The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone”, and in chapter eleven and verse forty-three of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “woe unto you, Pharisees! For you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues” where we read:
Woe unto you, Pharisees! for you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues,
and greetings in the markets.
The verse reads, “Woe unto you, Pharisees! for you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, ...” Luke began with the words, “woe unto you” or “nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover alas as a word of warning to the Pharisees”, “Pharisees” which refers to “the religious sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”! “for you love” or “because, since and on account that you Pharisees are pleased with, entertain, are fond of and are contented dearly with” “the uppermost seats” which means “the first, chief or preeminent places for sitting or front row” “in the synagogues” or “within the sacred worship places where the assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures”. Luke shared how Jesus warned the “Pharisees” as He referred to the way they took great pleasure in being “seated” in the “chief and prominent” places within the worship center.
The verse continues, “... and greetings in the markets.” Luke added the words, “and greetings” or “and oral salutations”, “in the market” which means “within the assembly of people for public debating, elections, buying, selling or all kinds of business”. Luke shared how Jesus referred to the way the “Pharisees” loved to be recognized and addressed in the public meeting places for commerce, debating and elections.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “Pharisees” were a proud group of religious leaders. Because they thought themselves to be “a little bit better” than everyone else, they believed they were to be “seated” in the best seats in the religious meetings, and they enjoyed being “addressed” as “Rabbi” within the places of business or public debating. In other words, they loved their positions and their prominence among people. Jesus warned these “Pharisees” against their “wicked practices”, and those who believe and trust in Jesus should never “exalt” themselves above others. Titles and positions often elevate people in their own minds to think themselves “above” others, and when a person carefully considers what Jesus said to these “Pharisees”, position, prominence and praise of others should never be their goal.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “woe unto you, Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are as graves which appear not”, 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
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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