Tag Archives: Pharisee

So Right Yet So Wrong

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He said …, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” Luke 16:31 ESV1

Read Luke 16:14-31

Contrary to popular opinion, God doesn’t grade on a scale. If He did, none of us would get a passing grade. Think about it. How many lies must one tell to be a liar? Only one. How many times must one cheat to be a fraud? Just one time. How many times must one steal before becoming a thief? Only once. Likewise, how often must one tell the truth to be completely trustworthy? Every single time. How often does one need to be faithful to be honest? Always. How many times does one have to refrain from taking without permission to be law-abiding? Every possible time. “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10).

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Oh, What a Difference

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“Her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47 ESV1

Read Luke 7:36-50

Country artist, Ronnie Milsap, recorded a song entitled, “What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life.” The lyrics of that song are:

“What a difference you’ve made in my life.

What a difference you’ve made in my life.

You’re my sunshine day and night.

Oh, what a difference you’ve made in my life.

What a change you’ve made in my heart.

What a change you’ve made in my heart.

You replaced all the broken parts.

Oh, what a change you’ve made in my heart.

Love, to me, was just a word in a song that had been way overused.

But now I have joined in the singing

because you’ve showed me love’s true meaning.

That’s why I want to spread the news.

What a difference you’ve made in my life.

What a difference you’ve made in my life.

You’re my sunshine day and night.

Oh, what a difference you’ve made in my life. (5X)”2

I don’t know for whom Mr. Milsap sang his song, but every time it runs through my head, I can’t help but think of Jesus. And I imagine the woman highlighted in the following Scriptures had a very similar song playing in her heart for Jesus.

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A Child of God

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Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”                Matthew 3:8-9 ESV1

Read Matthew 3:1-12

In the time in which Jesus walked the Earth there were groups of very religious people who were absolutely sure that they, above others, were right with God. They studied the Scriptures, followed very high standards of holiness, and taught others to do the same. Two of these religious groups were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Shortly before Jesus began His earthly ministry, his close relative, John the Baptist, was preparing the way for Jesus by preaching, “‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 3:2). A great number of people from the region believed John’s message. “[They] were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:6). Presumably, because they were serious about matters of faith, “many Pharisees and Sadducees [were also] coming to [John’s] baptism, [and] he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come’” (Matthew 3:7)? Why was John so rude to those wanting to do the right thing?

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Removing Obstacles

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As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Luke 3:4-6 ESV1

Read Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8, Luke 3:1-18, and John 1:6-28

All four Gospels begin their accounts of Jesus’ ministry with the ministry of John the Baptist. Luke goes as far as to identify the exact timing of John’s appearance on the ministry scene through the reign of a king, a governor, three tetrarchs, and two high priests (see Luke 3:1-2). Scholars far more knowledgeable than I have used that information to pinpoint John’s ministry as having taken place between the winter and spring of AD 26. Why was it so important to start explaining Jesus’ purpose for coming with the relatively short ministry of another?

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