How can we avoid the Pharisees' error of dismissing others' spiritual understanding? Setting the Scene “ But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” (John 7:49) The Pharisees, certain of their own mastery of Scripture, branded the ordinary people as ignorant and cursed. In doing so, they closed their hearts to the possibility that God was teaching others something they themselves had missed. What Went Wrong? • Intellectual pride overran humble obedience. • Social status replaced spiritual discernment; academic credentials became the standard of truth. • Harsh words shut down conversation, leaving no room to hear God’s voice through unexpected messengers. The Poison of Spiritual Elitism • 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 — “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up… The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.” • Matthew 11:25 — The Father “has hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children.” • Luke 18:13-14 — The humble tax collector, not the self-assured Pharisee, went home justified. The pattern is clear: God resists the proud yet delights to give insight to the lowly. Practical Ways to Guard the Heart Humble posture • Proverbs 3:7 — “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.” • Isaiah 66:2 — God esteems “the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.” Active listening • James 1:19 — “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak.” • Value testimonies, experiences, and perspectives that differ from your own. Test everything by Scripture, not by résumé • Acts 17:11 — The Bereans “examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” • 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 — “Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test all things.” Choose words that build up • Ephesians 4:2 — “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” • Romans 12:16 — “Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly.” Practice self-forgetting service • Philippians 2:3 — “In humility consider others more important than yourselves.” • Seek opportunities to learn from believers of every background, age, and education level. Checking Our Words and Attitudes A quick personal inventory before speaking: • Am I motivated by love or by the desire to appear superior? • Am I assuming ignorance because someone lacks formal training? • Am I letting tradition or preference silence what Scripture actually says? Balancing Discernment with Humility Avoid gullibility, yet refuse cynicism. Hold truth firmly while holding people gently. The same Lord who grants understanding to scholars delights to whisper insight to fishermen, shepherds, and children. Walking Forward Together By treasuring every glimpse of truth God entrusts to His people—no matter who delivers it—we honor the Author of all wisdom and steer clear of the Pharisees’ fatal assumption. |
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