This article discusses about ‘compromising the teachings of Jesus’. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were compromising the Word of God and Jesus was so upset with them. He was also angry with them.

Jesus corrected them and said to them “You are very selective about the Word of God. You are very strict about certain things and with certain things you are not at all strict. You just ignore it as if there is no Word of God like it”.

It can happen to anybody. Many times, we avoid certain difficult commandments of Jesus and take only those with which we are comfortable and are pleasing to us. This is called selective hearing or selective obedience to the Word of God. This will not work with God. If we are faithful to God, then we should be 100% faithful to him or at least try to be 100% perfect. We cannot conveniently avoid certain commandments of God saying ‘they are difficult to follow, so I don’t want to think about it. I will follow the rest of the commandments’. 

It will not work. That means we are making our own Gospel for us to follow. There are only four Gospels. All these four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, speak about one Gospel -that is the Gospel of Christ. Any other Gospel is our own Gospel. We all have a tendency to make our own Gospel – The fifth Gospel. Jesus condemns such actions.

Matthew 7:24 – Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

In this verse Jesus says “everyone who hears these Words of God”; not some words but every Word of God; Not some of the teachings but all the teachings of Jesus.  Those who hear them and act on it will be like the wise man who builds his house on the rock.

If you build a house on the rock, it is so strong it cannot be shaken. Even if the windstorm, lightning and thunder beat against it, it will not be affected. It will be unperturbed.

Matthew 7:25 – The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.

The rock is Jesus Christ. Those who hear the Word of God and act upon it and do accordingly in their own best possible way, are like the people who build their houses on a rock.

Matthew 7:26 – And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Those who are disobedient have some connection with the sand. They are standing on the sand or building their houses on the sand. These are foolish people. There is no strong foundation.

Matthew 7:27 – The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!

Why do these foolish people build their houses on the sand? Why do they go to the sand? Why don’t they go to the Rock? They know very well that building a house on the sand is not good.

The house should be built on the rock, only then will the foundation be strong and it will stand firm. Then why do they go for the sand? It is because the foolish men are those who are disobedient to God. They are disobedient to the commands of God. When you are disobedient to the commands of God, something wrong will happen.

When you are disobedient to God, you will go to the sands and there you will find somebody waiting for you on the sands and he will take control over you. Who is that who is waiting for you on the sand?

Revelation 12:17 – Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.

The devil wants to destroy the mother and child (Mother Mary and Jesus). But the devil cannot do any harm to Mother Mary and the baby Jesus. Therefore, what does he do?

He knows that he can attack the other children of Mother Mary – all the humanity who are the children of Mother Mary. So, he wants to destroy the other women and the other children.

Revelation 12:18 – Then the dragon took his stand on the sand of the seashore.

The Dragon took his stand on the sand of the seashore and is waiting there for the people. He knows that all the children of this mother when they go away from God, will wander here and there, and then will go to the sand. It is like a hunter who knows exactly, where and when to catch hold of animals. So, he will keep a trap at the place where the animals will come. They keep the trap in the perfect place where the animals will come walking around and moving around.

In the same way, the devil is standing on the sand waiting for the foolish people – who are not obedient to God’s command and not obedient to the Word of God. So, he has decided to attack all such children of this mother. Because the devil knows that these foolish people follow only some parts of the Bible; whatever is convenient and pleasing to them. Such people end up their journey on the sands with the devil. That is why the devil took his stand on the sands of the sea. That is why Jesus said, “The foolish people will go and build their houses on the sand”.

We need to examine our conscience and see where we are? Are we standing on the sand? If yes, then we are gone. We will be controlled and trapped bythe snares of the devil. But if we are obedient to the command of God and the Word of God and if we follow whatever the Lord teaches us without compromising any sentence or at least trying our best to be obedient, that means we are building our houses on the Rock.

Galatians 1:6 – I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel

All these years we were obedient to the command and teachings of the Lord. But suddenly now we are turning to a different Gospel, which is not preached by Jesus nor by his Apostles. We are going to a different Gospel. We are making our own Gospel. It is astonishing that people are quickly deserting the one who called them and are forgetting Him. 

There are some people who are very active in the church; very faithful in the Church. They are very obedient to the priest and obedient in everything. But in their personal life they hide certain things. They have uncontrollable anger, unforgiveness, and revenge. They keep all these things aside and outside they behave as though they are very good and active.  Such people are standing on the sands. The devil is waiting to catch hold of such people.

These people don’t even realize where they are going and what they are doing. Where they are standing? It is very dangerous for such people. If you are obedient to God then be obedient to everyone.  God says, “Forgive, love one another, accept everyone, have compassion and mercy on everyone. Be truthful and practice justice.” But we are not ready for all these things. It is because we have our own Gospel and our own plans.

Galatians 1:7 – not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

There is no other Gospel. This is the only Gospel. If you can follow, follow it. If not, you are against it. There are some people who are confusing you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. Confusing the Gospel and confusing the preaching of Christ is there from the first century, and still continues. 

Galatians 1:8 – But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!

If somebody comes and says that, “an Angel came and told me a new Gospel, a new teaching, a new book, a new religious belief, and you have to follow this. The old one is gone. It is wrong. It is corrupt.” Bible says that one will be accursed.

Galatians 1:9 – As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed.

Anybody who is misinterpreting the Bible against the original official teaching of the Church from the first century, they are cursed and if anyone joins them, will partake in their sin. Therefore, avoid people who misinterpret or misguide others. It is a sin. That is why do not go to wrong places, where wrong teachings are introduced. It is a curse.

2 Timothy 4:3 – For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,

Bible says, the time is going to come, when you will select only some priests or preachers, who will preach according to the way you want. Because you do not want to listen to the truth; to what is right and what is wrong. You do not want to know what is white or black, or what is supposed to be done. You like to hear what you want to hear. Therefore, the time is coming where people will not put up with sound doctrine and teaching but have itching ears. They will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires.

2 Timothy 4:4 – and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.

Therefore let us examine our conscience and see where we are now? Let us make sure that we follow the teachings of Jesus without compromising or mincing words. Let us follow strictly and 100%. At least let us try our best to be perfect and the Lord will be with us.

Transcribed by Greta Furtado