One thing that always amazes me about Jesus is how He is able to
avoid the traps and tricks of the Pharisees and other religious leaders.
Time and time again Jesus sidesteps their logic and shares an even
greater truth. This passage doesn’t have a clear “Pharisee Trap” present, but Jesus
does take the perspective of those present and redefines it. Like most
interesting dialogs, some people bring Jesus a statement or question and
wait to hear His response. Luke 13 begins by saying, “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.” (Luke 13:1 NIV) These people may have wanted to simply inform Jesus about something
bad that had just happened, or perhaps they were warning Him to consider
moving His ministry to a different location, but in either case, they
were asking for Jesus to give a response to this information. Like Jesus
usually did, instead of responding directly to the surface statement,
He responds to the underlying concept and perspective. The subtle trick that is present here is not seen in the statement, but instead in Jesus’ response. One thing those present were trying to pin Jesus into saying is that
how one dies is more important than how they lived. The thought among
those present seemed to be that one’s type of death, especially if they
were killed while worshiping, would overshadow any wrong they had done
during their lives. The other big thing that those present were trying to get Jesus to
say was that the type of death that someone experienced was directly a
result of the type of life they had lived. It stood to reason that those
who died early, especially if it was an “accident” like a tower
falling, must have been hiding worse sins that only God knew about and
that He determined it good to punish them for it. These are the two sides to this seemingly innocent piece of news –
and Jesus sees right into the preconceived ideas and into the trap. So
Jesus takes the opportunity to shift the perspective of each side of the
trick. Continuing in verse 2, we read, “Jesus answered, ‘Do you
think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other
Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you
repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the
tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all
the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent,
you too will all perish.’” (Luke 13:2-5 NIV) First Jesus steps in and brings the implications to the surface. Is
how one dies a revelation of how they lived? Does the type or time of
death matter? Then Jesus gives us the big truth: How one chooses to live
from this point forward determines their ultimate destiny. Unless
repenting, which means turning away from sin and towards God, is a part
of your path forward, you will face the same fate. The amount/level of
sin in our lives is not as important as the one we put our faith, hope,
and trust in to deal with the sin that has stained our past. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40 NIV) A few summers ago, my family & I took a trip up to the mountains to go camping. This was our second camping trip this season. Several hours before leaving, I searched the directions for the campground in our GPS to add the campground to the recently searched list. When we left, I quickly looked in the recent list, loaded up the directions, and we started driving. At the time, I noticed that the directions looked different than they did earlier, but I didn't question it because the GPS was taking us a more preferred route. Since the GPS factors in traffic, I assumed it calculated heavier traffic on the route it showed earlier. However, about a third of the way into our trip, the GPS instructed us to take a turn I knew was not correct. Knowing the mountain roads, I was certain we needed to keep going straight. The GPS insisted that we turn. About a half mile after following the GPS' instructions to take the turn, I pulled off to the side of the road to look closer at where the GPS was taking us. As it turns out, the GPS was not taking us to our campground for this weekend. Instead, in my haste, I had mistakenly clicked on the campground we had camped at a few weekends earlier, which the GPS was diligently directing us to. After updating our destination to the correct campground, the GPS' instructions aligned with my expectations. In our own lives, we face competing ideas regarding success in life. Is success a large house, an expensive car, investments so large that they grow faster than we can spend them, or being famous and known by millions of people? While some of those measures of success I wouldn't say no to if God had plans for this in my future, each one of those measures is like a GPS set to the wrong destination. Fame, wealth, status, and knowledge, can only take you so far in life - and they are poor measures for spiritual success. In the first century, knowing the scriptures was seen as the ultimate measure of spiritual success. Being able to answer tough questions about scripture and to ask the best questions was what every rabbi-in-training wanted. However, Jesus challenges this idea when pushing back at the religious leaders. According to Jesus, the goal of the scriptures is knowing Him. If reading the scriptures points you to Jesus, then the scriptures have accomplished their goal. If you read the scriptures for any other purpose, your GPS is set to the wrong destination. Salvation does not come from what you know, it comes from who you have a relationship with. While knowing the Bible is good, knowing Jesus is better; knowing Jesus leads to eternal life. If you don't know who Jesus is, pick up your Bible. The goal of the Bible is pointing you to Jesus! ✝️
As I read through the gospels and specifically about the miracles
Jesus did, I am surprised at the places where Jesus heals someone while
also knowing that it would bother others. One such example is when Jesus
healed the man who was swollen with fluid while visiting a Pharisee’s
home (Luke 14:1-6). In this event, we see plenty of evidence that the whole situation
was set up to catch Jesus doing something that these religious men could
use as evidence to claim Jesus worked on the Sabbath. The question that comes to my mind when I read events like this why
would Jesus knowingly place Himself in situations like this knowing that
it is a trap. Perhaps Jesus didn’t know this situation was a trap when
He arrived, but since He was so connected with the Holy Spirit and the
Father in everything He did and said, I would be very surprised if Jesus
simply walked unknowingly into this trap. In contrast, if Jesus knew everything about this trap beforehand, and
He chose to walk into it, the only two reasons for this that I can see
are (1) healing someone who needed help and (2) pushing these religious
leaders past their legalistic view of Sabbath observance. We can see both reasons being present in this passage, and this teaches us that God
has called us to love and help others regardless of the day of the week
we are in, and while His Sabbath day is holy and special, it should
never be an excuse to not help someone in need! This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.
