But He answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: "The baptism of John––was it from heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know where it was from. And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."(vs3-8)
Doing things sneakily won't prevail with God. If we don't want the truth, then we won't get it. He said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things”. The Pharisees, the leaders of the people, and the priests DIDN'T want to know the Son of God or who sent Him, so they were blinded by their own stupidity and no answer was given.
What a warning! We must take the truth seriously, rather than twisting it or playing dumb to fool God. This is more than tricking a human court, deceiving another person, or lying your way out of trouble before men. This is the Almighty God who knows the heart. We read, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no created hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:12-13). He gives you light, and if rejected, then you get no more. He said in Luke 8:16-18, “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he things to have will be taken from him”. Take heed to what you're given, answer honestly the questioning of God, and you'll be given light to save your soul.
It is better to admit you're ignorant or sinful than to lie about it and hide from God. Being taught by God in Christ is the best thing for you, because He only comes to save. Micah 7:18-19, says, “Who is God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities”. He isn't cruel, exacting unfairly, or ungracious. Ask the saints, search the scriptures, and you'll find a God who continually shows mercy from the merits of His Son, by the power of His own Spirit, and according to the willing promises of the word. We read again, “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side... because you did not know the time of your visitation” (Luke 19:41-45).
No comments:
Post a Comment