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Luke 6:6-11
In this passage, the scribes and Pharisees were so caught up in their own religious rules and man-made traditions so that they were more concerned with finding some wrongdoing to accuse Jesus of than to listen to the lesson He was teaching. They were not listening to Jesus and could not hear what He was teaching them.
We can gain some understanding of why the scribes and Pharisees’ hearts were so hardened toward Jesus through the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus explains to His disciples why He taught in parables in Matthew 13:10-17 and quotes the prophet Isaiah in Mathew 13:14-15 (NKJV), “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not
Understand,
And seeing you will see and not
Perceive;
For the hearts of this people have
Grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes
And hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their
Hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’
Jesus asked the scribes and Pharisees in Luke 6:9, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” This was to show that their man-made regulations were self-centered and derived from evil. The scribes and Pharisees were more concerned with their outward appearance than they were with the condition of their hearts. Jesus wanted to show them that this way of thinking was not desirable by God, and that the sinful nature lives in their hearts, which is where the root of sin has hold of them.
Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath, which according to the scribes and Pharisees was unlawful to do. Luke 6:11 teaches us, “But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.” This hurt the prideful and arrogant attitudes of the scribes and Pharisees as they had set themselves up to be the most religious people of the time. They allowed what I consider to be two of the most used tools of the devil to overcome them – pride and arrogance.
This is a command and example to do good always.
This is an example of how Satan can distract our focus to self-centered rather than Christ-centered.
This is an example that Jesus knows the thoughts of our hearts.
This is an example that as we spend time with Jesus, He will show us the sin that lives in our hearts; it is our choice to live in that sin or to ask Him to cleanse us of it.
This is how Satan works in the sinful nature of our hearts – he tries to get our focus on something/anything other than what God is trying to teach us in our lives through His Word (the Bible). We all have to check ourselves daily in dealing with pride and arrogance – it affects us all.
We may get our feelings hurt and lash out at one another or simply in trying to be the best that we can by finding fault with others – this is pride and arrogance at work. Jesus taught in Matthew 22:37-40, “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’ [Deuteronomy 6:5]. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ [Leviticus 19:18]. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”” And in John 13:34-35 Jesus proclaimed, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We should build our relationship with God first, so we can then allow His love to flow through us to one another. How do we do this? By inviting Jesus into our heart to cleanse us from sin, and then seek and live the new life in Him each day.
Dear Lord,
This Scripture passage shows us just how easy it is to allow Satan to infiltrate our lives with pride and arrogance – even in the presence of Jesus. Satan is more powerful than us and the only way we will ever overcome the trials and temptations that he throws at us is through salvation in Jesus. Please help us to see the need for Jesus to cleanse our hearts as He has already defeated Satan and waits for us to invite Him into our lives. Your gift of love through Jesus is a gift that can only be realized in our lives by the individual acceptance to receive salvation in Him. Touch our hearts Lord that we would all accept this gift of eternal life in Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.