'You Just Don't Know!' — Mark 12:19-24
“Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?
Key Thought
Isn't it refreshing to hear Jesus tell the simple truth to these manipulative schemers? "You don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God." So often today, we sit in circles and ask different folks for judgment of a passage from God's Scriptures rather than trying to learn its message for us. It's almost like we're leaving the meaning up to the faulty and error-prone judges of an Olympic boxing, skating, or gymnastics event. They hold their signs to say what score the Scripture deserves. Instead, shouldn't we be asking other questions like ... What do I need to do to apply this Scripture in my life? What do I need to do to live in obedience to God's Scriptures? How is this truth going to change my behavior? Rather than sitting in judgment over God's Scriptures, shouldn't we in humility confess that we don't know enough to critique it and we don't understand God's power fully enough to grasp how it can be fully accomplished? Even more, when someone pontificates on a subject trying to sound religious and yet espouses something counter to biblical truth, shouldn't we gently remind them of Jesus' warning? Perhaps we're a little too infatuated with our opinions and not familiar enough with God's truth. Perhaps we're all a little afraid of the dissenting opinion of the conventional wisdom and not committed to obeying God's heavenly wisdom.
Today's Prayer
O Father, forgive me when I live with an inflated view of my own understanding of your Scriptures and find ways to rationalize away the sharp edges of your truth. Gently humble me and lead me to a deeper understanding and appreciation for your will. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
1 Timothy 6:3-5
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Romans 16:19
“Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?
Key Thought
Isn't it refreshing to hear Jesus tell the simple truth to these manipulative schemers? "You don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God." So often today, we sit in circles and ask different folks for judgment of a passage from God's Scriptures rather than trying to learn its message for us. It's almost like we're leaving the meaning up to the faulty and error-prone judges of an Olympic boxing, skating, or gymnastics event. They hold their signs to say what score the Scripture deserves. Instead, shouldn't we be asking other questions like ... What do I need to do to apply this Scripture in my life? What do I need to do to live in obedience to God's Scriptures? How is this truth going to change my behavior? Rather than sitting in judgment over God's Scriptures, shouldn't we in humility confess that we don't know enough to critique it and we don't understand God's power fully enough to grasp how it can be fully accomplished? Even more, when someone pontificates on a subject trying to sound religious and yet espouses something counter to biblical truth, shouldn't we gently remind them of Jesus' warning? Perhaps we're a little too infatuated with our opinions and not familiar enough with God's truth. Perhaps we're all a little afraid of the dissenting opinion of the conventional wisdom and not committed to obeying God's heavenly wisdom.
Today's Prayer
O Father, forgive me when I live with an inflated view of my own understanding of your Scriptures and find ways to rationalize away the sharp edges of your truth. Gently humble me and lead me to a deeper understanding and appreciation for your will. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
1 Timothy 6:3-5
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Romans 16:19
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