Various Teachings of Jesus (2)

We're looking at an interesting period in our Lord's life and ministry and Wednesday evenings in our study of the life of Christ. The time when Jesus is instructing His disciples and taking time out from more crowd type ministry and more public type ministry to focus upon the 12. Even so much that he has even so much so that he has actually left the country to be able to get away from crowds to focus upon the 12. We have seen that most recently the Lord appeared to Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration and and let them know that he was indeed the Son of God even though he's giving them new information about his death which they don't fully understand. He's reinforcing the fact that he is also God that he is truly God in all of his glory and he lets Peter, James and John see that. When they come down from the mountain they are immediately hit with a scene of the inability of the other apostles to cast out a demon and Jesus does that cast out the demon and then teaches His disciples a lesson about faith and we're looking at various teachings of Jesus. Looked at a couple last week the first one about faith and the second one about his death. One of the most instructive qualities about our Lord was his ability to draw spiritual qualities and lessons and instruction from everyday events. Even the miracles of compassion that he is doing now are also designed to teach his disciples lessons and so he's drawing lessons for them from the events that are happening and we will see that very graphically in the next story that takes place in our Lord's ministry. It basically if you want to call it this is a tax notice and Jesus receives a tax notice and from that teaches a great lesson to Peter and also uses it to reinforce his deity. So you see what Jesus is doing. He's taking these events that are happening whether they're miracles that happen, whether they're everyday events in life or things that he sees about the disciples and he's just instructing, teaching, mentoring, training, all of this is taking place now. That's really the focus of this part of our Lord's ministry. I want to begin tonight in Matthew 17 and verse 24 where Jesus gives a lesson about His deity from actual tax notice that He got. Verse 24 after Jesus and His disciples arrived in Capernaum the collectors of the two Drakma tax came to Peter and asked, doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax? Now let's get our bearings here a little bit. Jesus is in Capernaum last week we ended with kind of an overview of the town of Capernaum but it's a town on the north end of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus made His home base while He was involved in His great Galilee and ministry. So for a year and a half this has been His home base and even when He has left to go out of the country as He had on three occasions in recent weeks, He has still come back to Capernaum or made that His home base. This has been the scene of His most intense and busiest days of ministry but this is the last time Jesus will visit Capernaum. From this point He will begin to travel towards Jerusalem and then He will minister in and around Jerusalem a little bit move outside to Peria and Judea and then go back into Jerusalem for His last run ministry and for His last few days of life before His death on the cross. So He's in a sense saying goodbye to Capernaum and those scenes of ministry which have been so common for Him. It is at that point that the collectors of attacks called the two Drachmataks come to Peter and ask, doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax? It's obvious that these whoever these tax collectors are and they will see their temple tax collectors have been put up to this probably by Jesus' enemies who are dogging His every step seeking to find any occasion possible to trip Him up or to attack Him or to attack His credibility among the people and so they probably put these temple tax collectors up to this question. The question for Peter has to do with the two Drachmataks. Now this is in the a little bit of understanding as to what this is in order to understand what happens here and why Jesus responds the way He does. This was not a government tax. This was not a compulsory tax that was issued by the Roman government or was due to Caesar. This was a tax that initially was originated by Moses, the Lord commanded it of Moses and Moses instructed the people in Exodus chapter 30 and that this would be a tax that would be gathered whenever there was a census of the people. You can read about it in Exodus 30. Whenever there would be a census of the people this was a tax that would be collected to support the work of the temple. We don't know how regularly that was taken. The Bible doesn't tell us how regularly census were done. We know they were done twice. The people were numbered twice in the book of Numbers, the beginning of the book and toward the end of the book but we don't really know how often that happened. But after the exile after Israel had gone into captivity to Babylon and come back to the land Nehemiah reinstituted this tax but now it was done annually and the two-drochema tax was done every year. By the time of Christ this tax was not compulsory. It was not mandated but people were still expected to give toward the upkeep of the temple through the two-drochema tax. Interestingly enough that was kind of an official name for this tax. The Drakma was not even a coin that was in use in Jesus' day. The Romans had instituted the Daenerius but the two-drochema tax would be equivalent to about two days pay in the Jewish economy. It's a fairly significant tax for the people but it was not compulsory. It was just expected that people would give to support the temple. There was a lot of graft and greed and corruption because the tax had to be given in shekels in the temple which was the Jewish currency so there were money changers that would take people's money from all over the world and change it into shekels and then it would be given to the temple. Well that just bred corruption and graft to the tune of about two hundred thousand dollars a year. Extra