The Author of Forgiveness - God Alone

Luke 7:49

And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Mark 2:7

And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 5:31

Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

Mark  12:13-17 — Mt 22:15-22; Lk 20:20-26

  Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians  to Jesus to catch him  in his words.   They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?   Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

 But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”   They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

    Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” 

 And they were amazed at him.

Thoughts   

. God loves you as though you are the only person in the world, and he loves everyone the way he loves you. – Augustine

. Trusting God trumps understanding God.  The train will have long left the station and left us on the platform if we determine to ride only with full understanding.  Life will have passed us by.  I’m choosing to trust the conductor and the track he’s laid down for me. - Terry Esau

[Message No: 7890]