After He quotes Isaiah, Jesus goes on to pointedly say that what is in the heart is what pollutes a person, not dirty hands or what they eat. That which contaminates the human spirit and soul are attitudes like hatred, greed, covetousness, lust, pride and unforgiveness which lead to actions like murders, deceptive dealings, carounsing, mean looks, adulteries, slanders, etc. We all are scizophrenic to some degree. We put on a mask to please man, to hide our true selves. People can be fooled, but God cannot. He sees straight through our fabricated facades to our hearts. He pierces the false pretense with His Truth, not to harm us (though it may feel like it at times) but to set us free. To set us free from those things that are deadly, free to live as His children, His beloved, holy ones. He sets us free to enjoy "every good and perfect gift" from Him. He sets us free to worhsip Him, to follow Him to life--life without end. Think about it.

The Israel of Jesus' time was looking for one like David who would lead armies of men to conquer their oppressors and re-establish Israel as a "free" nation. But they were never "free" from the greatest oppressor of mankind, Sin.

Jesus came as both "legal" Prince and Annointed Savior to Israel and all mankind. The gifts He would give the people were " a changed life and sins forgiven." However, they preferred their "old way" of life,i.e., turn to God; God sends a man to raise an army and push back the oppressor, as a blessing to His people; His people enjoy freedom and prosperity; they forget God and worhsip idols; God allows an oppressor to come and conquer His people; they begin to cry out for a savior; and, on and on, around and around the cycle went (see the book of Judges). Jesus Christ came to break the cycle once and for all. Some would believe and receive, others would not.

We, who are Jesus' disciples, are not here on earth to fight oppressors but to bring the good news of a changed life and forgiveness of sins. We must remember that our message is "Christ crucified, Christ risen." Think about it.

There is a “justification” that sinful man employs to prove he/she is right in being angry, unforgiving, destructive or vindictive against others. We can make “self” the judge and executioner, taking responsibility and authority that is not ours and, in our own energy, trying to manipulate two wrongs to make a right. In this way, we compound and propagate injustice, exponentially. We actually eradicate justice by taking it “into our own hands,” i.e. by each individual setting his/her own standard of justice. But, God, set up a universal system of justice, a standard of righteousness for all, to bless all with justice.

Faith means we trust God’s person, His position, His power and authority and His promises. He has said that we, who believe in Jesus Christ as the atonement for our sins, are declared, “Not guilty.” We are given God’s favor that we may “go and sin no more,” the opportunity for a “new life” and the Helper to teach us the right way of freedom. So, we have a choice, we can hold onto our own “justification” or receive God’s justification through Jesus Christ the Lord. Think about it.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of arrogant is “offensively exaggerating one’s own importance.” I added, “The idolizing and assertion of self.” What made the heavenly choirmaster and light bearer rebel? Arrogance. What brought sin into the garden and the lives of mankind? Arrogance. What is behind every lawless act, every evil deed, and every corruption of good, peace, joy and love? Arrogance. It is the power of Sin and the energy of every person’s sinful nature. What shelters rebellion, hatred, unforgiveness and bitterness in the human breast? Arrogance.

When one eats a portion of food, that food, through the digestive process, breaks down and is assimilated into the cellular structure of the body. The body is changed; for good or bad, it is changed. In the same way, when Adam and Eve arrogantly ate of the forbidden fruit, they were changed at the very core, the cellular level. With arrogance come the elements of rebellion and over-infatuation with self. Every cell vibrates with the weakness of guilt and shame; and, succumbs to the lusts of the flesh (sinful nature). Gone is innocence (freedom from guilt); gone is purity and harmony and delight. Gone is the joy of “being.” Now mankind must live under the tyranny of “doing.” And, salvation by works is a hard taskmaster who rewards all your hard labors with death. Arrogance becomes rich at the expense of other’s labors, builds structures to the glory of his success, only to lose his soul in the end. Under the rule of arrogance, one suffers frustration, discontent, discouragement, despair, poverty, and every plague of the human spirit. Think about it.

Love does not feel the need to proclaim himself to be great or worthy of attention. Love takes the lower seat at the table because love genuinely esteems others as worthy of honor, praise and attention. Love knows his value, comprehends his value, and so freely respects the value of another. A person who has been demeaned by another will respond, naturally, in either of two ways: He will retreat into shyness and introversion or he will try to create for him self an appearance of superiority by bragging. A braggart is often labeled a fool because his actions do not fit the verbal picture he paints of himself. But, love does not abandon the fool, yet. Rather, love calls the braggart to come close, to truly see who he is and invites him to lay down the lie. Love exchanges the rag of self-gratification for the garments of freedom so that a person may enjoy and delight in who God made him to be and who others are. Think about it.