money taken into the temple. So the temple had built up this huge treasury of funds that was the envy and the target of armies across the world. That was one of the reasons why the temple was often targeted for attack or even oversight by the Roman armies and so forth because of that huge treasury that had been gathered there by the graft and greed. This tax was due in March. It's now fall of the year. We're in the fall of the year. Jesus has not paid this tax because he's been out of the country most of the time and so it's again it's not compulsory. He hasn't broken any laws. This is not a Roman law. It's just was expected that people would do this. Jesus has not paid it because he's been out of the country but notice Peter's answer Peter evidently senses a trap and so he answers yes he does he replied. Now notice the next statement in verse 25 when Peter came into the house Jesus was the first to speak. What do you think Simon? He asked from whom to the kings of their earth collect duty and taxes from their own sons or from others. This is such an interesting interaction here. Peter evidently senses some pressure on the part of this question or to try to make Jesus look bad and so Peter quickly answers yes he does pay the temple tax and then he goes back into the house and you just get the impression he's hesitant to say anything. He has volunteered the Lord paying this tax when it's not compulsory. He's kind of spoken quickly and so Jesus takes the first step. There's just something about the manner of our Lord that is so refreshing and such a blessing. Jesus senses that Peter has kind of stepped out on a limb and he graciously defuses the situation and what he will do is he will use an illustration to deal with the temple tax but also to reinforce who he is in Peter's mind. Just masterful the way the Lord ceases these opportunities to train, to teach but also to very graciously help Peter out of a tight spot. Peter has committed Jesus to paying this tax and Jesus has not paid it so Peter is kind of in a tight spot and he's hesitant to bring it up. You know he didn't say a thing so Jesus initiates the conversation. I just love that little evidence of grace and compassion that Jesus displayed. He's the first to speak and he says what do you think Simon from whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes from their own sons or from others and what Jesus is doing verse 26 Peter answers from others then the sons are exempt Jesus said to him. Jesus is bringing up the well-known custom particularly in the Roman world of taxing nations that you conquer. Roman citizens were exempt from taxes but not so the people they conquered. The people they conquered were taxed very heavily and it was part of the heavy yoke of the Romans upon nations they conquered that made them a stench in the nostrils of people they conquered. So Jesus is just saying how does this work? How does taxation work? Do kings expect their own sons to pay taxes to build their own palaces? Well of course not. You know you're not going to tax your own boys to build your own house and he's saying and so the implication is sons do not build their father's houses with their own taxes that was true of the Roman government. They didn't tax their own people they taxed others and Jesus is using that very common example then to make a point. The sons are exempt. What do you think is point is? Now thinking back to the temple what do you think Jesus point is in that illustration? His father owns the temple doesn't he? The temple is his father's house isn't it? Do the sons build the father's house? No. They're exempt. What he's what he's emphasizing then is his own unique relationship to the father isn't he? I am the son of the father again he's emphasizing his own deity to Peter with this common illustration. So again reinforcing to Peter who has been troubled because of all this new talk about crucifixion and death and it's got him all confused we've seen a couple three times already that disciples have no clue what he's talking about don't understand at all and they're afraid to ask him anymore about it. Well Jesus in the midst of their confusion is reinforcing with Peter now. Peter I am the son of God I am God in human flesh. Don't ever lose sight of that even though you're getting new information now that's troubling to you they'll never lose sight of the fact that I am who have claimed to be all along and the son of God and so notice what he says then in verse 27 this is so neat but so that we may not offend them again this is not compulsory doesn't have to pay this tax there's no law that says he has to pay it not existing in Israel now but so that we may not offend them go to the lake see of Galilee which was also referred to as a lake like a Ganeshrit go to the lake and throw out your line take the first fish you catch open its mouth and you will find a four-drauc macoin take it and give it to them for my tax and yours what a fascinating story and you know there've been those who have those who deny the miraculous come up with all kinds of crazy explanations as to what was happening here it's interesting sometimes to read liberals and what they say liberals who who don't believe in any of the miraculous elements of the scriptures basically say Peter fished long enough to get enough fish to sell and pay the tax but that's not at all what it says is not at all what it says not at all what Jesus did there have been others though that have raised an ethical question about this and that is what is the purpose did they not have any money they did have money to support their ministry we know from other scriptures that there were women who supported them regularly which enabled them to travel and do what they did is Jesus performing a miracle for his own personal ends that purpose of this miracle just to give him extra money to it so we want to take it out of the the cycles treasury is he is the ethical question that some raised is Jesus performing a miracle for his own ends for his own benefit for his own purposes what do you think it's for Peter okay ow any other thoughts there yeah that gives him one less thing to complain about or