Avenue Baptist Church Sunday School

If you are thinking that not keeping up with the Joneses is keeping you from being happy.... look at what Solomon said....

Solomon known as the wisest that ever lived, and possibly the wealthiest man that ever lived said this about accumulating possessions....

"I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile" but I found that it is also futile. I said of partying, "It is folly," and of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!" I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself, gardens, parks, fruit trees, pools, I bought slaves, I possessed more livestock than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem, I have silver and gold and other valuables taken from other countries. I acquired singers, male and female, and a harem of beautiful concubines....so I was far wealthier than all the former kings. I did not restrain myself from anything that would bring me pleasure, I was happy with what I did...

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and all the effort to get it I concluded that "All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless, like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth. Ecc 2:1-11

Sunday School lesson for September 4, 2022
"The Call Of Abraham"
Gen 12:1-5, 7 ; Gen 15 1-7

Sin is like debt......Its fun, until you have to pay the bill...

Join us on the Church conference line for Sunday School "The Word Becomes Flesh" John 1:1-14.

Join us at 11:00 Sunday morning on the Avenue Baptist Church Live page for Sunday School. "God Fortells Destruction" Isa 47:10-15

Join us in the main sanctuary at 11:00 for Sunday School. "Freedom For the Future" Romans 8:18-30

Join us in the main sanctuary at 11:00 for Sunday School.
"Freedom From Sin"
Romans 6:1-14

The lesson for May 1 is titled:

"Freedom From Sin"

Romans 6:1-14.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

It can be argued that no single event in human history is as important to mankind as the birth of Jesus Christ.

It can also be argued that His life is equally important as His birth, still others may point to His sacrificial death on the cross. But we also must understand that there is no victory over death, until his resurrection on the third day. No need to be conflicted about this issue; there was a message taught to us concerning this, it went something like this.

Jesus

Was born in a manger
Lived a sin-free life
Died as a sinner
Was buried in a borrowed tomb
Rose on the third day
Ascended to the right hand of the father
Is coming back for his church
Will gather the believers for the great reunion

Having said that, we should beware of men who are tell you to join with them in “celebrating the anniversary of Jesus’ death”. There is no biblical directive, commandment or precedent for believers to singularly celebrate the death of Jesus. Without the resurrection, there is no victory over death (1 Cor 15:54-59), he would not go to prepare a place for the believer (John 14:1-4). Inviting you, by invoking the name of Jesus, is another trick of Satan to have you lower your guard, so that they can mislead you. Satan deals in half-truths, he will mix the lie that he wants you to believe with some truth. We need to hold on to the entire truth and reject partial-truth as a whole lie!

Did the angels tell Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to fear not because Jesus was dead? NO! The angel told them that Jesus was alive! He is risen, we celebrate the resurrection, not the death of Jesus. (Matt 28:5-6).

“We serve a risen savior
he’s in the world today
I know that he is living
whatever men may say
I see his hand of mercy
I hear His voice of cheer:
and just the me I need him
He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives.
He lives within my heart.

Be blessed

Beauty of the Spirit

The word beauty has garnered many definitions. In the human culture, a great many fashion shows and pageants have come and gone with the goal of telling us who is the most beautiful. The Miss America pageant and the Miss Universe pageants are the most famous of recent memory, at the end the winner is crowned, and declared the “most beautiful”. Young women everywhere begin to judge themselves by this standard. The one thing that stands out prominently is the idea of outward beauty. We judge a thing like beauty as if it is as essential as oxygen, when in fact it is not, it is as elusive as catching smoke in the palm of your hand. In fact outward beauty only lasts for a short time, subject to the years, and the elements it withers like a plant without water. The Bible takes to task the enterprise of worldly beauty from the onset. According to the bible man has two distinct features, the outer man and the inner man (2 Cor 4:16). The outward man perishes while the inner man is renewed day by day. This tells us all we need to understand about outward beauty. Another positive element to this inward element, in 1 Peter 3:1-5, wives win over their husband with their Godly lives, disregarding the outward beauty, clothing themselves with that Beauty that comes from within and does not fade away, which is so precious to God. Look inward to the Beauty of the spirit, and eschew the worldly beauty that focuses on that which fades away. Be blessed saints. Look to the inward beauty!