The strength and longevity of freedom relies on the kind of love that fills people’s hearts. The world may get as close as “brotherly love” but this love is impulsive and often self-serving. Only divine love is steadfast through all kinds of adversity, keeping its object in the place of high value and continually benevolent to all. But this last “love” is only found in “human form” through Jesus Christ and those who have His Spirit in them, i.e., the Christian. This love is self-sacrificial in order to benefit others and is the antithesis of selfishness. It is constantly active in blessing others and keeping “the Christian” steadfast in service to mankind. This love prompts people to think well of, and do good to, other people; to be kind and forbearing in judging their acts; to be generous to the poor, benevolent to the afflicted. It guards and sustains the freedom of each individual to choose. This love is not blind but clear-sighted about the value of every human being. It sees each person’s potential and labors for his/her success. If this love is absent, if those who claim to be Christians do not demonstrate this love toward each other first, then beyond, the world will never know it exists and freedom will topple. Think about it.

The final pillar of virtue, I will discuss, is temperance (or self-control). The make-up of this pillar is knowledge, wisdom, courage and perseverance. Self-control insures the provision for freedom’s future; the glutton devours tomorrow’s supply. When a people are blessed with plenty, the temptation is to take more than we need. Today’s America is full of overweight people. Christians may practice self-control over our words and activities, yet the consumption of food has been deemed acceptable, and even, needful at every Christian gathering. And, not just a little to satiate hunger but an overabundance which often results in waste. The temperate, not only are mindful of how much they eat, they are careful about other consumable things like, energy resources, natural resources, financial resources, and so on. They gather knowledge about what is provided and prudently use these provisions so that hunger, poverty and/or depravity are not found among them. They are courageous and victorious in subduing lust and resisting the world, the flesh and the devil. Because they practice self-control, they win today’s battles and have the strength and provision for tomorrow’s conflicts. Think about it.

John the Baptizer once told some soldiers who wanted to know what acts were in keeping with repentance, “do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14). Another pillar of virtue is contentment. This is best described as being constructed of satisfaction with thanksgiving, for contentment is “the inner satisfaction with the situation that God has ordained” (Ryrie Study Bible). And, the virtuous contentment is always accompanied by an attitude of gratitude. Another component of this pillar is carefulness. The one who exercises the virtue of contentment will be gentle with those around him/her. He/She will be sensible with what they have so that it lasts longer and does more good for more people. One of contentment’s enemies is envy. Envy is blight to gratitude; a disease that ravages its flower and leaves no seed for next year’s planting. Envy drives the soul outside of freedom where there is only “wailing and gnashing of teeth.” A grateful people enjoy freedom’s provisions; the envious cannot find the banquet. Think about it.

An angry people live with strife and destruction; forgiveness is mightier than the sword. The elements of the pillar of virtue, forbearance, are forgiveness, patience, wisdom and peace. Not only does anger produce strife, it also acts foolishly. Freedom is best upheld by the patient, the wise and the forgiving. Vengeance and retaliation increase bondage and give place to destruction. Forgiveness disarms evil, strengthens peace and crowns freedom. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.” A son has more power than a slave; the angry man is his own tyrant. Saint James said that the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (Righteousness and virtue are synonymous.) Anger, rather, is a thief, stealing freedom and usurping the authority of freedom's Governor. Anger is more likely to engage sin and wickedness than bring about justice, liberty or virtue. Think about it.

When chastity (purity, virtue) is honored in the hearts of a people, freedom does not fear violation; the immoral will betray its trust. The pillar of chastity consists of honor, trustworthiness, purity of thought, word and deed and faithfulness. If people indulge their lusts, they will spoil the innocence of freedom and corrupt its future. It is the sin of lust that devalues the individual and oppresses people with cruelty. Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” If a nation is built upon chastity, its citizens need not fear violation, betrayal or destruction. Think about it.

The substance of the virtuous pillar of kindness is benevolence. When a people are generous, freedom flourishes; the covetous will tear it asunder. Saint James said, “You lust and do not have; {so} you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; {so} you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend {it} on your pleasures.”

Kindness is not just about being generous with our “things.” It’s about the thoughts and words entertained in our hearts that spring forth, either to heal or to wound. When a person is rich, in goods or wisdom, and is tempted not to share with one in need, “sin is crouching at the door ready to pounce” upon him/her. Sin is ready to make that person a captive to greed. Greed will lead to going after what a “neighbor” has which is a violent attack on freedom. Like a characteristic of a “good Christian,” the characteristic of a truly free nation is kindness and generosity. Think about it.

An industrious people will cause freedom to thrive; the slothful will lay it to waste. The natural result of compassion is service, another pillar of virtue. Freedom allows opportunity for service to all mankind. It gives us the choice of whom we will serve—“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. . .” It seems as if freedom also gives us the choice of how we will serve; when we will serve and where we will serve. However, once we decide whom we will serve, then the how, when and where is left to the one we serve. If we serve “as unto the Lord,” great good is accomplished, for God is the Good Master and His wages are eternal life and righteousness. If we choose to serve ourselves or the “god of this age,” great evil will ensue; for the master, Sin, is a harsh taskmaster whose wages are bondage and death. (See Romans 6:16, 22-23) In the house of Freedom you are free to choose whom you will serve. Choose wisely. Think about it.

