How should we respond when truth challenges our beliefs, as in Luke 20:19? Setting the Scene—Luke 20:19 “When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they wanted to arrest Him that very hour, but they were afraid of the people.” Why Truth Creates a Crisis • God’s Word exposes motives (Hebrews 4:12) • Truth overturns cherished assumptions (Isaiah 55:8-9) • Confrontation demands a decision—submit or resist (John 3:19-20) Negative Model: How the Leaders Responded • They recognized the truth applied to them, yet chose self-protection over repentance • They allowed pride to harden their hearts (Proverbs 16:18) • They sought to silence the messenger rather than heed the message Positive Response: How We Should Respond • Humble Listening – Acknowledge God’s right to correct us (Psalm 25:4-5) • Honest Examination – Search the Scriptures to confirm what we hear (Acts 17:11) • Repentance and Alignment – Turn from wrong thinking or behavior the moment it’s exposed (Acts 2:37-38) – Put truth into practice quickly (James 1:22) • Dependence on the Spirit – Ask the Spirit to renew the mind and shape desires (Romans 12:2; John 16:13) Case Studies That Model a Right Response • Peter at Joppa—accepting Gentiles (Acts 10:15-16, 34-35) • Apollos—receiving fuller understanding from Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:26) • King Josiah—hearing the Law and leading nationwide reform (2 Kings 22:11-13) Practical Steps for Today • Daily invite Scripture to probe motives—read with an open heart • Share discoveries with mature believers for accountability • Confess resistance quickly; ask God to replace it with teachability • Celebrate course corrections as evidence of God’s love (Revelation 3:19) |
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