June 22, 2026 · Mark Bishop
What Is The Purpose?
“The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.”
Luke 16:14-17 →
## Look Good
In the movie White Men Can't Jump one guy says to another about their game of basketball, "You'd rather look good and lose than to look bad and win." You lose the purpose of the game if you’re all about looking good instead of scoring points. The Pharisees knew the Law and God's redemption, but they focused on looking good and losing rather than to look bad and win. They wanted money, fame, and for people to look to them as some high order. It would seem in their dealings with individuals, including Jesus, that they missed the purpose of the Law and their place in God's plan. God wanted them to study the Scriptures to lead others into a right relationship with Him, but instead, they wanted the worship for themselves. The Pharisee's message was different from the one the prophets spoke, even when they talked about the Law. God's purpose is to show us how bad we really are, even if we don't try to be, compared to a holy God; then offer ways to make us right with Him. The Pharisee's forgot the latter and focused on the former. The Kingdom's message is one of hope for anyone who wants to be right with God, and that's through the sacrifice He presented in Christ Jesus.
## Self-Check
Don't forget the purpose of your salvation and calling into a life after God's own heart. You may be an athlete, businessman, musician, etc. but you have a message that will affect someone's life for the
better. Your purpose is to speak and live out that hope so others can find their way to Him.
## The “D”-Word