Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(2/26/23)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 2/26/23 | left that other site

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Mark 7
That Which Defiles

7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.

7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’[b]

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[e] 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] [f]

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

_______________________________________________________

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Oh LORD Our God
How Excellent is Your Name Over All The Earth!
You Alone Are Worthy To Be Praised,
For You Alone Are The One True God.

Holy, Holy , Holy, Are You,
LORD God of Power And Might,
Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent,
And Yet, You Are "The God Who Sees"

even the smallest personal thing in our lives.

Let all that has been Concealed
Be Revealed.

Father, We Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem,
According To Your Will and Promise.
We Pray That You Will Forgive The Sins
of Our Own Nation,
and Lead us all to Godly Repentance.
Create in Us Clean Hearts, Oh LORD,
and Renew a Right Spirit Within Us.

This we Pray Together,
As We Await Your Messiah,
Blessed Be He,
To Set Up His Kingdom,
And Make All Things Right.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Mark 7
That Which Defiles

7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.

7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’[b]

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[e] 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] [f]

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don't you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

_______________________________________________________

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

While I found it nearly impossible to find appropriate images for Today's Reading, I had no trouble drawing stories from my memory banks which seem to relate. Here Goes:

1. Proper Hand-washing Techniques: I worked as an Activities Director in a Nursing Home forty years ago. We had a horrible two-week period when the flu raged through our frail, elderly population, and took 15 lives in that short space of time. It was horrible. Every time the Medical Examiner arrived, we had to confine everybody to their rooms and close the doors to keep the peace. It was assumed that a staff member was not using proper hand-washing techniques. Signs were posted in every bathroom in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, demanding Proper Hand-washing and showing how to do it. Special "In-service Meetings" were held to instruct the staff on proper hand-washing. For some reason, the Administration blamed the Haitians, claiming that they weren't raised in sanitary conditions, and so, didn't know any better. This devolved into charges of Racism. Soon, the State came in to do an investigation, both on the epidemic and the discrimination.

They did a thorough investigation of the Nursing Home, interviewed all the staff, and studied all the visitor logs. What they discovered vindicated the staff. A middle-aged man who had a virulent case of the flu was on record as having visited his mother a week before the epidemic had started. Not only was his mother a victim, but there were 14 others. When questioned as to why he just didn't stay home that week, he replied that there was no way he could let a week go by without visiting his mother. Since there was no actual evidence that he had infected the entire community, nothing was done about him, but the Hand-washing Signs, In-service Meetings, and suspicions about Haitians continued.

Proper hand-washing in such a setting is VERY important, but this was a case where The "Traditions of Men" triumphed over Common Sense.

2. Mrs. Schmoson: At another Nursing Home where I worked, there were lots of structures and decor items that had a bronze plaque attached:

"GIFT OF THE SCHMOSON FAMILY".

I have changed the name of the donor, because, at the time, they were the biggest contractor in New England. Mrs. Schmoson, the Mother of the President of the big corporation, was a patient there. We treated Mrs. Schmoson very well, as the whole wing of the building was named after her. In fact, it could be argued that she got special treatment. It wasn't until she passed away that I discovered that she had been on Medicaid the whole time. That could only have meant that the wealthiest man in New England had transferred all her assets YEARS before, and that the taxpayers were financing her stay there. I guess one doesn't get a Bronze Plaque for taking care of Mom.

3. Nana Nana had the perfect remedy for everything: Chicken Soup. Nana was not particularly religious, but in her Faith there was a tradition that one did not eat meat on Friday. Normally she kept that Tradition, but if one of her children was sick, out came the Chicken Soup, even if it was a Friday. When questioned about this, she replied,

"Nothing that goes INTO your mouth can hurt your soul. It's what comes OUT of your mouth that makes the difference."

I had no idea, that, at the time, she was quoting Jesus.

There is a lot packed into this brief Passage from Mark, but it all related. There is nothing wrong with "Tradition". In fact, some traditions are lovely. The visits with the elderly parents, giving to charities, fasting and abstaining on certain days, and even washing one's hands, are all GOOD things. But, even good things can get distorted if the Heart is not right with God. Then, "Tradition" can be a destructive force rather than a positive one.

Tradition should never replace True Faith.

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 11

To the leader. Of David.

1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,
‘Flee like a bird to the mountains;*
2 for look, the wicked bend the bow,
they have fitted their arrow to the string,
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?’

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.
5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
and his soul hates the lover of violence.
6 On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulphur;
a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.

[etabeta]

Prayers always for Jerusalem, our beloved Country and the World. God bless.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, DarthVader, For Your Prayers and Lovely Psalm For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Etabeta, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Roman_War_Criminal]

Psalm 122:6

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Amen!
Bless Israel your Nation Lord.
And Bless those who are persecuted for your Holy Name and Church!
Amen!

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Roman_War_Criminal, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[TianaHighrider]

Amen, Blessings and Prayers up.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, TianaHighriderl, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[redryder_90]

Amen

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, redryder_90, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Hiskid]

Amen.

This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them,

24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;

25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;

26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

27 And they shall put My name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.

[NEWwoman]

Amen, left that other site

Tradition should never replace True Faith.

Good point.

Joining in prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem and for our beloved America.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Hiskid, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, NEWwoman, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS