What Are We?

"What made Jesus calling out hypocrites different from the hypocrites calling out Jesus?"

A MAN writes a book detailing the sins of another, or what he thinks is sin, and becomes anti-Christ. There is no wisdom in his self-revelations. No “love one another.” Jesus spoke to Jewish leaders sharply, calling them out for their lack of godliness, not to set us an example for all future confrontations, because He would die for them. In this is His example.

Jesus scorned no one. Scorn, here, is biting words disguised by the speaker as chastening from God, as correction. God speaks in love and in patience. Which swings me back around to Jesus’ words to hypocrites. The Pharisees were not formed by God but formed themselves to dictate the Law. In so doing, they stretched it out of what had been said and made it into a display of themselves. Here is the behavior of scorners. What they say others should not do is always contrasted with themselves.

Jesus had no sin. Hebrews 4:15. Just by way of example, consider Him at age 12, in the temple quizzing the scribes instead of traveling home with His parents. It took them 5 days to find Him, and then when they did, His reply to their questioning was they should have looked for Him there (Luke 2:49). Yet He had no sin. He had the Spirit without measure (John 3:34) and spoke only the Father’s words, did only the Father’s actions (John 14:10). So what’s the difference? What made Jesus calling out hypocrites different from the hypocrites calling out Jesus?

The temple would be torn down, after His death and Resurrection (Mark 13:2). The Father would tear the veil around the Holiest Place, the day Jesus died (Matthew 27:51). A change was coming, a severe one, and all their posturing to please Rome (John 11:48) wouldn’t save them. They were blind. Blind, too, to who He was. Because they would crucify Him on the pretense of keeping the Law, their words filled with scorn, and refuse to entire Pilate’s judgment hall so that they’d stay clean for Passover (John 18:28). They hung the Passover Lamb on the cross while eating the meal which symbolized Him.

We are told in Acts their behavior was the same (Acts 4:6). But my point is, we must know God’s Voice from our own. We must see our motives in what we preach because all our thoughts and the intents of our heart are open to God (Hebrews 4:12). He knows what we meant by that remark. Though the Pharisees made a display of themselves in fasting and prayer, it was meant to elevate themselves and belittle people (Matthew 23:14,28). Jesus laid down His life and lifted us from the muck and mire of sin, setting us on the Rock, which is Himself. He endured the mocking without making a comeback, and in the end of it all was the heart of God on display.

What are we?

“For it was God’s pleasure to have his entire identity, character—the fullness of his essence—live in Christ.” (Colossians 1:19, Remedy)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com