Christianity

What it is not: Christianity is not about success, happiness, popularity, keeping families together, keeping your position at your local church, the 2nd amendment to the constitution, or preserving the role of the United States of America's role in World politics

What it is: Christianity is about restoring the relationship between God and man that was severed when sin entered the world. This relationship can only be restored by paying the penalty for your sin. The penalty for sin was paid in full by the death of the one that had no sin. Jesus Christ paid that debt that you and I owed for our sin. Accept him as your savior, confess him with your voice and believe in your heart and you shall be saved. Without Christ we would be lost to sin and condemned to an eternity apart from God (hell). Be blessed

SALVATION

Salvation essentially does for mankind what the parachute does for a person that has to unexpectedly bail out of a plane. Both salvation and the parachute are absolutely essential for survival. If you don’t have a parachute, when you leave the plane, then you are in big trouble. If you don’t have salvation when you leave this world, you are in bigger trouble. Many people believe that they can just “ask for forgiveness” on their death bed. While it is possible for God to restore the broken relationship between a man and himself mere moments before a life ends, God encourages us to “seek him while he may be found.” (Isaiah 55:6), and “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart” (Heb 4:7). For no one knows when the plane that they have flown in will suddenly fail, and no one knows when the body that they are living in has lived its last day, or its last moment.

Oh, if only the departed souls could talk! How many would plead with us to accept salvation in The Lord Jesus Christ before it is too late. Be blessed

Triumphal Entry Of The King

The week of the entry into Jerusalem, should have been one of celebration and joy. At first it seems to be very happy, but by the weeks end, the true nature of mankind would emerge. In five days the gravity of the true mission of Jesus would come into focus. He entered to shouts of “Hosanna” by the end of the week, they shouted “crucify him”. Within five days Jesus would be crucified. Withing five days he would pay the price for our sins. I read in a bible commentary that during his earthly ministry lasting no more that three years Jesus walked in excess of three thousand miles during his earthly ministry. Yet leading up to the Passover, which is the celebration of the deliverance of the Israelites from the death angel, the “passing over” of death, sparing the first born while in captivity in Egypt, Jesus he rides the last few miles of his upon a young c**t.

Although our lesson is “Triumphal Entry Of The King”, make no mistake about it Jesus, the messiah was hoisted upon the c**t as the “Passover lamb” not the conquering king (Zech 9:9).

Because it was nearing the Passover, Jerusalem’s population had increased, and the feasts and celebrations that happen during the week of Passover. As Jesus rode by the people they waved palm frond/palm leaves and shouted “Hosanna... which means save us“ as in a term of adoration. The disciples put clothing on the c**t to make the ride as comfortable as possible, people spread clothing on the road as a sign of humble subjects for their ruler.

This brings to mind another event that I see as being similar to it. The inauguration of a president. With the adoring crowds, and the throngs of dignitaries awaiting an opportunity to congratulate the winner. The high profile speakers lining up to lend their voices to the victory speech. We see the community leaders, the influential, and wealthy benefactors step aside to allow the man of the hour the center stage. But this event they didn’t quite understand, Jesus’ mission, many saw this moment as the end of the prophecy, even the disciples, thought that this was the moment, this was the man, predicted in the scripture to lead the Hebrew nation to its rightful place; to break the back of the oppressive Roman empire, and lift up the Jew as children of God, the only children of God, to restore the Kingdom Of Israel (Acts 1:6). So when Jesus rides into the city, He is seen by the disciples (and the people) as a conqueror, a king, a judge, What they did not see was a suffering savior, one who will set to work on the Jews themselves, cleansing the temple, chastising the corrupt Jewish religious leaders and working to set free those captive to sin and doomed to death after the judgment. It is not his Majesty that will be demonstrated, it is his meekness. He is riding upon a c**t, moving slowly so that he is easy to see, easy to access, Not on a fearsome war horse, easy to learn from, he strengthens the weak, he loves the unlovable, he rules with his love not with the lash.

