The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 139


The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 139

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:  Luke 11:37-44
And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So, He went in and sat down to eat. When the Pharisee saw [it], he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. "Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? "But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. "Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over [them] are not aware [of them].” 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES: Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah
The dinner provided for by a certain Pharisee was not impromptu. The guests of the dinner party were several, Pharisees (religious leaders) of the day, and Scribes (religious lawyers). One cannot muster up a number of people for dinner (a large meal) on a moment’s notice. The invitation for Jesus to join these men at dinner was not impromptu either. Jesus, in His deity, knew He would be attending this dinner. Also, the Pharisees and Scribes knew as well for their plan was to find fault, even to falsely accuse Jesus. As Luke 11:54 says – (They were) lying in wait for Him and seeking to catch Him in something He (Jesus) might say, that they might accuse Him.

All religions are systems of works, Jesus seeks to point this out to the Pharisees by revealing that the works that they do are simply outward motions of self-righteousness that do nothing for the inner soul where true righteousness dwells. He draws attention to their foolishness. I am sure some of the Pharisees recalled Psalm 14:1 – The fool has said in his heart ‘there is no God’. They are corrupt, they have done abominable (religious) works, there is none that does good! No, not one.

Even revealing to these men ‘of the cloth’ that their giving to the poor of what they have makes them feel rather good about themselves. But in a real sense, their alms to the poor and their tithes to God reveal greed in their heart rather than ‘justice and love’ justice for mankind and love for God is not their main purpose of being a Pharisee. The whole Law of God is important, not just the ones that provide the self-indulgence/righteousness of religion that provide the best seats in the synagogues and honorable greetings in public places. A key for all of us to walk by faith and not by sight!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 203

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 203 Luke 21:7   –   So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” Matthew 24:3 – Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Mark 13:4 – “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Yesterday we looked briefly at the First coming of the LORD Jesus, born of the virgin Mary, suffered and crucified, killed by the power of sin of which we all had and have a part in. He rose from this death; He is alive again . The apostle Paul writes, “For I deliver to you first of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose
Read more

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 169

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 169 Luke 14:7-14 - So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; “and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. “But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. “But when you give a fea
Read more

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 161.1

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 161.1 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 12:1-5 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah An excerpt from yesterday’s devotional: In our passage, the point of the LORD is not that of being a newscaster but placing the death of these people beyond human judgment, in fact; Jesus does not look at the death of human beings as we do. All humans, past present and future will die a ph
Read more