Pride comes before the fall
(Proverbs 16:18), and humility before honor (Proverbs 15:33). Throughout the
Bible, we see how pride leads to downfall, yet God offers redemption through
humility. Humanity’s original sin begins in Genesis 3, where Satan appeals to
the pride and sense of entitlement of Adam and Eve, stirring in them the desire
not just for wisdom and independence but to “be as gods” (Genesis 3:5). Rather
than being content with the abundance God had already provided, they fixate on
what was withheld, aspiring to equality with God, if not superiority over Him.
This prideful ambition, fueled by a focus on lack rather than abundance, separates
them from God and introduces sin into the world. This pattern of pride and entitlement
leading to a fall is echoed throughout the Bible, with God using humbling
experiences to draw His people back to a reliance on Him. God frequently confronts pride in
individuals, guiding them back to humility. In the story of Pharaoh, it is his
pride and sense of entitlement to authority over the Israelites, which leads
him to resist God’s command to release them, despite witnessing powerful signs
and wonders. Scripture describes how Pharaoh’s heart becomes hardened, which is
akin to resentment, as he repeatedly refuses to humble himself before God,
resulting in devastating plagues upon Egypt. As Exodus recounts, “the Lord
hardened the heart of Pharaoh” (Exodus 10:27), ultimately allowing Pharaoh’s
pride and entitlement to run their course. Only after his pride is entirely
broken by the final plague does he momentarily relent, permitting the
Israelites to go (Exodus 12:29-32). Similarly, King Nebuchadnezzar
exalts himself in Babylon, declaring, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have
built … by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel
4:30). This statement reveals not only his pride but a deep sense of
entitlement to glory and permanence, assuming that his success is unshakable, even
though God had warned him in the dream Daniel interpreted that it would be
taken away. In response, God humbles him, driving him into the wilderness until
he acknowledges God’s sovereignty, saying, “Those that walk in pride he is able
to abase” (Daniel 4:37). Only then was he able to return to his position by the
Grace of God. Though a man after God’s heart,
King David was not immune to pride and entitlement. In a moment of self-sufficiency,
he orders a census of Israel, assuming ownership of the nation’s strength
rather than trusting in God’s provision. Recognizing his sin, David humbles
himself, repenting before God (1 Chronicles 21:7-13). Even prophets and leaders
face the humbling power of God; Jonah, for example, runs from God’s command,
pridefully deciding that the people of Nineveh are unworthy of God’s mercy. His
sense of entitlement over God’s judgment leads him to resist his mission, yet
through humbling trials, Jonah ultimately fulfills God’s purpose (Jonah 2:1-3:3). Through these stories, we see how
God, in His wisdom, allows humbling circumstances to bring His people back to
reliance on Him, showing that pride and the entitlement it often breeds leads
only to separation from God. God consistently teaches that humility is the path
to restoration and honor, often by allowing people to experience the humbling
consequences of pride. In the Beatitudes, Jesus echoes this truth, declaring,
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). He
teaches His disciples to serve others, proclaiming, “Whosoever shall exalt himself
shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matthew
23:12). Through humility, individuals open themselves to God’s grace, finding
forgiveness, purpose, and honor. This theme of humility culminates
in the ultimate act of obedience and self-sacrifice: Jesus Christ. Humbly, God,
manifest in the flesh through Jesus, addresses this issue directly. Jesus,
though divine, “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant” (Philippians 2:7). Rather than claiming power, He humbles Himself to
death on the cross, demonstrating that true exaltation lies in humility and
surrender to God’s will. Through Christ’s humility, the door to redemption is
opened wide, offering humanity a path back to God. In His self-sacrifice, Jesus
models humility and embodies the power of humility to restore what pride has
broken. Through His humble obedience, Christ reverses the cycle of sin,
offering us the grace and strength to overcome pride through faith in Him. Paul
summarizes this beautifully in Philippians 2:8-9: “And being found in fashion
as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name
which is above every name.” The humility Christ modeled and empowered is a
theme woven throughout Scripture, as we see God’s consistent call to humility
leading to restoration and honor. The Bible’s overarching narrative
moves from pride to humility, with humanity’s pride causing separation from God
and Jesus’ humility bringing restoration. From Lucifer’s rebellion to
humanity’s original sin in Eden, pride and the desire for autonomy from God
mark the beginnings of sin and separation. While Satan’s rebellion initiates
sin in the spiritual realm, humanity’s disobedience brings sin into the
physical world, leading to a cycle of self-exaltation and brokenness. This
parallel underscores the Bible’s consistent message: self-exaltation leads to
downfall, and only humility, repentance, and obedience lead to restoration. In
contrast to Satan’s pride and humanity’s fall, the Bible offers a redemptive
path through the humility of Jesus Christ. His sacrificial love, rooted in
