February 24, 2012
The work of John the Baptist: Prepare the way for the LORD.
Isaiah 40:3 - "This is a voice of one who calls out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make the road straight for him.' " His message? The same as the prophets. "Change your hearts and lives" the kingdom of heaven is near.
Many people came, confessed their sins, changed their hearts and lives, and were baptized by John. The Pharisees and Sadducees came as well. But they didn't come to change their lives. John the Baptist had a word for them—vipers. (Psalm 140:3 - "...the poison of vipers is on their lips..")
The Pharisees were a sect, a group of people who pledged to be true to their ideals. They believed in themselves. They followed the letter of the law but not the meaning. Scofield says, "They were correct, moral, zealous, and self-denying, but self-righteous, and destitute of the sense of sin and need." They were religious, but it was all about legalism and not about God. It was about who they were not whose they were. They didn't "need" God, they were the Pharisees. They didn't need a Savior, they were already better than everyone else.
The Pharisees were the biggest persecutors of Jesus. Knowing scripture as they did they should have recognized Him as Savior, but instead they saw Him as a threat and did everything they could to harass Him and bring Him down. Who needed a king? They were the leading Jews; they knew the law; they were religious; they were the smartest; and they were competent. Who needed this guy named Jesus to come along and tell them to change their hearts and lives?
Who needed this guy? They did. But they didn't want to hear it. Jesus had very strong words to say about the Pharisees. He exposed their evil actions; He denounced their ways; He opposed them; He accused them; and John the Baptist called them "vipers."
Next Entry: Matthew 3:1–17 (Continued)
The work of John the Baptist: Prepare the way for the LORD.
Isaiah 40:3 - "This is a voice of one who calls out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make the road straight for him.' " His message? The same as the prophets. "Change your hearts and lives" the kingdom of heaven is near.
Many people came, confessed their sins, changed their hearts and lives, and were baptized by John. The Pharisees and Sadducees came as well. But they didn't come to change their lives. John the Baptist had a word for them—vipers. (Psalm 140:3 - "...the poison of vipers is on their lips..")
The Pharisees were a sect, a group of people who pledged to be true to their ideals. They believed in themselves. They followed the letter of the law but not the meaning. Scofield says, "They were correct, moral, zealous, and self-denying, but self-righteous, and destitute of the sense of sin and need." They were religious, but it was all about legalism and not about God. It was about who they were not whose they were. They didn't "need" God, they were the Pharisees. They didn't need a Savior, they were already better than everyone else.
The Pharisees were the biggest persecutors of Jesus. Knowing scripture as they did they should have recognized Him as Savior, but instead they saw Him as a threat and did everything they could to harass Him and bring Him down. Who needed a king? They were the leading Jews; they knew the law; they were religious; they were the smartest; and they were competent. Who needed this guy named Jesus to come along and tell them to change their hearts and lives?
Who needed this guy? They did. But they didn't want to hear it. Jesus had very strong words to say about the Pharisees. He exposed their evil actions; He denounced their ways; He opposed them; He accused them; and John the Baptist called them "vipers."
Next Entry: Matthew 3:1–17 (Continued)
No comments:
Post a Comment