Genesis to Revelation: Luke Participant Book by Weaver Horace R.;

Author:Weaver, Horace R.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2018-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

DIMENSION THREE: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN TO ME?

“Knowing” and the Law

The Pharisees and experts in the law were of vital concern to Jesus, who knew many of these people personally and loved them. But he was concerned about the effects of their “rule religion” on their lives and on those they affected by their practices. He also valued the abilities and dedication of the lawyers (who formed the core of Pharisaism), but he yearned to lift them beyond the minutia of their legalism.

Jesus says these lawyers are responsible for taking away “the key to knowledge” (11:52). We think of the great prophet Hosea, who declared, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Hosea was describing the priesthood of his day. The priests were the instructors in the law of his time. Hosea charged the priests on two accounts: (1) They were too content to receive their share of the sacrifices at the expense of not informing people as to the nature of God. (2) The priests emphasized knowing about God rather than knowing God personally.

Both charges were valid in Jesus’ time and still apply to some religious people today. Jesus knew that many pious Jews were replacing a personal walk with God with obedience to thousands of rules. Little wonder that Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened [with rule-bound religion], and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Persons who try to fulfill the minutia of the law have no rest—either then or now.

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