Jesus shows us the way in which to be meek and gentle, even when we are being attacked. However, as the Pharisees continue the false accusations this time reaching a point to which they have committed the unforgivable sin; the sin against the Holy Spirit. What is this sin that will not be forgiven in this age or the age to come? How can we know what this is to avoid it?

God hardens Pharaoh's heart. Pharaoh hardens his heart. Pharaoh's heart was hardened. So which is it? Who is hardening Pharaoh's heart? How can we decipher what is happening to Pharaoh's heart? In the first plague the waters in the Nile become blood. Why blood?

What is God doing in these plagues on Egypt? Who is God executing judgment upon with these plagues.

Matthew shows us a facet of Jesus as the warrior king, the goel, who comes to rescues His people; to take back that which belongs to Him. Jesus in demonstrating that which Isaiah wrote foreshadowing the anointed of God, the Messiah who would rescue the people from the tyrant, announces to His accusers, the Pharisees that He is that one. In doing so Jesus declares that, "if it is by the power of God, i.e. the Holy Spirit, that he "binds the strong man," then the kingdom of God is upon you...NOW! We here from St. Augustine, St. Jerome and St. John Chrysostom to give us the proper understanding.

We are introduced to the coming conflict between God and the gods of Egypt. Pharaoh, representing the tyrant of the devil responds to the modest request of a three days journey to enter into a feast, or liturgical sacrificial worship of God. Pharaoh does not know God and therefore intensifies the work required so as to consume all of the time of the Hebrews so that they cannot be idle. The worldly see time in rest (Hb. sabat) looking forward and back (Gen.2:3) as a time for rest in the Lord to worship Him to order things properly, God first, then work. Hence now in the New and everlasting covenant, we worship God on the first day, the first day of the New Creation, and giving to God the first fruits. The genealogy of Moses and Aaron is the demarcation, a breath if you will before we begin the confrontation of God with the gods of Egypt.

What is the proper understanding of the Sabbath Rest? Is it lawful to do good or evil, to save life or kill? In the Gospel of Mark, we see in the same event as recorded in Matthew 12. But why does Jesus ask this question? The reference interestingly enough is in the Old Testament. We look at Jesus equation of Himself with the Temple and as such He is the Lord of the Sabbath. We look to the Fathers to understand how all of this not only reveals Jesus' divinity and at the same time causes the Pharisees great consternation.

First God calls Moses to go to Egypt to Free His people, then God was going to kill Moses on the over-night stay. How can we explain this? What was the reason for God's seemingly turn around from calling Moses to intending to kill him? Why is Zipporah doing the circumcision? Why does God call Israel His "first born son"? What is the significance of the first born son?

Jesus makes reference to King David and his men from 1 Kings 13 and also Leviticus and Deuteronomy in refuting the Pharisees' accusation that He was breaking the law of the Sabbath. Jesus first insults his accusers by asking them, "have you not read...?" Certainly they had, but Jesus is pointing out once again, that their interpretation of the law was legalistic, in the same manner in which Lucifer uses Scripture. What does the law (of Moses) say of healing on the Sabbath? Jesus demonstrates His Lordship over the Sabbath and how his accusers have things upside down. We look to the Old Testament and the Catechism of the Catholic Church to point out Jesus fulfilling that which was written in the Law and writings.

We continue in our discussion of the Essence of God as revealed to Moses, and the significance of giving someone your name. God sends Moses on a Mission and Moses objects. God answers Moses' objections and provides the necessary ezer (in Aaron) grace and tools to carry out the mission God gives to Moses. How one of these signs is repeated in the book of Kings and Jesus repeats the sign of His own word in the Gospel of Mark and thus declaring that He is the God that spoke to Moses!

Jesus prays to His Father. Does this mean that He is a being less than the Father? However, Not only the Fathers, St. Augustine, St. Chrysostom and St. Hilary, but Dr. Edward Sri agree, Jesus' prayer is conversation with His Father and they all confirm that Jesus is of the same divine substance as His Father, yet a different person. Jesus ends this prayer with the image of being yoked to Him, for the burden is light. We look back to the prophet Isaiah and the Book of Sirach to understand the meaning of Jesus' Prayer.

Moses the prince of Egypt becomes a shepherd and while tending the flock of his father-in-law, the Priest of Midian, he sees a burning bush. From this apparition of this unusual sight, Moses hears the Lord and for the first time in Scripture reveals His name. What is in a name? If it is God's name, a great deal. We learn what the Fathers drew from this and the significance of the name, I AM Who I AM.