SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/28/2020 8:59 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
The Identity of the Scribes and
Pharisees
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matthew 5:20
Message of the
verse: “20
“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
I
want to begin by looking at what my Online Bible has to say about the word for
scribe (grammateon) is the Greek word
for scribe. In the OT book of Ezra we
also see the Hebrew word for scribe used of Ezra and that word means a secretary
according to my Online Bible dictionary.
I want to give the last two definitions for the Greek word so we can
better understand what this word means: “2)
in the Bible, a man learned in the Mosaic Law and in the sacred writings, an
interpreter, teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions
of the law; added to the Mosaic Law decisions of various kinds thought to
elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of
religion. Since the advice of men
skilled in the law was needed in the examination in the causes and the solution
of the difficult questions, they were enrolled in the Sanhedrin; and are
mentioned in connection with the priests and elders of the people. See a Bible
Dictionary for more information on the scribes.
“3) A religious
teacher: so instructed that from his learning and ability to teach advantage
may redound to the kingdom of heaven.” John
MacArthur writes “Like Ezra (Ezra 7:12), the earliest grammateon (scribes) were found only among the priests and Levites.
They recorded, studied, interpreted, and often taught Jewish law. Although there were scribes among the
Sadducees, most were associated with the Pharisees.”
During the time of Christ on earth
Israel had two kinds of scribes, the first was civil and second ecclesiastical. If one thinks of how a notary functions in
today’s world that is close to how the civil scribe functioned during the time
of Christ. They were also involved in
various governmental duties. Once again
from the book of Ezra (Ezra 4:8) we read that Shimshai was such a scribe. “Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe
wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, as follows.” Now as we have touched on the ecclesiastical
scribes devoted their time to study of the Scriptures and they came to be in
primary interpreters and articulators of it.
I want to mention that in order for a person to truly understand the
Scriptures they must be a believer, for an unbeliever does not have in them the
Holy Spirit, and one of His functions is to teach believers what is written in
the Word of God, for after all He is the Author of the Bible. This goes along with what Jesus had to say
about the scribes of His day, and that is that they failed to understand what
they studied and what they taught.
MacArthur adds “With all their exposure to God’s Word, being
superficially immersed in it continually, they missed its profound spiritual
intent.”
Now as we move briefly onto the
Pharisees, we find that they were very rigid and particularly confident in
their system of righteousness. MacArthur
writes that “The Jews had a saying, ‘If only two people go to heaven, one will
be a scribe and the other a Pharisee.’
Those men were completely convinced that God was obligated to honor
their devoted and demanding works. In
comparing themselves with the standards they had established—and especially in
comparing themselves with the average Jew, not to mention Gentile—they could
not imagine God was not favorable impressed with their goodness.”
If we look back at the history of
the church we can find men like the scribes and Pharisees who spent their
entire lives studying the Bible and yet did not understand the greatest thing
that it teaches and that is that salvation is by grace through faith alone, and
really has nothing to do with works.
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: Before I
became a believer I had a hope that I would go to heaven, but after I became a
believer I knew I would go to heaven.
Nothing to brag about as I had nothing to do with me getting into heaven
as Jesus paid it all.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the
Lord as believers are now going through some very difficult times in our
country, especially those who are standing up for the Word of God, like John
MacArthur and the church that he is the pastor of.
7/28/2020 9:32
AM
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