Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 23
Daily Bread 2010 – Acts 23
1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." 2At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!"
4Those who were standing near Paul said, "You dare to insult God's high priest?"
5Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people."
6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
As Paul begins his trial before the Jewish council, he immediately offends the High Priest by saying he has fulfilled his duty in good conscience. Paul realizes his error when he lambasts the high priest, and then admits that he should be respectful of the high priest because of his position. Then Paul upsets the apple cart by appealing to the inherent differences in the two major religious parties, the Sadducees and Pharisees.
The Pharisees were more literal in their interpretation of the Law and took the scripture at its face value. Because there were so many miracles in the Old Testament, they were open to the supernatural happening among them. The Sadducees were more worldly in their theological interpretations, and thought that everything could be explained by human reason. Does this sound familiar in the church today?
Often the conservative leaning church has all the answers in black and white, and the liberal leaning church tries to explain all of the miraculous away. Can you see how both might be more about man being in control than God? In both cases a pride can develop that says we have all the answers and we control the Truth.
Paul realized that these two parties were so interested in preserving themselves and their own ideologies that they missed the truth right in front of them, just as they did when Jesus was with them. And, of course, as we are saying all along, Paul gets the same treatment as Jesus. When someone in control is confronted, they get really angry and such was the case with both of these groups.
But when you realize that Jesus is the way the truth and the life, and not just your theology, or your denomination, or your view of the end times; there is a humility that is confident of one’s faith, but also realizes that God is in charge, not you. And this humility leads you to say sometimes, “You know I don’t know, but God is in charge and I will let Him take care of that.”
Prayer: God help us to trust in you and not try to give answers to things that are only yours to know. Give us the humility to seek the truth at all possible costs, and be open to learning new things about you as we rely on Your Spirit to guide us into all truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." 2At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!"
4Those who were standing near Paul said, "You dare to insult God's high priest?"
5Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people."
6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
As Paul begins his trial before the Jewish council, he immediately offends the High Priest by saying he has fulfilled his duty in good conscience. Paul realizes his error when he lambasts the high priest, and then admits that he should be respectful of the high priest because of his position. Then Paul upsets the apple cart by appealing to the inherent differences in the two major religious parties, the Sadducees and Pharisees.
The Pharisees were more literal in their interpretation of the Law and took the scripture at its face value. Because there were so many miracles in the Old Testament, they were open to the supernatural happening among them. The Sadducees were more worldly in their theological interpretations, and thought that everything could be explained by human reason. Does this sound familiar in the church today?
Often the conservative leaning church has all the answers in black and white, and the liberal leaning church tries to explain all of the miraculous away. Can you see how both might be more about man being in control than God? In both cases a pride can develop that says we have all the answers and we control the Truth.
Paul realized that these two parties were so interested in preserving themselves and their own ideologies that they missed the truth right in front of them, just as they did when Jesus was with them. And, of course, as we are saying all along, Paul gets the same treatment as Jesus. When someone in control is confronted, they get really angry and such was the case with both of these groups.
But when you realize that Jesus is the way the truth and the life, and not just your theology, or your denomination, or your view of the end times; there is a humility that is confident of one’s faith, but also realizes that God is in charge, not you. And this humility leads you to say sometimes, “You know I don’t know, but God is in charge and I will let Him take care of that.”
Prayer: God help us to trust in you and not try to give answers to things that are only yours to know. Give us the humility to seek the truth at all possible costs, and be open to learning new things about you as we rely on Your Spirit to guide us into all truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment