Freedom

Jesus tells us that we have complete freedom in Him in John 8:36: "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."  But our liberty is not a license to do everything we wish.  1 Peter 2:16 says: "Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."  We have been set free, but to what purpose?  I think Psalm 66:8-12,16 has the answer: 
⁸Bless our God, O peoples;
   let the sound of his praise be heard,
⁹who has kept our soul among the living
   and has not let our feet slip.
¹⁰For you, O God, have tested us;
   you have tried us as silver is tried.
¹¹You brought us into the net;
   you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
¹²you let men ride over our heads;
   we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
 ¹⁶Come and hear, all you who fear God,
   and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
Notice that.  Freedom in Christ is not easy, and it carries an obligation to tell others what God has done.  The real blessing of freedom is not license, but God's presence.  Even though He tests us, He promises us: 
"When you pass through the waters I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.  When you walk through the fire you shall not burned, and the flam shall not consume you." (Is. 43:2)
Bask in the blessing of Immanuel.  God is with us.  

Questions

(N.B. To understand the context, read Matthew 22:15-33)

Many times we have questions about the Scripture.  Even Peter admitted that Paul's letters were hard to understand (2 Pet. 3:16). However, so many times we act like the Pharisees and Sadducees, asking questions of God with the wrong attitude and mindset.  How do we expect to arrive at the truth if we do not desire it wholeheartedly, no matter what the answer may be?  And how do we expect to find a love for the Scripture, all of it, unless we first love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength?  Jesus told the Sadducees that they were mistaken in their questioning because they were "not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God." (Matt. 22:29)  To understand the word of God aright, we must recognize His power, come to Him with fear and trembling, and ask for His understanding, that we may conquer the world's wisdom with God's.

Pharisees

(For the context, read Matthew 23)
The reasons why Jesus condemned the Pharisees:
They won't enter the kingdom, or let anyone else do so.  Thus, they are responsible not only for their own souls but also the souls of those they barred.
They make their disciples twice as bad as themselves.
They have a false vision as to the importance and true symbolic significance of ceremonial practices.
They forget what the law is all about, following the letter but not the spirit, completely ignoring justice, mercy and faithfulness.
They care about how they appear to others, but not how they appear to God.
They pretend to be self-righteous, claiming that they would not repeat their forefathers mistakes.
Now the question becomes, do you do any of these things?
Do you block others from seeing the truth by your actions, attitudes, or words?
Do you prioritize the gift over the Giver, using your talents for yourself, and not for God?
Do you expect perfection from others while only doing so little as you can yourself to get by?
Do you follow the rules your parents set down for you, but still do what you know would displease them, even if they haven't specifically forbidden it?
Do you always want justice imposed on others while always seeking mercy for yourself?
Do you act one way around one set of people and a totally different way around another set?
Do you strive in what you do to please other people, whether teachers, bosses or friends, or do you seek to please God?
Do you listen to your parents' advice about places in the past where they made mistakes, or do you foolishly believe that you are better than they are, and would never do such things?
In short, are you a Pharisee?  I know that I have done some of these things which are so detestable in the eyes of God.  If you recognize any of these things in yourself, ask forgiveness of those you have offended, both people and God.  And, with God's help, resolve to root out your Pharisaical tendencies and live with humility.

Parable of the Wedding Feast

(N.B. To understand the context, read the parable of the wedding feast, in Matthew 22.)

The Father calls everyone in the world, both evil and "good."  When He speaks to one who seemingly does not belong, He calls him "Friend."  He gives us all the opportunity to let Him befriend us.  He calls us gently, waiting for us to recognize the benefits of friendship with Him.  Bit if we remain speechless, if we do not confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, then we will ultimately perish. God gives us all a choice, whether or not to follow Him.  The results in the short-run may seem enjoyable, but in the long-run, if we choose to reject Him, it will be the worst mistake of our lives, because the result of that fatal rejection is eternal condemnation--separation from all that is good and beautiful and true.