Today, we take a good look at Jesus’ enemies and how He spoke with them. He started with a parable that specifically targeted those who refused to hear what God said through His prophets and then through His beloved Son. Although many parables did not register, this one did. Mark 12:12 tells us: “The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.” Yet, even when they heard this parable and the message that when God sent His prophets the response was rejection, they continued to reject. So very, very sad.
These particular religious leaders were not attending Jesus’ teaching times to learn. No, they were attending with critical ears and hearts, hoping to find something to use against Him. Sadly, we have people like that, today. They don’t listen to learn. They don’t come to a speaker or writer with honest questions seeking clarification. They judge and criticize without even knowing the one about whom they speak. Now, we are supposed to be like the Bereans, who Paul commended in Acts 17:11. “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” We do need to make sure teachings line up with the Word of God. However, our hearts should be to look with eagerness and a desire to learn, not a desire to find fault. No speaker or writer is going to get it all right, all the time. However, many a sincere Christian pastor or speaker has been skewered unfairly by people looking to judge them without first talking with them and discussing the perceived error. Let’s give grace to those who share the Word with us, remembering they are fallible, but treating them with kindness and not an over-eagerness to find fault.
My recorded verse: Mark 12:24. “Jesus replied, ‘Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.”
My response: They quibbled over doctrine and worked to prove their points. Yet, they did not know God! They did not look at the Scriptures through that lens of knowing Him. They lacked the awareness of Who He was and is – His power and majesty – and thus lacked the right lens in which to work out their questions and dilemmas. Lord, help me to never stop at doctrines and rules. Help me to always seek to know You, who authored them. Teach me, Lord, how to trust and obey.
