How I understand Matthew 9:13 - mercy and not sacrifice - bible talk

[jennifer_bloom]

One issue I have with my current pastor is he is an argumentative and judgmental person

If you follow my questions and posts you will know that previously I complained about how the pastor thought my motives for mentoring a 14 year old in the bible study were sexual or romantic and not spiritual and altruistic

Recently I find he likes to create unnecessary drama with people

He criticizes Christians who shop or bank on Sunday

He criticizes Christians who love their parents more than God

He criticizes Christians who spend all their time on their cell phone

He criticizes Christians who are not strong enough to die for their religious beliefs

This unnecessary hostility because none of these actions are biblical sins

Jesus said he came to bless people who aren’t connected to God and not raise the moral standards of the already obedient

If the standard of salvation was the willingness to endure torture and murder for religion

And not avoidance of things like jealousy or hatred

Than God would be judging us by our power and not by our obedience

Its okay to hate and it’s okay to apply pressure

What is not okay is unnecessary hate and unnecessary pressure

Jesus desires mercy and love

not sacrifice and punishment

The sacrifices we use to become holy does not count

What ultimately counts is our level of holiness

This is the generous eye of God

[Jjpayne]

I agree with you! You have to look at what Jesus did! He used the bible system for the people not the people for the bible system. The famous one was on the Sabbath if you had an animal that fell in a hole would you not get it out. The Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath. And if saving a person (salvation) happened because you worked on a Sunday would the angels still not rejoice? It's the question of why you do it not why you have to do it. Clearly there are good practices that we should follow when they align with their true reason for being but sometimes... They are just not practical. Another thing. Let's say you parents needed help medically on a Sunday and you would have to miss church otherwise they could die... A man must leave is father and mother and must leave everything behind to follow me but then there is honoring your mother and father... Isn't that one of the ten commandments?

[Jjpayne]

Thank you :)

[COMMODOREII]

Sounds like a priest from the sanhedrin.

[90sVibe]

To understand this verse you must first understand the context Jesus was speaking in. He was addressing the religious pharisees who would put on a show of false humility and self sacrifice yet treat others with true love. He was not speaking to His followers or believers.
Jesus came for all to be saved and for all to follow him.

Jesus didn't come to destroy or get rid of the law of the old testament but to fulfill it. Yes, many of the old testament rules and laws don't apply to the dispensation of grace in which we currently live in, but He did raise the moral standards for all who claim to be Christ followers and believe in Him to live by. God does judge us by our ordinance to his standards, that was never done away with. However, there is the element of grace and forgiveness that Jesus paid the price for by which we are able to obtain by practicing forgiveness ourselves.

We as believers obtain holiness by Jesus through our faith and relationship with Him, not by our works. In Hebrews it says that faith is what pleases God, so we are to live by faith which means we need to follow the Bible which takes a lot of faith. In all that we do here on earth it should be done so by love but that doesn't excuse the fact that we are to judge ourselves and those within the body of Christ in love with respect. Love has boundaries and standards and is never an excuse to sin or not be held accountable for one's own actions.

[kemo56]

In one sense he might be a good pastor for you seems your looking at what he tells you the Bible says study to show thyself approved we're responsible for our beliefs and actions that is not something that you should rely on someone else's opinion

When you study the Bible you pray for the guidance of the holy Spirit and in that sense you should be getting the real meaning of the words but because all of us have different experiences different prejudiced (preconceived ideas) it is my belief that our subconscious twist the words took that our beliefs and I believe that's the reason devout man of God women of God that have studied the Bible and study the Bible and study the Bible and yet they have different opinions and I believe that's because what I brought to the table when they started studying the Bible

But something that I would also point out is the pastor's human none of us are perfect and as you study the Bible some of your opinions will change...

One other thought and I'm not even pointing the finger is that and I'm going to paraphrase this it says something like this not to concentrate on the speck in someone else's eye when you've got a plank in yours and what that means is is sometimes we judge people harshly and don't pay enough attention to our actions the things we need to work on which is a lot more important to getting you where you want to go

[lightbulb27]

Agree. Its not easy to be a shepard. Can be overzealous. Gotta let people live and learn and thats not easy as we are all biased. Your pastor likely seen more and the brokenness of people.. funerals... weddings... divorces... etc... high volumes.

[Bootylicious905]

No human is without sin. Except prophets. So that tells you Bible has some errors. God is perfect. Can not error. Yet Bible still makes God into human form. Truth is simple and not complicated. Quran in Islam says. God is one. Nothing unto to him is like him. Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One,
2. Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
3. He neither begets nor is born,
4. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”. Chapter 112. Verse 1 to 4.

[SetFree]

Quran is one man's attempt to copycat the true Bible.

[LEADFOOTboi]

our best works here on earth are as dirty rags to God... and yus, Jesus came to bridge the spiritual gap between jews and the literal heathens... why would he have beef with you mentoring a young person? us as even christiians dont have much holiness of our own account, it's all due to the Jesus we put on instead of the old man we put on... God wants everyone to go to heaven, not just the claimed... that's y we have missionaries and evangelests, to grow the count goin on UP

[jamixgh]

Christianity is not a religion but rather a life style... live a life that pleases God but not your pastor...

[kemo56]

So well said our relationships between us and God and it's our responsibility for our beliefs and actions and if we rely on some persons opinion then we drive off the road where they did

[abbecker]

Amen! But seriously some of what your pastor says is just messed up 😭 I have never heard pastors encouraging "die for their religious beliefs". Have you considered finding another church nearby?

[Bratsondanielle]

Well if I were you I'd stop running around in churches and do something constructive instead