Prophecy Series Revelation Part 1

“ Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? “

Let’s continue.

This statement Paul makes is the point in all this.

“ Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? “

While Paul was leading up to this, listing all their claims to be experts in spiritual instruction, he now turns it back on them, pointing out their hypocrisy.

The main reason Paul points out their hypocrisy is because of the fact that like Peter, Barnabas, the church in Galatia, and other followers of Jesus who went back to living under the Law living in hypocrisy, so did these Roman followers of Jesus.

In making this statement Paul was not criticizing them or anyone else who teaches against sin. Many evangelical church leaders today who condone sin, even using God’s grace as a copout excuse for living in sin, the myth that “God controls everything” also used as a copout excuse for living in sin and refusing to take responsibility for one’s own actions.

Just a reminder to those of you who have been reading me since 2005, as I said then I still say today, what I say to you I say to myself as well.

The things I say is from firsthand experience in knowing people, working side by side with people and talking to them on a one on one basis.

Paul gets down to brass tacks when he plainly says;

“ thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? “

Interestingly, Paul had to say to the born again christians at the church at Ephesus;

“ Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. “ Ephesians 4:28

While stealing is quite obvious a sin, it is the next 2 sins that I want to discuss.

Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? “

This is an interesting sin;

“ adultery ”

It comes in 5 categories and all are for sure sin…according to the Holy Bible.

1.) Adultery is sex outside of marriage.

Ezekiel said;

“ But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband! “ Ezekiel 16:32

2.) Adultery is the result for a spouse who is divorced for any reason except for fornication.

Jesus said;

“ But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery:…“ Matthew 5:32

3.) Adultery is the result of anyone marrying a divorced person.

Jesus said;

“ …and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. “ Matthew 5:32

4.) Adultery is when a spouse divorces the other and marries another person.

Jesus said;

“ Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. “ Mark 10:11-12

Now here is the big one that most evangelicals choose to ignore.

5.) Adultery is lusting after someone.

Jesus said;

“ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. “ Matthew 5:27:28

So my friend, just as Paul pointed out the hypocrisy in these Roman followers of Jesus in teaching from the Law against sin but yet they themselves committing the same sin, don’t be condemning divorced people, excommunicating them from fellowship, looking down your nose at them as if a divorced person committed the unpardonable sin which it is not the unpardonable sin ( only blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the unpardonable sin according to Jesus ), when you lust after women upon looking at a woman, which is as much the sin of adultery as is divorce and remarriage.

God will judge His people and knows our heart.

“ For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. “ Hebrews 10:30-31

“ thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? “

The Greek word “ hierosuleis “ translated “ sacrilege “ means to rob temples.

It can also mean to commit sacrilege. Technically, robbing temples is obviously showing disrespect to what is sacred to God.

Webster defines the word “ sacrilege “ as - “ Violating something sacred to God or religion.”

It is interesting that even though Jesus is Himself the New Covenant, the New Testament and even though the temple was built under the time of the Law, He was still quite upset at the way people were disrespectfully treating the house of God.

“ And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. “ Mark 11:15-17

Notice Jesus would not allow anyone to bring any vessel into the temple.

“And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. “

Yes my friend, Mark did say;

“And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. “

My Dad was far from being a “ legalist “ but when I was a child, if he ever saw me showing disrespect in church he would let me know how he felt about it! LOL

In today’s modern evangelical society, while I’m in church I see church goers bringing cell phones and even leaving them on, water bottles, coffee, energy drinks, standing out in the foyer talking to friends even after the service starts and entering the service whenever they feel like it, bookstores to sell products and make money, etc…

Now, to not do these things is not “ legalism “ as the church leaders would accuse those of being who believe these things are disrespectful in the house of God.

To do or not do these things I see in church nowadays, is not a matter of being legalistic.

It is a matter of what kind of relationship we have with the Lord.

Are we sacrilegious like these Romans Paul addressed this issue to or are we respectful to the Lord who saved us?

I know the age old excuse that the building is not the church! LOL

I know it is those who belong to Jesus.

However, contrary to today’s modern evangelical philosophy about church, Jesus thought the temple was to be respected even in His day!

It is a matter of where our heart is.

I will continue with verse 23 in the next study.

Wayne Brown