James once warned, “Examine your heart thoroughly before agreeing to teach the Word of God.” Moses, as Israel’s teacher, forfeited entering the land of promise with one act of disobedience. There is a higher standard for those who will say, “Thus says the LORD!”
Carley offers a great explanation in this post as to why our words must bring forth only truth… with a pure heart. There is something at stake!
I’ve pondered this verse many times: Jesus says to the Pharisees, “Woe to you experts in the law, because you take away the key to knowledge. You yourselves do not enter, and you hinder those who are entering.” (Luke 11: 52, NIV)
Jesus speaks to the Pharisees about “loading people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and not lifting one finger to help them.” (Luke 11:46) And He speaks to them of “building tombs for the prophets” even though their forefathers murdered those very same prophets.
I think Jesus tells the Pharisees that they have no knowledge of God at all. These “experts in the law” miss the whole show, so to speak. Worse yet, they parade around as if they know God and know the way to Him. And in their burdening of the people with rules and regulations, they hinder these same people from “the key to…
View original post 102 more words
Glad all of you liked “The Key to Knowledge.” Your comments here are swell. God bless you each! Carley
Hi! I nominated you for the Sunshine Award. Check it out on my blog @ http://ramblingsofacreativemind.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/sunshine-award/.
Let us not forget that we will not ever know everything there is to know about the Lord… and that this is OK. All that is required is belief, repentance and faith. All the “correct” doctrine in the world won’t earn you a better seat. While it is good to know correct doctrine, not all incorrect doctrine will un-earn us a seat at the throne.
“Woe to you experts in the law, because you take away the key to knowledge…you hinder those who are entering.”
The “law” is not what we understand now by “law” which are enacted by legislature. The “law” in days of yore referred to “teachings” and “interpretations” of scripture and “practices” therefrom. By defining what the “law” was, the Pharisees sought to dictate what was acceptable. Anything else was blasphemous. This effectively prevented wiser minds from discovering Truths within scripture – thus the priests (Pharisees) took away the keys of knowledge.
Here “entering” refers to entering the repository of Truth. Not only do the Pharisees do not enter but they also prevent others from acquiring Truth.
Not much different from what is happening even now. This is what I understand by this verse.
But a thousand prophets, a thousand truths…so, what would I know…
Great post Mike.
There is “something” at stake alright–the fate of many a lost, misguided, hurting soul!
Thanks Michael. I appreciate your support!