Closed or Open Minds?

by Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger

24 Mar 2009 08:59 AM

Yesterday we saw the Pharisees finding fault and criticizing Jesus and his followers. Nothing has changed. There are plenty of people today who criticize Jesus and his followers.

In Luke 5:33 and 34, the Pharisees criticized Jesus because his followers did not fast as the followers of John the Baptist and their own followers did. Jesus knew a time would come when his disciples would fast and mourn, but it was not yet- not while He was with them. Jesus was intent on showing the Pharisees that he was the new and only way to God, rather than through keeping the law. He was the new covenant, the Savior God had provided as promised for His people. But the Pharisees were so caught up in their laws and traditions that they couldn't see beyond them. They refused to recognize Jesus for who He is.

There are people like that today too. Happy to acknowledge Jesus as a good teacher but not as the Son of God. They are missing the point.

In Luke 6 we again find the Pharisees looking to attach blame to Jesus, accusing his disciples of breaking the Sabbath. All they had done was pick a few grains to eat! Jesus answers them with an example from Scripture, citing that need must take precedence over keeping of rules and laws, verses 3-4. If Jesus thought it was okay for his disciples to pick a few grains to eat, then it was.

We need to think about whether what we do, is in line with what Jesus would want, or if it is simply a case of observing some rule or tradition.

On another Sabbath, Jesus healed a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees had leaned nothing from their previous encounters with Jesus, mainly because they were too focused on fault finding. Jesus was all about compassion and mercy rather than nit picking and rules. Jesus healed the man's hand, verse 10. Sadly, instead of giving glory to God for this miracle, the Pharisees had so closed their minds to the truth that they plotted what they might do to Jesus.

We need to always be open and ready to learn all that Jesus wants to teach us of himself and not close our minds to His teaching.

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Learn more about Dale Harcombe

Dale has a passion for books and writing. She writes in various forms, from articles to poetry to fiction for children and adults.

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