try to attack him about quite an unfair see so they wouldn't be offended so that they wouldn't have any reason to accuse Jesus even though Jesus is not nothing wrong so that so that they wouldn't have any reason to accuse him let's go ahead and and do this and by the way it's a great lesson there sometimes we should do things that were not required to do we're not obligated to do just so that we don't offend other people just so that we don't hurt or offend or cause other people to have undue criticism or whatever sometimes we should just go ahead and do some things that were not obligated to do now what what often is our attack or our our feeling is I'm not supposed I don't have to so I'm not going to I don't care what they know that's often the way we feel and again Jesus shows such a grace way of living he doesn't have to do this but and these are these are obviously people out to attacking their legalists but Jesus says we're not going to make an issue we're not going to let them make this an issue we're going to go ahead and pay it a great lesson there I think yes possibly possibly I think in the context he's also emphasizing his own deity that this is his father's house because talk talks about the sons don't pay for the father's house and in the context of these miracles emphasizing his deity and even of the the transfiguration I think that may be the primary reference but I think certainly that is true that Israel is the sons of God so why should they give this tax but but the whole the whole purpose of the temple taxes for Israel to contribute to their temple yeah right yeah I think he's just using the illustration of sons in the sense of sons don't build their father's houses and and to give to just get across the general principle that it is not the son that builds the father's house and I think the real emphasis then is on his deity I'm the son of God I'm not obligated to pay the temple tax that's my father's house my father the sons don't pay for the father's house I think that's really the main emphasis there but Jesus not only describes his relationship to the father he also also shows his deity doesn't he with how he gets the money again what Al said is true the purpose of the miracle was not for personal gain it was for Peter's sake for Peter to once again see the glory of Christ that okay first of all he's omniscient he knows there is a fish out there that's got this coin in its mouth secondly he's omnipotent he has all power he's able to make it be the first fish that Peter catches so again this miracle showing both his omniscience and his omnipotence is for Peter's benefit for Peter's encouragement and for him to understand again more fully who Jesus is Jesus really is the son of God so it's a great story it's fascinating story it's the best fishing story you'll ever hear and and it has a great lesson to it as well must have been a goldfish yeah with the coin in its mouth that's good I like that that's my kind of humor yes yes yeah I mean Jesus tells him take the first fish you catch open his mouth and you'll find a four-druck McCoy and and I'd be thinking you've got to be kidding you expect me to go out and but yeah it takes faith for him to say okay Lord I believe y'all go out and drop my line and I expect that's where I'm gonna get the coin yeah they did yeah I wonder about that when I saw the word line I didn't have the time or take the time to study out that words anyone have another translation that has something other than line yeah in 27 where Jesus says go to the lake and throw out your line in the NIV what what is says hook hook Bob what did you say hook okay that's still an help saying it doesn't I mean evidently it is the word for a a private fishing expedition not not the kind of boat with nets that would gather in a lot of fish this is just one line I just you know wondered about that I wouldn't sure myself pardon me wonder if he even baited the hook I mean when you're that certain you're gonna catch something while waste the worm right yeah that's good okay I would not recommend that as a normal means of paying your taxes by the way you do a lot of fishing before you be able to do that so a lesson about taxes and about his deity you're really the lesson is about the deity and and then Jesus the next scene is that Jesus is in the home in Capernum and he begins teaching the disciples some other lessons and we're kind of we're kind of going to group them around the subject of humility even though we'll also deal with hindrances as well I want us to turn to Mark's gospel for this next section because he gives the most extended treatment of this Mark chapter 9 verse 33 where Jesus teaches some lessons about humility and also about hindrances he's going to address some different kinds of pride in this section Mark 9 33 they came to Capernum we've already seen reference to that when he was in the house he asked them what were you arguing about on the road and verse 34 says but they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest now this is going to be a common theme it'll come up several times in these last few months of our Lord's life the disciples are quite consistently debating about who is going to be the greatest in the kingdom see they're still thinking in terms of the kingdom being set up right now and Jesus is going to set up he's going to be the king and we just want to know who's going to be the secretary of state and who's going to be the secretary of defense we just want to know who's who's going to have what positions who's going to be the greatest in the kingdom who's going to be you know your your chief of staff who's going to be your vice president or whatever they're very concerned about that the interesting thing is that they've been talking about this and arguing about it on the journey back to Galilee and Jesus asks them what we are going about on the road and they realize and they don't say a thing they won't they won't answer maybe this has to do with the fact that Jesus chose three of them to go up on the matter of transpigration maybe it has to do with the fact that Peter was kind of singled out in the tax thing it's hard to tell but