The first pillar of virtue is piety which is made of the substance of humility. Piety is an archaic word rich in its meaning: “Reverence toward God, and, due and proper respect toward man” (Unger’s Bible Dictionary). Jesus described piety this way, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” Piety recognizes that people are made in the image of God, the Creator, and, honors both, cherishes both. The pious person accepts the responsibilities of submission and obedience to God, and, the commission to care for creation, especially his fellow man. Think about it.

Everybody in America is talking about “freedom” nowadays: “Everybody ought to have “freedom,”—freedom of choice, freedom of religion, freedom from tyranny, etc.” No one wants freedom for mankind more than God. But God knows that, without virtue, freedom will never last.

God, the Master Builder, set pillars of virtue in place, before He founded creation, to support the edifice of freedom. Every nation that establishes its foundation on these “standards” prospers. Every nation that undermines them with selfish desires and deeds of the flesh falls. What are these God-established pillars of virtue? Think about it.

When Jesus Christ was born, people were busy with the tasks that they had done every day for years. They were doing what they needed to do to appease their oppressors and rulers. They were marrying, dying and giving birth. Their thoughts were on tomorrow's work and events. Yet many, in the depths of their hearts were hoping for Messiah to come, just as God had promised. They expected one like David, the adored king of Israel. But, they seem to have forgotten that David was the least and last in his family. He was given the lowliest task of shepherding the family flocks. They seem to have forgotten that though he was annointed king of Israel, he was exiled and hunted by the reigning authorities of that day. All the people seemed to remember was David's fame after he became king. Jesus, the Eternal King, came the way God determined, from humble beginnings. And the first to hear the glad tidings were the shepherds, still considered the lowliest occupation. Many kings and queens brought tribute to David and Solomon for the building of the tabernacle in Jerusalem. A few magi brought tribute to Jesus, but He would build an eternal temple for God, made without human hands. There were those who would understand this and rejoice and believe. But, there were many who would not. Yes, David was a great and God-favored king, but he was a mere foreshadowing of the true King, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The people were looking for a warrior king who would deliver them from their oppressors of the day, Rome. But, sin is the greatest oppressor at any time and Jesus came to deliver God's people from their bondage to this oppresor, for all time. The people expected a ruler for Israel, God sent the King of all creation. The people believed the blood of their enemies, flowing in the streets of Jerusalem, would free them from tyranny. But, God shed the blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ, to give all men everywhere victory and freedom. The people wanted an earthly government in the hands of a temporary king; but God would establish His heavenly kingdom governed by an Eternal King. The people of Jesus' time would have settled for a temporary fix to their dilemna, but God had other plans. Think about it.

God’s value system is such a comfort to the repentant sinner. Whether rich or poor, renowned or obscure, young or old, we all have sinned and gone our own way. Without partiality, God loves sinners, all of them! He favored all mankind with a Savior and, with Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, accepted atonement for all our sins. Through Jesus Christ, God’s mercy is extended to all. But, let us not forget, God’s judgment is also extended to all. He has set us free from the penalty of sin and death, establishing the “law of liberty,” which, the Lord simply states as, “Go and sin no more;” and, reinforced by other Scriptural statements as, “forgive as you have been forgiven,” “do not use your freedom as an occasion to sin,” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” Consider this, “. . . one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man (and, by inference, woman) shall be blessed in what he does.” Selah.

Security, what does that mean to you? Generally speaking, it means, “safety; certainty (free of doubt); freedom from worry; protection, shelter; a pledge of payment” (Webster’s). For the Christian, security is found in the character and care of God and His blessing. For it is He who delivers, He who covers you; His faithfulness is a shield and strong support. He gives His angels the charge of ministering to you. He has pledged, “I will deliver, I will secure, I will answer, I will be with you, I will rescue and honor you and I will satisfy you with long life.” Who will He do this for? The one, who declares God as his refuge and fortress, makes Him a refuge and dwelling place, who loves Him. In God, through Jesus Christ, we are secure at all times and in all circumstances (menacing or otherwise). Selah.

There is a “justification” that sinful man employs to prove he/she is right in being angry, unforgiving, destructive or vindictive against others. We can make “self” the judge and executioner, taking responsibility and authority that is not ours and, in our own energy, trying to manipulate two wrongs to make a right. In this way, we compound and propagate injustice, exponentially. We actually eradicate justice by taking it “into our own hands,” i.e. by each individual setting his/her own standard of justice. But, God, set up a universal system of justice, a standard of righteousness for all, to bless all with justice.
Faith means we trust God’s person, His position, His power and authority and His promises. He has said that we, who believe in Jesus Christ as the atonement for our sins, are declared, “Not guilty.” We are given God’s favor that we may “go and sin no more,” the opportunity for a “new life” and the Helper to teach us the right way of freedom. So, we have a choice, we can hold onto our own “justification” or receive God’s justification through Jesus Christ the Lord. Selah.