In order to really understand this lesson we must look at the passages before this lesson, and the passages after the lesson. We want the context of the lesson. Foresight and hindsight gives us the proper perspective to learn what this lesson has for us. Look at what Jesus did when he got off the donkey.
• Matt 21:12 Jesus cleansed the temple, he threw out the money changers and overturned the seats of them that sold doves. And he said unto them “you have made my house into a den of thieves.
• Matt 21:13 Jesus began to heal the blind and the lame, in the temple
• Matt 21:14 When the chief priest and scribes saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, how the people shouted “Hosanna to the son of David” they were sore displeased.
• Matt 21:23 The chief priest and elders openly challenged Jesus authority saying, “ Who gave you the authority to teach these things

When he dismounted the c**t, he went about setting the temple in order, cleansing the House of God. Then he began healing in the temple. Remember Jesus’ mission was to minister to the people, no to be ministered to (Matt 20:28). Jesus began by cleansing the temple. Be blessed

Good morning Saints!! The Sunday School class will be on the church conference for next few weeks. We will be getting out the message on when we will be ready to go back to the sanctuary for in-person Sunday school soon. The church conference line is (774) 267-7591.....

On the subject of Hate and Love...

Hate the sin...Love the sinner. Yet many of us find this concept too complicated

Or perhaps we are too unwilling to hate the sin but love the sinner. Even the average man or woman, who doesn’t love God, can see well enough to hate what they do, but not hate themselves. Let us follow what Gods word says in Matt 22:39 to “Love others as we love ourselves”. If we follow Gods word, it should not be a hill too hard to climb to hate the sin AND love the sinner. Be blessed

Deuteronomy..101.

The book of Deuteronomy is the final book of the Law. Written by Moses it is not bringing new information, but is a repetition of the prior books of the Law. With explanation and emphasis, this book clarifies and expounds upon the prior books of the law. Written shortly before the Israelites enter the promised land, its significance among the books of the Old Testament is not overlooked. As we shall see in this Sundays lesson. "Free Because Of The Lord...".Our savior, Jesus Christ quotes Deu 8:3'....Man doth not live by bread alone..." Be Blessed.

Lesson for March 27 is
"FREE BECAUSE OF THE LORD"
Deuteronomy 8:1-11

A heartfelt thank you to the awesome teachers that have remained so faithful during this pandemic, and for meeting and exceeding the challenges of this past two years of reaching the people and teaching Gods word. Even though we are not meeting at the sanctuary, Gods message is still being spread to the masses. Thank you and may God continue to magnify your Gifts.

WHO IS YOUR RIDE OR DIE?

In our culture, we have a penchant for indulging our creative nature and coming up with memorable and pithy sayings. One such saying is….”Ride or die”…

Now, this saying wraps around the cultures and reaches across the generations. This is not a “young peoples thing”, and this is not a saying that we are not familiar with. For it deals with character traits such as integrity, faithfulness, selflessness courage and fidelity. The commonality of its usage is prominent in recent years, but the message beneath the statement predates it by millennia. In fact, the message resonates throughout the Bible. In the book of Esther, Esther a concubine of King Ahasuerus, made a decision to help the Jewish people who were captives of the kingdom of Persia. Although being one of hundreds of young women in the harem of the king, the providential hand of God touched her, and King Ahasuerus fell in love with her. Taking advantage of the unique position, she decided to help her people, but her decision was not without its risks, a jealous, ambitious politician (Haman), was pressuring the king to get rid of the Jews (Esther 3:6), and if she enters the kings presence without being summoned, she risks being put to death. She decides to appeal directly to Ahasuerus on behalf of her people, even at the risk of displeasing him, and being put to death. The scripture says that in her mind she says “If I perish...then I perish” (Esther 4:16), this example of a “ride or die” friend would certainly please the most skeptical of people. Esther was willing to “ride it out until the desired result happened or die in the process.”

