Scribes and Pharisees (Gal. 4:9; Luke 6:1-11)
Galatians is very thought-provoking, especially in light of its look at legalism. I struggle less now than I used to, but being legalistic has always been way too easy for me. Ephesians chapter two also tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, and that faith was even a gift to us, yet the struggle to want to add to that is very real with many. Paul spoke of this struggle in Galatians as he battled the infiltration of Judaizers, who were leading those in the church astray by telling them they needed to add to the grace they had been given. If or when we try to add anything to grace, we are essentially rejecting it and reverting to legalism, and that's a bad deal! This is revealed by Paul, who says in Galatians 4:9: "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?" (NASB).
Yesterday, our pastor's sermon from Luke inspired me to back up and read. Luke 6:1-11 deals with the reactions of the Pharisees and their scribes to the idea that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. These groups were evidence that the Law provokes pride in those who think they adhere to it religiously. That's why these scribes and Pharisees who followed Jesus around watched him so closely (in order to accuse him) became so enraged by his healing of the man with the withered hand on a Sabbath. Jesus asked them, " . . . is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm, to save a life, or to destroy it?" (Luke 6:9). Jesus was simply uncovering their evil motives that they were hiding behind the Law. However, as much as they wanted to put their own spin on it, only the One who made the Law can interpret fully all of its nuances. Jesus understood that their focus was not on God and bringing Him glory, but rather on the Law as a scorekeeper and a tool. They tried to use it to accuse Jesus instead of letting it uncover their own unrighteousness and then repenting of it. But "Jesus lived in consistent fellowship with the Father, in continuous dependence upon the Father, and in constant obedience to the Father" (Derek Gentle, FBC, June 7, 2015). Thus He was able to understand He was to please God . . . and listening to His leading through the Spirit, he performed miracles when God called Him to do so. Jesus chose to do good to the man with the withered hand, but by doing nothing, the legalistic scribes and Pharisees were doing harm. Instead of their hearts being softened by Jesus' words, their hearts were hardened by the very Law they chose to live by.
The key verse in Galatians is found in verse one of chapter five. Paul reiterates that "it was for freedom that Christ se us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Make no mistake, adhering to anything but God's grace and free gift of salvation through His son Jesus Christ will bring slavery, not freedom.
Yesterday, our pastor's sermon from Luke inspired me to back up and read. Luke 6:1-11 deals with the reactions of the Pharisees and their scribes to the idea that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. These groups were evidence that the Law provokes pride in those who think they adhere to it religiously. That's why these scribes and Pharisees who followed Jesus around watched him so closely (in order to accuse him) became so enraged by his healing of the man with the withered hand on a Sabbath. Jesus asked them, " . . . is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm, to save a life, or to destroy it?" (Luke 6:9). Jesus was simply uncovering their evil motives that they were hiding behind the Law. However, as much as they wanted to put their own spin on it, only the One who made the Law can interpret fully all of its nuances. Jesus understood that their focus was not on God and bringing Him glory, but rather on the Law as a scorekeeper and a tool. They tried to use it to accuse Jesus instead of letting it uncover their own unrighteousness and then repenting of it. But "Jesus lived in consistent fellowship with the Father, in continuous dependence upon the Father, and in constant obedience to the Father" (Derek Gentle, FBC, June 7, 2015). Thus He was able to understand He was to please God . . . and listening to His leading through the Spirit, he performed miracles when God called Him to do so. Jesus chose to do good to the man with the withered hand, but by doing nothing, the legalistic scribes and Pharisees were doing harm. Instead of their hearts being softened by Jesus' words, their hearts were hardened by the very Law they chose to live by.
The key verse in Galatians is found in verse one of chapter five. Paul reiterates that "it was for freedom that Christ se us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Make no mistake, adhering to anything but God's grace and free gift of salvation through His son Jesus Christ will bring slavery, not freedom.
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