I found today's devotional by Andrew Womack to be very interesting!
About Those Scribes
Luke 6:7 'And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him,
whether he would heal on the sabbath day, that they might find an accusation
against him.'
The scribes were copyists of the holy scriptures. They
preserved in written form the oral law, and faithfully handed down the Hebrew
scriptures. In New Testament times, they were students, interpreters, and
teachers of the Old Testament. Their functions regarding the law were to teach
it, develop it, and use it in any connection with the Sanhedrin and various local
courts. They were ambitious for honor, which they demanded, especially from
their pupils, as well as from the general public. This homage was readily
granted them (Matthew 23:5-11).
Ezra was a scribe during the Babylonian captivity of the
Jews, and he was a very godly man. The office of a scribe was a worthy one, but
the scribes of Jesus' day were often rebuked by Him for having gone beyond the
job of copying out the scriptures. They had a large volume of interpretations
that they had added to the scriptures based on traditions, and had thus made
'the word of God of none effect' (Mark 7:13).
The scribes became an independent company of interpreters of
the law and leaders of the people. Even they, themselves, sought to evade
certain of their own precepts (Matthew 23:2-4). They clashed with Christ for He
taught with authority and condemned the external formalism that they fostered
(Matthew 7:28-29). They persecuted Peter and John (Acts 4:3-7) and had a part in
Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 6:12). However, although the majority opposed Christ,
some did believe (Matthew 21:15).
Later on, we'll read how Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the
scribes by dealing with issues of the heart. They appeared to be holy
outwardly, but their hearts were far from God. It is important for us to keep
our hearts tender and receptive to His Word, and give ourselves to Him in
worship. Think about the good things he has done for you today and be thankful.
I have often wondered where some of the most unscriptural ideas came to be taught by Bible teachers as Truth when they were far from it! It started right here! These scribes in Jesus' day took to interpreting the scriptures in their own way and passing it off as the truth of God's Word! That is why our Pastor, Bill Novak, of The SPoken Word Church, has taught us from the very beginnning of his ministry to ALWAYS bring our own Bibles and to check out EVERYTHING that he teaches against the Word! We are called on in James 1:22 to be DOERS of the WORD OF GOD! When we speak, study, meditate and act on the Word of God, we will begin to SEE Godly results! Those will bring great GLORY to our Father! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Another in the Fire":
Shalom in Him!