The story of Jonathan (the son of King Saul) and David, the young shepherd boy who would be king, illustrates a high degree of friendship and love for ones fellow man. Jonathan, the son of King Saul, chafed at his fathers efforts to have David killed, openly questioning the ruler. Saul was suspicious of Jonathan and in a paranoid rage tried to kill Jonathan by throwing a spear at him. In the face of hostility by his father Saul, Jonathan’s courage never waned, and he warned David of a secret assassination attempt by Saul's army (I Samuel 20-35). Never once failing his friend David, even unto his death. This brings to our attention the nature of our heavenly father, that remains faithful to us, even when we were faithless towards him. We turned away from God, but he remained faithful, giving his all for us. Even the life of his only begotten son (John 3:16), sacrificing that which was perfect for those who were imperfect. The question for us today is who you have as your “ride or die”. Be blessed.

WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR LOVE…..?

Years ago, a singer named Bobby Caldwell, hit the charts with a song titled “What you won’t do for Love”. The Song remained in the top ten for nearly a year. Audiences of every type swayed and sung along to the familiar chorus “You tried everything and you won't give up...”

In the Old Testament a prophet of Israel named Hosea heard from God to “….take thee a wife of w***edom”, being an obedient prophet Hosea promptly took a wife (named Gomer) from Diblaim. The first chapter of Hosea, says that not only would Gomer have multiple children, Lo-ruhamah (meaning No-mercy) and Lo-Ammi (meaning not my people) their names would reflect God’s inclination towards the nation of Israel.

In the time of the prophet Hosea the king was Jeroboam II (he was a wicked king), and he led the people to commit sinful acts (2 Kings 14:23-24) away from God. Taking his loving care for granted, disregarding his rules, commandments and ignoring the voice of his prophets. As it happened many times before, God would forgive the unfaithful Israel of her sinful ways. The King was evil, and so was the kingdom/nation. They seemed to like living in sin more than living to please God. Israel was like a Hollywood madam, that took any suitor that played her song. Baal worshiping, and giving sacrifices to Astarte, the children of Israel continued to play the w***e, only reflecting on their actions when the judgment of God and the punishment of sin pressed upon their conscience. The nation was mired in a string of poor leadership (evil kings) that led them away from God. To the topic at hand, God raised up Hosea to prophecy to Israel, but the example of his Life would be as God and Israel. Hosea would take a wife, Gomer that would leave him for the arms of another man. Repeatedly Gomer fled the institution of marriage for the life of debauchery and lust. Even after the birth of children, Gomer continued to go after other men, being unrestrained in her lust, drank to excess (Hosea 3:1), and looked for an opportunity to commit adultery. Because of her lifestyle, the party life, the drinking, the illicit relationships with men and debts that she racked up, she became as a slave of another man. (Hosea 3:2) No instance points to the depth of her depravity more than when God told Hosea to find Gomer and take her back, and to forgive her sinful transgressions against him and bring her back into a righteous relationship with him, to restore Gomer as his bride once again.

Most people would be hesitant to allow a spouse back into their home after an indiscretion, but practically none would accept them back after they left them at home. She left him for a lover, and an “entanglement”, laughing and drinking publicly, running up debts to support her extravagant lifestyle, producing children of questionable lineage and eventually ending up in prison. Adding insult to injury, Hosea had to pay to have Gomer released from the lover that she left him for.

Hosea’s life is a representation of the relationship between God and the nation of Israel. No matter how much he did for Israel, she strayed in search of another god, no matter how many times God delivered Israel from danger, famine, enemies, she found something else that piqued her interest. He provided for Israel in the great famine, he raised up a leader to take them out of bo***ge, He delivered them from Pharaoh's army when they crossed the Red Sea on dry land. He prepared the promised land for them. He gave them victory over the pagan nations, as they occupied the promised land. He provided leadership (The Judges) to lead them in the promised land. This is a story of God doing everything, for the Love that he had for his people, his bride was second to none. Hosea represents God in all his patriarchal righteousness, loving a peculiar, imperfect people and watching that people become unfaithful, repeatedly. We should have a good understanding of the Love that God has for us when you consider that he gave his life for someone that was unfaithful to him. What a remarkable story of a remarkable man, that showed us the faithfulness of God through his own life, one that Did everything for the Love of God, Hosea will forever be one of my favorite stories in the bible. God bless and keep the faith.

