Don't Be a Pharisee!

Read Luke 10:25-37 as this will be the context for this post.

In this section, Jesus is being questioned by an “expert in the law.”  Jesus uses this opportunity to mentor this man by asking him questions and telling him a story, both great ways to help someone discover Truth for themselves…most times when we discover Truth for ourselves, it has a much longer lasting impact on us than when someone just feeds us the information!

Jesus tells this man the story of the Good Samaritan and asks him which passer-by was the neighbor to the man injured along the road.  The expert gives the correct answer; “the one who had mercy on him.”  Step one complete!  The expert now understands the principle of love your neighbor as yourself.

However, if the expert just stops there, with an understanding of the principle, what good is it?  I mean, if we learn all that Jesus said in the gospels and hoard that info, or knowledge, and never apply it, we are no different than the Pharisees…the so called experts in the law! 

And that is precisely why Jesus then tells the man, “go and do likewise.”  Every parable, principle and lesson from Jesus is no good if we do not use that knowledge to change our actions.  We are to apply Truth to our lives and act upon that Truth to make a difference…to build His Kingdom!

Biblical knowledge without Biblical Action is meaningless…worse yet, it is downright Pharisaical!  Doing a little for the sake of the Kingdom, out of our love for Christ, is better than knowing a lot about the Kingdom…no-one in Jesus day, except Jesus of course, knew more about the scriptures than the Pharisees.  It was true then, and it is still true now…Biblical action trumps knowledge in the Kingdom of God every time!  A transforming life will always result in Kingdom action!  Otherwise, well, we are Pharisees!