Jesus Corrects The Sadducees And Pharisees, DCLM Children Search of Scripture
LESSON 52
Matthew 22: 1-46 ; Mark 12 :13-37; Luke 20 : 20-47.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were religious leaders at the time of earthly ministry. They claimed to know the scriptures more than others. ‘Therefore, they exercised control over religious matters to the extent that people were afraid to challenge them. They taught their own ideas in place of God’s word, They opposed the teachings and doctrines of Christ meant to save and transform their souls. The Pharisees and the Sadducees also prevented people from coming to Christ so that they might be saved.
You should not allow anyone to hinder you from coming to Christ. Do not collect or reand materials from false teachers because they are harmful, Also, children be watchful, prayerful and should not neglect fellowship activities. Unlike the Pharisees and the Sadducees who drove away people from Christ. friends of Jesus should bring their sinful friends to Christ through personal evangelism and godly conduct.
1. CONDEMNATION FOR REJECTING GOD’S CALL:
Revelation 19:7-9; 20:15; 22:17; Matthew 22:1-14; Proverbs 1:.24-33; Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 11:28-30.
The Lord gave a parable of the Kingdom. He used the parable to explain His message so that the religious Pharisees could understand Him better. The Lord spoke with authority to correct the wrong beliefs. He did not change His message because of the attitude of the Pharisees. Similarly, children must always be fearless in telling the truth , even when others do not like it. It is only the truth that can set you free. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Children who have received the truth must share it with others every-where.
The parable of the wedding feast talks about a king who invited guests to the wedding of his son. The king sent his servants at different times to invite the guests to the wedding feast, but they refused to honour his invitations. They even killed the servants who were sent to invite them. The “King” is God the father, the creator of heaven and earth, while “His son” is the Lord Jesus Christ, the people that were invited to the wedding are the sinners in the world that Christ wants to save. The king provided beautiful wedding garments for those who came to the wedding. He was surprised to find a guest not wearing the wedding garment. He immediately ordered that he should be sent out.
Sinners without the garment of salvation freely given by the Lord Jesus will not be allowed into God’s kingdom. Rejection of God’s offer of salvation is dangerous and will lead to regret. It leads to eternal damnation and sorrow. If you are still living in sin, do not delay. surrender your life to Jesus so you can partake in His eternal kingdom. Only those who are saved and live a holy life to the end will take part in the marriage supper of the Lamb.
What lessons can children learn from the parable? (i) God has a beautiful plan to save all the children in the world. (ii) Like the king’s servants, children of God must always be ready to do His will. (iii) Sinners must not delay answering God’s call to salvation. (iv) There is punishment for refusing to answer the call of God to salvation.
2. JESUS CORRECTS THE LEADERS WRONG BELIEFS:
Matthew 22:15-33; Mark 12:13-27; Luke 20:20-40; 1 Corinthians15:1 ; 22: 2 Timothy 2:15: 1 Peter 3:15
The religious leaders were filled with wrong beliefs and false doctrines. Thev wanted to remain with their wrong beliefs, therefore they often corne to Christ to test and challenge His words. They asked Him if it was right to pay tax to Caesar or not. Their aim was to set the government of the day against, Jesus and His ministry. but Jesus knew the evil plan in their minds. He asked for a penny that has the picture and stamp of Caesar. Looking at it, He told them ‘’…Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him” (Mark 12:17).
The people were surprised at His wisdom! Children have lot to learn from the answer that Jesus gave to the Sadducees and Pharisees (i) we watchful of those who may cause us to sin against God. (ii) we need the help of the Holy Spirit to recognize the enemy’s plans. (iii) Children must obey leaders at home, school and church according to the word of God. (iv) We must be ready to tell others about Jesus.
They Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead; they told Jesus about the seven brothers who took turns to marry the same woman to raise children for their first dead brother. They wanted to know whose wife she would be after the resurrection. Jesus told them that there was no marriage after death. He went on to correct their wrong teaching on the resurrection of the dead, for they believed there was no resurrection of the dead. Here, Jesus taught immortality of souls, that souls never die. The moment a child is born into the world, even after death, he will live forever either in heaven or hell. Therefore, to spend eternity in God’s presence, children must believe the gospel and surrender their lives to Christ now.
3. THE GREAT COMMANDMENT:
Matthew 22:34-46; Mark 12:28-40; Deuteronomy 6:5; Romans 13:810
“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law” (Matthew 22:35-36). The lawyer asked Jesus about the greatest commandment in the word of God. Jesus told him that the first commandment was to love God with all our soul, mind and strength. He added that the second commandment was similar to the first “To love thy neighbour as thyself the response of the lawyer made Jesus to be happy. He said to the lawyer, -Thou art not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:32-34).
The lawyer had a good knowledge of the scriptures, and Jesus acknowledged this- Children must take time to read and meditate on the Holy Bible. Jesus made him to understand that having a head knowledge of God’s word without a change of character and readiness to obey is useless. Therefore, all children who are yet to be saved must acknowledge their sinfulness, confess and forsake their sins and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They will be received into God ‘s kingdom.
Jesus is the only begotten son of God. He died to save us from our sins. No one should question His power and authority. God demands devoted love to Him This involves
(i) A personal attachment and loyalty to Him
(ii) Faith in His unfailing word.
(iii) Dedication to His righteous standards in the midst of a corrupt world A desire for His presence and fellowship. Children of God required also to love everyone including their enemies. However, their love for others must be subject to and controlled and directed by their love for and devotion to God. Love for God is the first and great commandment. Therefore, you must love Him because He first loved us.
QUESTIONS:
1. Who are Sadducees and Pharisees?
2. What lessons do you learn from the parable of the wedding feast?
3. Explain the question brought to Jesus by the religious leaders.
4. What will happen to sinners who reject God’s call to salvation?
5. (a) What is the great commandment?
b. In what ways can friends of Jesus show their love?
MEMORY VERSE: ‘And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not, therefore, err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God’’’. (Mark 12:24).
LESSON: God’s children need the knowledge of God’s word and the help of the Holy Spirit to recognize the enemy’s deception.
THOUGHT: I will be watchful and prayerful to overcome the deception of the enemy.
ACTIVITY: Write out in your notebook. four lessons you learnt from this study.
CONGREGATIONAL SONG:
GHS 83 -THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART
CHORUSES :
(1) Give me the grace to follow
(2) I will dig a little deeper
(3) I love Jesus. He’s my friend.
HOMEWORK: Pray for live minutes each day of the week that you will not be deceived by false teachers
BIBLE WORD SEARCH :
Find the meaning of these words, you can use your dictionary:
1. Damnation 2. Scriptures
3. Devoted 4. Loyalty
5. Belief