"Say what you mean...... but don't say it mean."

Prov 15:1.." A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir anger

Clear your record...hardly
God has never expunged a person's record of sin, No matter how slight the transgression. The manner of the transgressions of which shall be irresistible to appeal, or commuted is not relevant. Its destiny to be revealed, is certain. The cost, the penance, the penalty is irrevocable and sure. A just God expects every sin debt to be paid, the good news for you is that he has provided a way for your debt to be paid by someone else. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" Accept Jesus and you are accepting life, no more fear of death, or the unknown destiny. Be blessed

UNIT 1 LESSONS
GOD REQUIRES JUSTICE

December 5 Justice and Obedience
Deut 5:1-3; 10: 12-13; 27:1-10

December 12 Justice and Kindness
2 Samuel 9:1-7, 9-12

December 19 Justice and Righteousness
Isaiah 9: 2-7

December 26 Justice and Deliverance
Nahum 1:1-3, 6-8, 12-13, 15

THANKSGIVING!

Well the holiday season is here
a time of mirth once more
when we see friends and family
and let our spirits soar

tis’ the season we plan
to laugh and to be merry
to eat and to drink
and all that's customary

but have we planned to celebrate
in err and amiss
the gifts of hollow treasure
and empty things like this...

The ham and the dressing
the pastry and the pies
the cheesecake and the cobbler
the turkey we will fry

The mac and cheese is great
the key lime pie sublime
afterward we rest awhile
then cocktails at bedtime

Arising in the morn
to beat the crowds to sales
spending hard earned cash
afterward moving like snails

This is only the start
our minds are totally shot
we only think of ourselves
others...we cannot

Do we even know
or do we really care
about a group of people
with whom we didn’t share

a tiny piece of cake
a plate that we didn’t eat
slabs of ham and pork
of the leftover meat

but you are not alone
my sisters and my brothers
America gave up being kind
to poor and to others

We will work all week
turning hands to blisters
but wont give a dime to
the misses or the misters

We are not very thankful
nor are we very giving
when we go a’ chasing
the wealthy standard of living

But in Gods will for us
includes the very poor
that we so oft’ forget
and shut them out the door

Be ye humble
be ye kind
love the unloved
Gods blessings you’ll find

Happy Thanksgiving!

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

How many of you would be interested in resuming an in-person Sunday school class in the near future? If so, please indicate with a "like" or comment. be blessed.

THE FATHERS WAY
(John 14:6..I am the way..)

In search of something new,
We abandoned what is true
Looking for what is cool,
Embraced that which made us the fool
Craving dessert, a sweet taste,
And allowed the main course to waste
Ears itching for the newest sound,
The songs of our fathers no longer abound
Blinded with the poison fruit of sin,
No longer seeing the Fathers way therein
We lose our way, our path, then our heart,
We are of the world now, no longer set apart
Deeper we go into the crowds,
From the clear-skies into the storm clouds
People are everywhere and all around,
But you, are far from the old hallowed ground
You are free to do as you please,
To work or to live a life of ease
Bravo! you have what you always wanted,
The money, the fame that you flaunted
freedom, the control….you make the rules now
And yet you feel hollow inside...but how

(You say….)
“I’m living my way, make my own decisions,
They cant stop me, they don’t have my vision
I know what I’m doing, I’m making my choice
I’ll say what I want, I have a voice”…

You were on top of the world, until you’re not
Your health, your money and fame have come to naught
You are now the one that is cursed
No money, no fame, the friends left at your worst
Your suffering isn’t in the body it’s in the soul
You suffer knowing that you are not whole
Realize that you suffered all the time
You were looking for another ladder to climb
Another love to get, another career to attain
Nothing stopped you not even the pain
But now you’re done, no where to go
No one knows you, you’re John Doe…

