Paul
the apostle told the Jewish people in Rome, “Behold,
you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and make your boast of
God”,
and he added, “And
know his
will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being
instructed out of the law; And are confident that you yourself are a
guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness”.
In chapter two and verse twenty of Romans, Paul shared how these Jews
were also, “an
instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes”
where we read:
The
verse begins, “An
instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, ...”
Paul began with the words, “an
instructor”
which means “a preceptor, teacher and chastiser” “of
the foolish” which
means “of those without reason, senseless, stupid and acting
rashly”, “a
teacher”
or “an instructor, doctor and master” “of
babes”
which refers to “of infants, little children, minors, not of age,
untaught and unskilled”. Paul described these people who were
“guides of the
blind”
and “a light
of them which are in darkness”
as “chastisers of stupid people” and “masters over little
children or unskilled people”.
The
verse continues, “...
which have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.”
Paul
added the words, “which
have the form” which
means “that hold, own and possess the shape, semblance and
appearance” “of
knowledge” or
“of general intelligence, understanding, moral wisdom and such as
is seen in right living” “and
of the truth”
which refers to “and what is true appertaining to God and the
duties of man in moral and religious truth” “in
the law”
or “the rule producing a state approved of God”. These
“instructors” and “teachers” have an “appearance of
understanding” what is true in “God's rules and disciplines”.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we see more of the qualities of
these Jews who think they know the Lord but do not. Because they had
God's word, their religion and heritage alone, they because “teachers
of senseless and stupid people”, and they “instructed” others
who were as “children” in their spiritual lives. They thought
they had God's “truth in the law”, but instead only
experienced an “appearance” of it. Jesus Christ described Himself
as, “the way, the truth and the life”, and He added, “no
man comes to the Father, but by me”. (John 14:6) All others
advantages, whether it is “heritage, possessing God's word or a
form of relationship with Him” fall short and make those who have
them “teachers of fools and infant instructors” who only have an
“appearance” of God's “truth and knowledge”.
Next
time Paul asks those who,
“teach
another, do you not teach yourself?”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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