Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. Luke 11:43
The Pharisees were an offense to Jesus, they loved power and praise. Jesus called them out without calling their names, they knew who they were. Here’s what Jesus said about that spirit, because it is a spirit. Side trip...Did you know that God has some things that He detests? Check out the list in Proverbs 6:16-19 and the first one on the list is...drop the mic! You guessed it? See you’re so smart! I’m assuming you ran for your Bibles- silly me. I’m still not telling! It’s,...Covid19 vacay.....for some of you. Continuing my thoughts with them being called out;
Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Selah
That doesn’t sound like the Jesus I learned about in Sunday school. No way! He’s meek and mild. Jesus saw right through their pompous attitude. He came for, among other things, to set us free. Freedom from sin and religion!. Religion keeps people blind and in bondage to ideology that is not of God but of man.
It gives the appearance of but denies the power to; set people free. Jesus said “only free people can free people” well that’s not exactly how He said it, but that’s what He meant. Read it in John 8:35-36.
Do you know what the Bible says about intellectualism? Read 1 Corinthians 1 it’s a lengthy passage, but I’ll quote verse 18 to finish my thought: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: quoting Isaiah 29:14, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
The “Ones who are perishing “ are those who view the work of Jesus and His Word with skepticism. This but not that, presuming to speak for The Holy Spirit. The Bible says “ALL “ scripture; Genesis to Revelation, is God breathed, given by the inspiration of God. 2 Timothy 3:16. The apostle Peter had this to say about prophecy (which is still speaking of the Word) 2 Peter 1:20-21. And I quote: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never has its origin in the human will, but prophets though human, spoke from God, as they were moved by The Holy Spirit.” So the “this but not that” mentality, concerning the Bible, does not have its origins in scripture. God, not man is the Author from Genesis to Revelation. Believe all of it or none of it!
I have heard people say this, “ I don’t believe the Bible- man wrote it “ well wakey, wakey! Of course men wrote it Duh; I’m writing this too. But I’m here to tell you I’m not as smart as you may think I am. I depend on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. And, if I interject something He doesn’t want, I get checked and I have to remove it. If I were writing the Bible, and this is why I believe the scriptures when it says “They wrote as they were led” I would’ve left out a whole bunch of stuff that made me uncomfortable. Just saying. Paul had to tell everything about his past, Peter had to write that he denied Jesus, thank God Judas killed himself; he has no idea about how he’s remembered. The woman at the well, the adulteress, Zacchaeus the tax collector, man I’d be like “scratch that!” Lol But here’s the good news, and you won’t find it in the gospels; such were some of us....you have to leave the gospels go past Acts to find that in First Corinthians. Getting my point?
The Bible says these things what things?The things that are written in God’s Word, were written for our examples. You know what an example is right? It’s either something to avoid or emulate. But if you only focus on the appetizer, you won’t know what these things are because you find out about them in 1 Corinthians 10. Not the gospels. You need to read the Bible in its entirety; God designed it that way. So yes man wrote, but definitely not what they wanted to write. They wrote God’s heart.
Before we get to part three . I’d like to share with you, something you may or may not know. Jesus is not the author of the gospels, meaning he didn’t write the accounts. He’s the main Character but not the writer. Only two of the writers were actually a part of the twelve disciples. Matthew and John the apostle. Mark actually wrote Peter’s account. And Luke the physician not an eyewitness himself , interviewed eyewitnesses for his account. He’s also the writer of Acts. See Luke’s introduction in Luke 1.
Heavenly Father in the name of your Son Jesus, I ask for your forgiveness today if I’ve acted like a Pharisee. I understand that I’m not in control- You are! You have given us your Word to help us know you better and learn of our position in Christ Jesus. All of your Word is good. Help me let go of what I think I know to embrace your revelation and truth, by your Spirit, my Teacher. In Jesus Name. Amen!
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit.
W. Tennant
“The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.”
- Pastor David T. Demola.
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