You body is frozen, mind is reeling
Cant make sense of what you are feeling
The fruit you ate, was sweet to the taste
But afterward brought your soul to waste.
The words that you heard brought out emotion
Division, disruption nothing but commotion
The beauty that you saw at the start
Is sour milk, and has blackened your heart.
You need a doctor, not the father of lies
To straighten out your mind and heal you inside
To clean and to revive the broken heart
To mend to repair and to give a new start
To gird you with truth, and wash away the guilt
Breakdown the strongholds that you built
Clear your vision from the poison of sin
That you see the Fathers path therein

(But the enemy says)
“No use now, the pressure is too great,
You went too far, quit... accept your fate
You messed this up you knew better that this,
Devil-made-you-do-it? were you thinking amiss?
Broke you mothers heart, your father a mess
All your mistakes have you in distress
Only one way for you mortal man,
Your soul for a charmed lifespan?
I’ll give you fame to melt your little heart,
More money, brand new sweetheart
I’ll give you what you want, the sky is the limit
You’ll have the world and all that is in it,
Just bow down to me, the job is nearly done,
When you stopped praying, always on the run
Stayed away from church, fun in the sun
Stopped reading your bible, night clubs just for fun
Truth is when you started to ‘find yourself’
You really found me..but you put God on the shelf
I’ll give you new friends, that serve you no lack
Just don’t pray to God….to him never go back”
But don’t stop, it just getting fun
You should roll with it….son…”

You need to walk and not look back
Lest you fall and have a setback
God is not dead, you have to turn around,
Should you sin, just so that grace can abound?
Turn, turn, turn and he will see you
The journey back is short, he’ll get through.
Better move now if you want to live,
God is faithful and he will surely forgive.

Be blessed

Do you want a world without Jesus Christ....just imagine a world without emergency rooms, doctors, nurses, or any health care. Who would wish for such a thing? Only a fool would.....

UPCOMING SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS
UNIT 2, Called to Praise God

OCTOBER 17
Praise God for Past Deliverance---Psalm 107:1-9, 39-43

OCTOBER 24
Praise God for His Presence---Psalm 84

OCTOBER 31
Praise God for His Greatness---Psalm 149:1-5, 150

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE..

In your Christian journey, have you been in a situation where it seems that no matter which way you turn, there is opposition? If you turn to the left side, people complain, if you go to the right they complain even louder. The further you go, the angrier the people become...If this sounds familiar, then you are in good company. Jesus himself was faced with opposition from all sides.

Lets start with a some background, there were several distinct group that opposed Jesus’ earthly ministry (we will not count Satan). There were the Pharisee; the Pharisee were composed of two differing schools of thought, started by Jewish rabbis Shammai and Hillel, respectively. Although both were considered Pharisee, the differences between them were a point of contention. Rabbi Shammai called for a strict, unbending interpretation of the Law, his followers fostered a hatred for anything Roman, including taxation, and Jews who served as tax collectors were considered “persona non grata” or “unwelcome person”. The Shammaites wanted to outlaw all communication and commerce between Jews and Gentiles. Rabbi Hillel taught a looser, more liberal application. The Hillelites took a more gracious approach and opposed such extreme exclusiveness. In the category of sad but informative, the doctrine of Shammaites’ put them at odds with the Hillelites, Eventually, the two differing schools of thought within the Pharisee two grew so hostile that they refused to worship together. they did however set their differences aside on one occasion. The trial and condemnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Although the Pharisee are the most often mentioned enemy of Jesus, they are not the only ones. The Sadducee were an aristocratic class connected with everything going on in the temple in Jerusalem. They tended to be wealthy and held powerful positions, including that of chief priests and high priest. They sought peace and stability with Rome, therefore their decisions were inexorably linked with their own economic and political interests, the wanted to keep a good relationship with the ruling Roman government. And there is more..

1. The Sadducee were extremely self-sufficient to the point of denying God’s involvement in everyday life.
2. They denied any resurrection of the dead (Matthew 22:23; Mark 12:18–27; Acts 23:8). Due to this belief, the Sadducee strongly resisted the apostles’ preaching that Jesus had risen from the dead.
3. They denied the afterlife, holding that the soul perished at death and therefore denying any penalty or reward after the earthly life.
4. They denied the existence of a spiritual world, i.e, angels and demons (Acts 23:8).

