempting to nip the virus in the bud.  The proof is in the pudding if folks care to take the blinders off and SEE.

Yes, "like Saul of Tarsus, we all want to be on the road to 'DE - MASK - US'"*2.  However, we do need to heed and exercise the fruit of the Spirit...patience.

Enough of that track.  Pull back to our story at hand.  Sadly, all of the wonder the 'spies' and the Sanhedrin members felt did not lead them to repentance.  It only led to them being spellbound in silent awe.

May our amazement with God, His Word, Jesus and what He has done for us, cause us to live a humble, devoted life of righteousness and thankfulness to Him and His will for our lives; actively serving Him and the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the next segment of verses from Luke 20, [verses 27-40 (NIV)], we are further introduced to the Sadducees.  Many of this sect were actually members of the Sanhedrin.  They were, very roughly speaking, similar to the Pharisees yet with striking differences.  One of the major differences, which is relevant here to the question they asked Jesus, is that they did not believe in any such thing as resurrection.

Look at some of the differences which I discovered from a meme online:

-The Pharisees were teachers of the Law whereas the Sadducees were Temple 'rulers'

-The Pharisees had interpretations of the Torah where the Sadducees kept strictly to the Torah alone.

-The Pharisees were middle class vs the Sadducees being more wealthy & labeled "Upper Class"

-The Pharisees were convinced of the resurrection of the dead while the Sadducees denied it.

-The Pharisees believed in afterlife vs the Sadducees said, no such thing--you die, you get put six feet under--that's it.

-The Pharisees rejected the Jewish leaders while the Sadducees supported them (after all, many of them were the Jewish leaders)--whence came the rub betwixt the two sects.

Can you just picture the Sadducees marching down the road in  pomp and circumstance, ready to erupt with what they felt was 'sure fire' to nail Jesus to the cross then and there.  That, or at least, discredit Him enough to topple the peoples' regard of Him.

They told the story of the woman, now a widow, who had had seven husbands, each dying in succession, leaving them all childless.  They wanted to know Jesus' take on which man would be her husband in the resurrection.

They were laughing and smirking up their sleeves.  Surely, they had Him here.  Mockery at just the  thought of resurrection.

"Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her" (Luke 20:33)?

Since the Sadducees only used the Torah, their question stemmed from the Law that God gave Moses to inscribe and record.  This law about widows (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) was intended to protect their rights.  Women and what's more, widows, were considered low down on the spectrum of class.  Generally, they were very poor and often without a male protector and were easily exploited.  This particular law was, that if a man died childless, then the brother was permitted and encouraged to marry the widow.

Jesus' response was that they did not know the full scope of truth.  They did not know or realize that in the after Earth life (yes, there IS life after death), there was something essentially different.  For the unsaved, of course, there is eternal punishment in Hell.  However, for those who have accepted Jesus as Savior there will be three new things for us which can be read about in verses 34-37.

These are the three 'new things' to learn about life in the life after Earth life, that Jesus encapsulated for the querying Sadducee interrogators.  One, marriage does not apply in the after Earth life.  Two, they can no longer die.  Third, they will be similar to the angels in that they don't marry nor die; and are sons of God.

Incidentally, angels are greater in power and authority above us now; however, in the everlasting time in Heaven, the roles will be reversed, and we children of God will be more powerful and have the greater authority over angels. We will even be judge over some of them.  That is, over Satan and his minions.

Another thing about angels is that they are created beings, same as human beings have been.  Therefore, when a human being departs from Earth, they do NOT become an angel; nor a star for that matter.

Anyway, we divert from our main topic.  Let's get back.

Jesus mentions the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  That kind of gets to be a fuzzy connection for us.  However, Jesus refers to them and says that God is their God:

 "the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob" (vs 37).  

This implies the three are still alive  in the afterlife.  True, their bodies are long decayed in the ground, yet would God talk about a relationship with someone who no longer exists?  Remember the Sadducees don't believe in life after death.  Yet they still revered these three patriarchs as if they still existed.

Jesus had touched a sensitive chord in their belief system and they knew it.  

Some teachers of the law responded, "Well said, Teacher!"  An acknowledgment of some credibility.  The rest did not dare to ask any more questions.

Some of the teachers of the law may well have been silently smirking, glad that the Sadducees had "lost" the argument.  This seems to be a dead end though.

If only they had instead, shown some positive change acknowledging  Jesus and who He was (and still is).  If only they had been obedient and sought out understanding of the Law of God, as written by Moses that they purportedly treasured, they would have been on the right track to obeying and believing in Jesus and that He was their Messiah.  They would not have made excuses for not realizing and/or admitting who Jesus was and accepted Him as their Messiah.  They would not have continued to plot Jesus' arrest and death.

Jesus questioners now desisted.  Jesus took the floor then and countered with another of His tough questions. However, we'll let that marinate till another auspicious time.

For ourselves then, here and now...know that it is easy to find excuses and what may look like viable reasons for not wanting to do what we KNOW is right and good for us.  We give ourselves excuses to get out of doing the right things.  For example:  Right things such as following school rules, boundaries parents set; paying taxes; going to church mask-less, among other things.

Is it right to disobey because maybe teachers, parents, pastors or the government don't follow the rules?  Or, maybe the one in authority is not kind?  (If you are in physical and/or sexual abuse harm's way--remove yourself and/or talk to someone who hopefully will be able to help you.)

Do we still need to listen?

In God's sight, how should we behave in order to honor Him?  

This is the ultimate question and leveler.

                                                  ~ERC  September 2020~

Based on Luke 20:20-26 and 27-40

Part 3 video

Reference:

*1 SPM book, A Study Guide to The GOSPEL According to LUKE; Issachar Sdn. Bhd; copyright 2005.

*2 Seen on a church billboard in WI, USA.