Bible Question:
Dear stultis, please forgive me. I did not seek to mock in any way. I have the heart of a teacher, so I explain and ask questions. Sometimes it is difficult in this format to accurately express ourselves. I never mean to be condescending or mocking. I am far too aware of my own inadequacies. I am a very poor and imperfect follower of our Lord and Savior. I have failed Him far too many times. Even in my best obedience I often spoil it by stealing His glory through spiritual pride. How could I condescend to or mock any child of our Lord knowing my own faults and failings so well? Perhaps the tone came off the way it did because I posted my question in haste. I have a teachers heart so I tend to explain or question. I hope that you will forgive me. The passage that I was referring to was Mat 23:1-3 which I have pasted here: (1) Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, (2) Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: (3) All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. Here Christ tells both his disciples and the crowd around him to do what the Pharisees say they ought to do. Based on your previous posts I wondered how you interpretted this passage. |
Bible Answer: Thank you for the clarification, though I see no need for personal interperatation. Christ poses this statement quite well... "the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat", [the pharisees] telling them [the people] to do the things God has ordained, but, He continues, "do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." Continuing in context, Christ expresses several examples of the Pharisees hypocracy, pointing out that what the Pharisees instruct is righteous, but the things they do are unrighteous. The people were to keep the Law of Moses (which is what the Pharisees were instructing), but the Pharisees deeds (which were deeds of Hypocracy, and pride, and the deeds of those wishing to be "recognized of men"), were unacceptable. Christ is pointing out to those gathered, rather sarcastically, that all the Pharisees do is wicked, so anything they say WHICH THEY DO NOT ALSO OBSERVE, is acceptable for imitation. It is interesting to note that this is followed by the Seven Woes, an assembly of curses directed at the Pharisees, in response to their hypocracy. Additionally, neither Christ, nor the Pharisees (by context of "Moses' seat") are advocating anything the Lord has not commanded, and thus what matter is the advocate in correlation to the commands of God. Again, ought we to do what man says, or what God says. It was not the Pharisees creating the Law of Moses for the people, but rather diseminating the information. Where the Law pertains, it was God (through Moses... or his seat, if you will) performing the instruction. Finally, I am glad to overlook all that you say regarding your inadequacy, as I find your entreatment this occasion to be more than adequate. Please, do not believe that you have offended me greatly, and know that I will gladly forgive anything I can forgive on your behalf, wether or not to me I find it to be sin. |