maybe especially the matter of transpigration thing may have generated some debate among the disciples are there three they're being kind of lifted up here to another level who is the greatest anyway and maybe vying and arguing over that and they are obviously ashamed that he has called them on it so notice what Jesus does next again Jesus takes this opportunity to teach to train to work with them to help their understanding he's going to teach them some things about humility verse 35 sitting down which in a Bible times was the position of the teacher you remember hearing about in the synagogue there was the seat of Moses remember hearing about that in the gospels the seat of Moses the seat of Moses was a literal chair seat in the in the synagogue that was used for the teacher and whoever was going to be the official teacher would take that seat the seat of Moses indicating you're going to open up the law the Old Testament and expound on it and so Jesus sits down which is an indication it's time for a lesson it's time to be taught something and what he does when he sits down he calls the 12 and says if anyone wants to be first he must be the very last and the servant of all he starts cutting away at their pride and what he does is he turns upside down the world's system of pride and esteem recognition he turns that upside down he says if you really want to be the greatest you have to be the last if you if you want to be the first if that's what you're arguing about that's really what your ambition is then you will be the very last he says in verse 35 and and the one who who wants to be first must be the servant of all okay turns it completely upside down it's the one who has the heart of the servant who will be in God's estimation greatest there was God's view of greatness is entirely opposite from the worlds the world's view of greatness is who is most out front who is the loudest who is gets the most attention who all of that and Jesus says that's the exact opposite in my kingdom it's it's not that at all and then he uses an illustration look at verse 36 he took a little child and had him stand among them wonder whose child this was now they're in Peter's house evidently they're in the house which it's Peter and Andrew's house is where Jesus made his home base you just wonder whose child this was maybe nobody else thinks about these things but I wonder is this Peter's child is Peter's house is this Peter's child you ever thought about Peter's family we know that he was married we know he had a mother-in-law Mark one Jesus healed his mother-in-law so we know he was married everyone what happened to Peter's children or the other apostles who may have had children you ever wonder what it would be like to have been Peter's child somebody ought to write a book on that I mean they've written books on the guy who got Christ robe and you know lots of other things like that somebody ought to write a book on what would have been like to be Peter's child from a child's perspective what would Peter's life have been like and crazy way my mind works but Jesus Jesus took this little child had him stand among them taking him in his arms he said to them now before we get to verse 37 we need to flip back to Matthew 18 so hold your place here go back to Matthew 18 because Matthew gives us some information here that that Mark doesn't Jesus is going to use this little child to illustrate humility in three different areas first of all humility and salvation in verse three of Matthew 18 and he said I tell you the truth unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven so basically they're arguing about who's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus says I want to say something unless you become like this little child you won't even get in let's forget about who's the greatest you don't even get in and let's you're like this little child now what do you think Jesus meant by that how do you what does being a little child have to do with getting into the kingdom of heaven okay faith accepting what the scriptures say trusting child is trusting yes yes dependence yeah and and obviously I think we're talking about small children here I remember one time preaching about how being like a child is what is necessary that they're responsive and they're so innocent and everything you know and they listen and they learn they obey and all that and some lady came up to me after it said you don't have children do you and I did have a couple of children at the time but she said you must not have children I mean you don't know anything about children do you and and I began thinking well wait a second what what did Jesus really mean that what are the characteristics of a child that are the same characteristics that are important to come into the kingdom and I think you've hit on faith the willingness to trust a small child is very trusting you tell them something they take it face value and dependence a small child is absolutely dependent on its parents for everything they can't go anywhere they can't do anything a small child young very young child can't even eat can't take care of any other bodily needs without a parent doing that so that same kind of faith and trust and dependence is necessary for salvation in order for you to be saved you have to become like a little child in the sense you realize you can't do anything yourself you are totally dependent upon God and his gift his grace to be saved and I think that's the essence of what Jesus is saying here a little child is a great example of humility in salvation you realize you cannot do it on your own you're totally dependent on another but also there's a lesson about humility in attitude in verse four verse four says therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven okay now he's talked about can you get into the kingdom without having the spirit and attitude of dependence of a child and trust and faith but also the attitude of a child is important to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven childlike quality of trust and dependence that that shows what God considers great God does not consider greatness the one who is forceful the