Lucas 6
Ray Stedman · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 6
Stedman has an excellent message on Legalism. The best way to defeat the legalistic tendency of our fallen flesh is to walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the (legalistic) desires of the flesh (see commentary on Gal 5:16). Now it happened - First note that the KJV (based on the older manuscript, the Textus Receptus) has a phrase not found in most modern translations - on the second sabbath after the first. In actuality, as discussed above this is not entirely accurate (not to mention that it is not accepted as authentic when compared to better Greek manuscripts), for this is actually Jesus' third Sabbath Scene. Notice the phrase now it happened. We get the verb happen from the word hap and the Webster's first entry is "to occur by chance." We commonly hear the phrase "it just so happened." Here our English mindset gives us an incorrect meaning of these opening words. They did not happen by chance. Not one thing Jesus did was by accident or chance and this Sabbath encounter is no exception. This was a divinely ordained confrontation of the traditions of the pseudo-pious Pharisees and the truth of the Lord of the Sabbath! Matthew's parallel passage actually uses the Greek word kairos for time which speaks of an opportune time, much like our "window of opportunity." In other words, miss this time and you miss the "opportunity." (cf See Paul's exhortation for believers to Redeem the Time). Jesus was a man on mission and did not miss opportunities (and as aside remember we are called to "imitate Him" - 1 Cor 11:1+, 1 Jn 2:6+, 1 Pe 2:21+. See Walking Like Jesus Walked! - How are you doing regarding your divine allotment of kairos moments! Don't waste your moments, for they may never occur again! Ben Franklin said "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" especially in regard to redeeming the time - are you going to bed early that you might wake up early and be ready to redeem the opportunities God gives you EVERY day?) In this case of course the "opportunity" was the right place, right day, and right actors, so that the stage was set for another confrontation between the Pharisees and Jesus (cf Luke's record of Jesus' first confrontation with religionists and note the time phrase "one day" reflecting once again God's providence - Lk 5:17-21+ - See Providential Happening that changed the life of Ruth the Moabitess). It was the right "season" (kairos) for a "perfect storm" ordained by God Who is sovereign over His creation (including storms!), even allowing the creation (in this case the Pharisees) to question their Creator (Jesus)! Notice the irony here for the Hebrew word Sabbath means rest, but it is only by believing in the Person of Jesus that one can find true rest (cf Mt 11:28-30+). These Pharisees were clearly "restless," for there is no spiritual rest in external religious observances! Just as Jesus had taught in the Sermon on the Mount, keeping of external laws (much less man-made non-Biblical traditions) could never bring true rest internally (and eternally) and righteousness that pleases God (compare Jesus' way in Mt 5:6+ versus the Pharisees' way in Mt 5:20+), for true righteousness comes from the heart of the one who places his or her faith in Christ Jesus our Rest! (cf Ro 10:9-10+). Have you entered His perfect rest by grace through faith in the Lord of the Sabbath (Rest)? Play Kari Jobe's "Be Still My Soul - In You I Rest." He was passing through some grainfields (sporimos) on a Sabbath (sabbaton) - As discussed above Jesus passing was providential not perchance! It was on a Sabbath which was God's perfect timing for a confrontation between those who were righteous in their own eyes and the only One Righteous in God's eyes! It was in a sense a war of the worlds, a war between the temporal world of the Pharisees and the eternal world of God's Kingdom. We might subtitle this section confrontation in some grainfields. Other confrontations had been in synagogues and in Peter's home, but now the confrontation is "out in the open" so to speak. From here on in cornfields to the Cross, the Pharisees will fight with "no holds barred." On a Sabbath (sabbaton) - This phrase on a Sabbath is found in Matt. 12:2; Matt. 24:20; Lk. 6:1; Lk. 14:5. Click here for lengthy discussion of the Sabbath in the commentary on Leviticus 23:3.
Lucas 6
Stedman observes that "All of us know someone whom we consider a little bit lower on the ethical scale than we are, and what a comfort they are to our hearts! Every time our conscience gives us a little stab, we immediately remember these people, and we take courage, and feel a lot better. If we analyze our thoughts, we find that we secretly feel God has no right to bother us while these people are around. Let him concentrate on them! They are the ones who need it!...We all want a lightning rod that will divert the stroke of divine wrath from us, and channel it off to someone we consider a little more worthy of it. (Romans 2:1-16: The Secrets of Men) "Speck ministers" tend to emphasize the faults of others rather than their strengths and to focus on other's faults rather than their own faults. Criticism of others is foolish because our knowledge of them is only partial at best. But even if we had all the facts, we still might misinterpret them because our judgment, unlike God's, is fallible. And such judgmentalism generally tears down rather than building up.