JANUARY 16 READING…MATTHEW 12
Have you ever met anyone who even tried to tell God what to do? How about someone who thought they needed to explain something to God, so He would understand? Who is it that gives instruction to God? Who could possibly tell God anything that He does not already know and understand? The religious leaders in our reading today were trying to inflict their misunderstanding and misapplication of the Sabbath upon Jesus. Jesus once again demonstrates the fact that He is God in the flesh by taking authority over the Sabbath. Remember that Jesus was orthodox in His understanding and application of the law of God. Which brings us to the clear conclusion that those religious “orthodox” weren’t quite as orthodox as they believed themselves to be. These were not even men of truth…for if they were, they would have received Jesus and His revelation of what the law of the Sabbath meant. Some today believe that Bible study is to gather with a group of people, read the Scripture, and then ask everyone what they think the Scripture is saying. That is not Bible study, but a gathering of ignorance. Bible study is not asking everyone what they think the Scripture is teaching…Bible study is discovering what the Scripture is actually saying. The meaning of Scripture is not subjective, but objective. It’s truth and meaning our not based on our experience, but God’s revelation. Because the religious leaders in our passage could not receive truth, they began to attempt to destroy it…by planning to kill Jesus. In doing so they commit the unpardonable sin in blaspheming the Holy Spirit, by their refusing to believe the Holy Spirit’s testimony that Jesus is Messiah.
Please share your thoughts.
TOMORROW’S READING…MATTHEW 13