one who exerts his or her muscle to get their way the one who is most esteemed in the eyes of others the one who is not open to being taught or instructed because I know I'm why I I'm I can on Jesus says you're not anywhere near the greatest in my kingdom not if you have that attitude says the greatest in my kingdom have the attitude of child dependent humble innocent about evil those kinds of attitudes now back to mark nine verse 37 there's the third thing mentioned here that's not mentioned in Matthew and that is humility and service whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me the word welcome or receive is the the same word in the Bible for hospitality it it means to serve others it means to to be willing to serve the needs of a child and that's what he's saying here if you serve the needs of one of these little children in my name you're serving me and so Jesus values this kind of humility in service you know you can tell a lot about people in how they respond to children can't you you really can I don't remember a whole lot about my childhood I think it's just the nature of my personality things don't make real deep impressions on me and so I just don't remember a lot of things but there are certain things I do remember I mean my sisters can talk about things that happened at home and I'm thinking really did that okay I didn't remember that but but there's one thing there's several things that stick out to me and one of them is the way I was treated by famous evangelist one time when I was a little child and there was a pretty well-known evangelist if I called his name some of you would know who I'm talking about who was holding a meeting in another church here in Tim's not here at Johnson Chapel was another church and I still remember kind of being in all this person he had been a former athlete and just kind of in all of that person you know and I was just a little kid I was only nine or ten years old and I remember thinking I've got a question I want to ask and I was a little bit nervous about it and I kind of waited behind some other people and I asked this man my question and I will never forget how he kind of looked at me and kind of brushed me aside and answered me with some kind of flippant like you kid you don't know anything and I will never forget that I mean that has stuck with me for what what if 50 years I mean it just it just impressed me so deeply to be treated that way by someone that I really looked up to but and it was because I was a little child what Jesus is saying is what I value is someone who is I mean the greatest people in my kingdom are the people who are willing to serve little children now just think about that for a while think about what that says about what God values and it really revolutionizes your idea of greatness doesn't it to think of what what Jesus considers greatness you know most of the great people in this world brush aside little children don't have time for little children they're in the way they're anew since their distraction and Jesus would say you're right on the bottom of the list as far as I'm concerned those were great in my kingdom are humble in service and so the idea is that for these men what they've got to learn is personal ambition jealousy envy desire for the top spots desire to be recognized and known all of that is the way the world's kingdoms operate that is not the way God's kingdom operates at all at all and he wants his men to learn that there will be no vying for position in my kingdom you want to be great go out and serve a little child wow what a lesson in humility all right let's deal with the next one at least verses 38-41 there's another kind of pride that Jesus deals with here and it comes up as they're having this bullsession and they're asking questions verse 38 teacher said John we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop because he was not one of us okay now what's the situation here what what's the problem with John's attitude right okay they're proud of what they did and who they were nobody else could equal them okay exclusive exclusive jealousy yeah we've got our group here we're the only group that's supposed to be doing this you know somebody else is doing this where are the ones that are supposed where unique where you're disciples you chose us we want to be seen as the only people that can do this that exclusive spirit that where the only ones God can use where the only ones God can bless where the only ones who are right now obviously there are doctrinal distinctive and other distinctives that are important I'm not talking about that but here is someone who obviously is exercising God's power because he's driving out demons but he's driving out demons in Jesus name there were other people that drove out demons from time to time but he's doing it in Jesus name but he's not a part of the 12 I think it was Larry that maybe mentioned was it Larry you mentioned jealousy someone back there and mentioned jealousy or envy do you think that maybe what's really going on here is the fact that they have just been powerless to cast out a demon remember that just happened where they couldn't cast out a demon and now they're seeing another guy who's seemingly having no trouble with that and maybe they're going to find some way to bring him down oh isn't that so like us if someone else is being successful even in the Lord's work there are so many other people who will find something to criticize something to knock them down a few notches for now obviously if there's a serious doctrinal error and that kind of thing I'm not talking about that but someone who is doing God's work and is being blessed maybe beyond what we are and we'll start finding little things to criticize just so that they're not really as good as you think they are oh how sectarian how exclusive how proud our spirit is so often and I'm you know I'm as guilty as anyone I mean I I have the same simple natures anyone and I you know I'm teaching this but I'm guilty I'm guilty as anyone to have a tendency to do that myself and so the Cypher said John said we told him to stop told him to stop and notice Jesus response do not stop him