The Dangers of Legalism
This morning we had 15 men gathered at 5 AM for our study of John 18:28-34. Two weeks ago I had given them the assignment of considering the difference between the Jewish leaders who brought Jesus to Pilate and Pilate, himself. It is an interesting study into the actions and attitudes of the "believers" and the pagan governor. It has many applications for us, as believers, today. Read it for yourself and see what you can find.
One obvious example is the fact that the Jewish leaders would not go into Pilate's residence called the Praetorium, because they thought it would defile them, but they would seek to put an innocent man, Jesus, to death. That is so hypocritical, but they could not see it, because their hearts were so hard, and their minds were made up in advance that Jesus was not the Son of God. I am afraid that is how it is with a lot of believers even now. They have been taught something that is not the truth, but they hold on to it out of ritual. Then, they commit very obvious sins of attitude or action, but they think they are righteous, since they were careful to do their ritual laws. That is ridiculous, but it is the way many people live. They may hate their neighbor or be prejudice against another race of people, but since they go to church, they think everything is alright. God hates that kinds of hypocrisy.
The truth is that Pilate was more open and was trying harder to do the right thing than the Jewish leaders. That should never have been the case. The Jews should have been much more open to Jesus, since they had God's Word that pointed them to the Messiah. However, Pilate was the one who had to say that he found no fault with Jesus. The Jewish leaders had made up many false charges against Jesus because they were determined to find fault with Him. We can do the same thing today, when we are negative about a person, before we know them, just because they do not act as we think they should act, or they do not look like we think they should look.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 6-7 and II Corinthians 2.
One obvious example is the fact that the Jewish leaders would not go into Pilate's residence called the Praetorium, because they thought it would defile them, but they would seek to put an innocent man, Jesus, to death. That is so hypocritical, but they could not see it, because their hearts were so hard, and their minds were made up in advance that Jesus was not the Son of God. I am afraid that is how it is with a lot of believers even now. They have been taught something that is not the truth, but they hold on to it out of ritual. Then, they commit very obvious sins of attitude or action, but they think they are righteous, since they were careful to do their ritual laws. That is ridiculous, but it is the way many people live. They may hate their neighbor or be prejudice against another race of people, but since they go to church, they think everything is alright. God hates that kinds of hypocrisy.
The truth is that Pilate was more open and was trying harder to do the right thing than the Jewish leaders. That should never have been the case. The Jews should have been much more open to Jesus, since they had God's Word that pointed them to the Messiah. However, Pilate was the one who had to say that he found no fault with Jesus. The Jewish leaders had made up many false charges against Jesus because they were determined to find fault with Him. We can do the same thing today, when we are negative about a person, before we know them, just because they do not act as we think they should act, or they do not look like we think they should look.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 6-7 and II Corinthians 2.