Oddly enough, it was the religious leaders who were constantly trying to trap Jesus in some scriptural inconsistency. They were masters of the Gotcha Religion!
Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
In their traditional but twisted view of things, healing a man would be a violation of the rule against working on the Sabbath. So, they must have secretly hoped Jesus would heal the man.
Then… Gotcha!
Jesus didn’t disappoint them…
Then… Gotcha!
Jesus didn’t disappoint them…
"Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
What was their reaction?
A careful and open-minded re-thinking of their understanding of the Sabbath! Respect for the power of God displayed in Jesus’ act! Happiness for the man who was healed!
Hardly!
But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
What were they thinking? I’m not sure, except to say they were absolutely certain they were right and Jesus was wrong.
Respect for truth is important. But it isn’t possible to see the truth – even when it’s standing right in front of us - unless we first allow God to fill our hearts with love, mercy and humility.
In the name of truth, these leaders remained blind to greater truth. This is the problem with a Gotcha Religion.
Great thoughts, Denny.
ReplyDeleteGod gave the law - then man added their traditions - and taught them as law. They tried to define to a "t" what God meant, then imposed on others their interpretations and applications.
But surely we wouldn't fall tot he same trap as the Pharisees, would we?!?!
While not all traditions are bad, many are simply our interpretation of how God's word should be applied. I wonder what we may miss because of our pre-conceived ideas? I wonder what we may bind on others unecessarily.
I thinnk you hit on a key to avoiding that, Denny:
"it isn’t possible to see the truth – even when it’s standing right in front of us - unless we first allow God to fill our hearts with love, mercy and humility"
Kevin, I appreciate your daily
ReplyDeletecomments and the way you keep
thinking about the Teacher.