Life of Christ 117
Note: This is the eighth of an eight part mini-series on the errors of the Pharisees.
The seventh error with
which Christ reproaches the Pharisees is hiding the truth from people. 'Woe
unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not
in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered' (Luke 11.52).
We must never forget
that the devil is a liar and the father of it (John 8.44). He is, in every
respect, the opposite of Jesus Christ, Who is the Truth (John 14.6). Thus,
religious systems which hide from the truth and propagate lies are an anathema
to God, and ought to be an anathema to people. The same is true of the
religious leaders who lead those systems, and the followers who fill them.
Granted, it is certainly
true that some people will refuse to see the truth as truth when you display
it, or will insist, either sincerely or insincerely, in misunderstanding the
truth. These are all too human failings. But, speaking broadly, we have nothing
to fear when holding and displaying the truth and everything to gain.
I could point my finger
at any number of religions, but let me hew close to our own crowd here. I've
known some soul winners who lied about their soul winning results. I've known bus
workers who promised promotions that they knew weren't going to happen. I've
known preachers whose sermons were replete with fake illustrations. I've known
Bible college students who lied about their homework. Certainly every human
being has lied at one point or another, but when we lie in the process of
serving God or about what we are doing for God it is abominable. We are not
only hurting ourselves, but also those around us. We are hiding the knowledge
of the truth from them, and no matter how sincere or good our motives may be,
the result will eventually be damage rather than edification.
As we close this little
mini-series based on Jesus' diatribe against the Pharisees let us embrace the
applications to our own religious system. Let us beware placing a premium on
the external to the neglect of the internal. Let us be balanced, and not major
on the minors. Let us avoid pride at all costs. Let us carefully teach
doctrine, and whitewash the spiritually dead movements of our day. Let us be
cautious that we do not produce an untenable religious system, filled with
rules, and choking off a vital spiritual life from the heart. Let us embrace,
rather than resist, those who would question our dogmatism. And let us speak
and welcome the truth.
We ought never forget
that the Pharisees started out well, with the best of intentions, in their
desire to ensure Israel remained true to God. But the devil is a master at
perverting real religion to the place that it actually hinders people in
relation to the Lord instead of helps them. We must needs be watchful that we
do not allow our good religion, committed to the Lord in ways that so many no
longer are these days, to turn into a pharisaic disaster.
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