Jesus said no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me for whoever is not against us is for us I tell you the truth anyone in this this principle extends even to again serving others even a little child I tell you the truth anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name certainly because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward so Jesus says don't stop him the man obviously is doing this in the right spirit in Jesus name with obviously the hand of God's blessing upon him and God's power is working through him so just leave him alone just leave him alone don't try to stop him don't try to find some reason why he's not quite like you not doing quite as well as you or not doing it right just leave him alone let him go you know preacher Jimmy always had a saying that I just loved he said you just hoe your row of corn you remember that just go ahead and hoe your row of don't worry about the other guy hoe your row of corn and that's what Jesus is saying you know you just get busy about your row of corn don't worry about what the other guys doing if he's ho in his row of corn with the right hoe in my name and my power just let him go don't try to stop him because he's not one of us doesn't have my denominational name behind him or hasn't gone to my school or you know that kind of thing don't do that that kind of pride pride in my group and Jesus basically saying that this kind of person's not going to turn against me he's serving me and he's not against me for me and we're together there's a sense in which Jesus is saying the person's not against us he is for us us plural we're on the same team in other words now there are some people that you may not agree with everything they do and everything the way they do it but we're on the same team we're on the same team and as long as there is no serious doctrinal error it may not do everything exactly the way we do it but let them hold their row of corn okay and just get busy about your own I think that's exactly what Jesus is saying here I think it is possible for that kind of power to be exhibited and it not becoming from the Lord Jesus made a reference one time to even your own sons cast out demons to the to the Pharisees probably not talking about his followers but even beyond that there are counterfeit miracles there are miracles that Satan can do that counterfeit the miracles of Christ but are obviously coming from demonic power and so I think it is possible you know for miracles to be done in some other some other way from some other power a whole issue of casting out demons maybe a little bit different you know Jesus talked about how would Satan battle himself but Satan certainly does counterfeit miracles and even healings that will happen in tribulation time right yeah yeah and there's there's some there's some difficulty here because there are false apostles Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 11 that will claim to be doing things in Jesus name and Jesus even talks about in Matthew 7 remember there will be people who will stand before me at the last day saying Lord Lord in your name we cast out demons in your name we did this not the other but Jesus as I didn't know you so there are some people who make claim to be doing things in Jesus name but not really doing them in his name which really means in his authority with his authority so it gets kind of tricky it gets a little tricky here but again remember Jesus has Satan will so tears in the field wait until the judgment now sort all that out so again Jesus is Jesus is saying you hoe your record don't worry about these other guys God will God will take care of them if they are counterfeits God will sort that out in the end if they are genuine praise God thank God for what they're doing and we're on the same team but again the focus is make sure you concentrate on what God's told you to do and don't worry about what the other person's doing I think that's the real lesson here okay but it is a form of pride to think that only my group can be blessed by God only my kind can be blessed by God okay other questions before we go we don't have children to pick up the evening but we do need to go yes good question these these lessons are mainly directed to the disciples how much how far do they apply to all of us they are specifically directed to the disciples but remember Jesus is preparing them to found the church and so the lessons they are learning are even before even though it's before the church begins they are in a sense lessons that will build into them how they will go about building the church and the kind of spirit and attitude and so things they should know in order to build the church so those lessons do in a sense pass on down to us they're applicable to us as well you know how different people are different and you see very little humbleness now and then you just told us 20 times row your own start up row your own growth right there's such a different makeup of people's personalities where you don't see these things in yeah I think it's quite possible there's still some Pharisees living yeah and sometimes I I put on their garment and act as a Pharisee to be honest sometimes we all do I guess but fascinating lessons and and things to meditate on dwell on lot we can learn from what Jesus is teaching the 12 well we're going to be in various teachings for a month it looks like but it's worth it I guess to take this time to understand what Jesus is teaching us let's go ahead and pray and we'll we'll be dismissed thank you Father for the window that you've given us into your heart through being able to see your son in operation on this earth Lord as we we see him we see you we see your heart we see the way you feel and think and and so Lord it's tremendous opportunity and blessing that we have and responsibility that we have to look at the life of our Lord thank you for this opportunity help us to learn but help us not to learn just to know more help us to learn to live differently may the end result be that our lives become more like our saviors and truly we are living as he lived and as he would live through us we ask in Jesus name amen