Scribes and Pharisees Urging Jesus Vehemently - Luke 11:53

Luke the beloved physician wrote how Jesus said, “Woe unto you, lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in you hindered”, and in chapter eleven and verse fifty-three of his book Luke shared how, “the scribes and Pharisees began to urge him vehemently” where we read:

And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:

The verse reads, “And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, ...” Luke began with the words, “and as he said these things unto them” or “and while and during the time Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed the indictment and warning to the lawyers”, “the scribes” which refers to “the men who were learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings and served as interpreters and teachers who examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law” “and the Pharisees” or “and the 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” “began to urge him” which means “made a beginning of engaging, ensnaring, quarreling with and keeping a grudge against Jesus” “vehemently” or “terribly and grievously”. Luke shared while Jesus was “inditing and warning” the “lawyers”, the other religious leaders known as “scribes and Pharisees” began to “taunt, ensnare and provoke” Jesus with great vigor.

The verse continues, “... and to provoke him to speak of many things:” Luke added the words, “and to provoke him” or “and to catechize and entice Jesus” “to speak of many things” which means “properly dictate off hand in an invidious manner pertaining to a lot of subjects”. Luke shared how the “religious leaders” knows as “scribes and Pharisees” continued to “entice” Jesus to answer many questions they had about particular subjects.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we can imagine the barrage of heated questions which were being asked of Jesus by these “scribes and Pharisees”. Jesus “indited and warned” the “lawyers” which were among them, and these other “religious leaders” chimed in with “vigor” and began to question Jesus relentlessly. These “religious leaders” were not really wanting answers to their questions, but were only using them to “catch” Jesus in His words. Though they thought their questions would “trick or trip up” Jesus, His purpose was to bring “salvation” to mankind – including them. God loves people, and even when they question Him “vehemently” and “provoke Him to speak”, He will continue to offer His “saving grace” to them. Let all who read these words examine their “intent” for questioning Jesus, and when they consider who He really is, may they submit their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Luke shares how the scribes and Pharisees were, “laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth”, 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" 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".