And the last group that we will discuss are the scribes. The Scribe were an ancient group whose business was to study, transcribe and write commentary on the scriptures (Ezra 7:6-10). They took the job of preserving scripture very seriously, frankly we owe the preservation of the scripture to their diligence. Although often associated with the Pharisee, not all Pharisee were Scribes (Matt 5:20, 12:38). They were teachers of the people (Mark 1:22). They were highly respected because of their, knowledge, dedication and righteous appearance. But they went beyond interpretation and added many man-made traditions to the Law of Moses. They became experts at spelling out the letter of the law, but ignoring the spirit of the law that framed it (Mark 12:28). These groups, The Pharisee, the Sadducee and the Scribes made up the body of the Sanhedrin Council. The governing body of Israel.

The last group is the Great Sanhedrin council itself, commonly known simply as the “Sanhedrin” (Num 11:16). It was composed of 70 men and a high priest. They tried issues that the lower courts could not decide. It functioned similar to the U.S. Supreme Court. The exact composition is not known, but there were Pharisee in it (John 3:1, Acts 5:34) and Sadducee (Acts 23:6). The Sanhedrin council, and its individual groups opposed Jesus at every turn, attempting to discredit him (Luke 11:53-54). These religious leaders, were men who took that which was sacred and put their own interpretation upon the holy scripture of God; and the interpretation and what they added, were considered more important than the scripture itself. They changed from tribal religious leaders of the nation that inspired and led the children of God, to powerful, influential, wealthy men of stature that sacrificed morality, and uprightness for personal gain. They were the center of religion and politics in the community. They succumbed to the lure of power and wealth, becoming filled with greed and wickedness (Luke 11:39). Becoming political in their interpretations and rulings, they sought to eliminate rivals who questioned their motives. The Pharisee quarreled with the Sadducee, the Essene were against the scribes, but that changed in an instant when a perceived threat to their power rose up, they would set aside their differences and marshal their forces to squash the opposition.

Jesus, the son of God, the messiah of mankind came to fulfill the law (Matt 5:17). You would be correct in your thinking that the Pharisee, the Sadducee, and the Scribes, being educated, and well versed in the Law of Moses, knowing of the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6-7), should be the first to announce the arrival of the messiah in the form of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And first to defend him from the naysayers... But instead, these competing religious, political leaders, saw in Jesus a threat to their power, a rival. Instead of worshiping him, they warred against him, as they would a political foe.

The irony is just how much things have remained the same, over the two-thousand years since the resurrection. How many times have you seen individuals who were political rivals, suddenly put aside their difference, to come together in force on an issue. We could cheer the sudden putting aside of differences for the common goals, if it were a goal that was for good. But as is the case in politics, many decisions are short on principals. Some vote a certain way to appease their supporters, Some, vote a certain way to appease their campaign donors. Some vote a certain way to retain control, or perhaps to gain control, or maybe to solidify their support with another group...to increase their control. The disappointment mounts when you think that these religious groups (Pharisee, Sadducee, Essene, scribes) that should have known the truth, and promoted the savior...instead, they ignored the truth, to eliminate the savior. Jesus who should have been celebrated by the Pharisee, was persecuted by the Pharisee, and crucified by the Romans. He was between a rock and a hard place, the Pharisee on the left and the Sadducee on the right, the scribes in the front and the devil on his trail. Have you been surrounded by people that were enemies to each other, now have put aside their differences and joined forces to mount an attack against you. Take heart and know that when Satan influences people to oppose you, to persecute you, count yourself blessed, and rejoice and be glad, because your reward in heaven will be great, for they persecuted the prophets also (Matt 5:10-12). Take heart and be of good cheer, for your enemies being influenced by the evil one, embraced the world and rejected the heavenly one, who came to fulfill the law, the Messiah, also rejected you (John 3:16). Be blessed!