ultimate humility and obedience, opens the way for redemption, restoration, and
eternal life. Thus, the story begins with pride and brokenness, but it ends
with humility and honor, as Jesus reconciles humanity to God, offering eternal
fellowship to those who embrace humility and faith. It serves as a guide for
our lives today. This ultimate truth offers a
timeless message: in humility lies true honor, and in surrender to God’s will,
there is life. The Bible invites us to release self-exaltation and pride,
embracing humility as the path to earthly peace and eternal fellowship with
God. This message is as relevant today as ever. In multiple aspects of our
lives, relationships, work, and especially our conversations, pride often
tempts us to place ourselves above others, dismissing their views with
condescension. In divisive spaces like political debates, we too often talk
past one another, letting our self-assuredness or need for validation
overshadow genuine engagement. One common way pride manifests
itself today is entitlement, the belief that we inherently deserve certain
privileges or recognition. Entitlement can manifest subtly, as in thoughts
like, “I deserve better than this” or “How could this happen to me?” Such
thinking reflects an expectation that our experiences and desires should take
precedence, often leading to resentment and dissatisfaction. This entitlement
shifts our focus toward what we perceive as lacking rather than on the abundant
blessings God has already provided, distorting our perspective and fostering
discontent. In these moments, asking ourselves, “Who am I to expect this?” can
be a powerful reminder that every blessing is a gift of grace rather than a
right. This question is not meant to diminish our worth, as God deeply values us,
but rather to keep our hearts centered in humility and gratitude. Like pride,
entitlement disrupts our ability to see blessings as gifts and others’
perspectives as valuable, drawing us further from the humility God desires for
us. Recognizing entitlement as a form of pride challenges us to release these
expectations and adopt a spirit of humility, viewing blessings as gifts rather
than rights. A humble approach acknowledges that
each of us travels a unique path daily, shaped by what we see, hear, and
experience along the way. We exchange these perspectives in conversation,
expanding our limited view of reality. This openness doesn’t imply that every
perspective is accurate, but it reminds us to listen and to weigh each view
carefully against the truth of God’s Word. Recognizing that we all may hold
misconceptions keeps us grounded. The humility that Jesus modeled, seen in His
compassionate response to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11) and in
washing the disciples' feet (John 13:14-15), is rooted in respect and
understanding. If we genuinely follow His example, it can transform our
interactions. A prideful approach, fueled by
entitlement or self-assuredness, erodes relationships and fosters disdain.
Humility, however, invites mutual respect, fostering constructive dialogue even
amid disagreements. If we cannot align on every issue, we can at least uphold a
reverence for one another, embodying Christ’s humility as we seek truth and
unity. After all, this is what language is designed for: to communicate truth,
to bridge perspectives, and to foster understanding. When we approach each conversation
with a heart grounded in humility, we align with God’s purpose for our words: to
speak life, seek wisdom, and build each other up in love. Humility is not only
a posture in conversation but a heart attitude that aligns us with God’s
wisdom, softening our hearts to receive His guidance and love. By releasing
entitlement and embracing this spirit of humility daily, we allow God to shape
our character, bringing growth, harmony, and, ultimately, closer fellowship
with Him and others. Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or
vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves.”
In Jesus’ prayer on the night He was arrested, He prays for His
followers. The followers Jesus prays for are not just the small group of
disciples, but all of His followers who live throughout history. A big
theme of Jesus prayer is connection and unity. Just like Jesus is one
with the Father, He wants to unite His followers into being one with
both Him as well as God. We can see this theme clearly throughout a number of the sections in
Jesus’ prayer, but as Jesus begins to wrap His prayer up, we see a
picture of oneness that is a little unique from some of the others. In
His prayer to the Father, Jesus says, “I have honored my
followers in the same way that you honored me, in order that they may be
one with each other, just as we are one. I am one with them, and you
are one with me, so that they may become completely one. Then this
world’s people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love
my followers as much as you love me.” (John 17:22-23 CEV) It is amazing to me that Jesus tells us that He honored His followers
in the same way the Father has honored Him. Some translations say glory
instead of honor. This idea is powerful because it reveals how God’s
nature is to step down. When we give someone or something glory, we lift
it up, and by doing so, we place it above us. While it might not
technically be worth more than we are to someone else, honoring
something or someone is more in the eye of the one giving the glory or
doing the honoring. As an example, if I give honor to a friend for something they
accomplished, I am lifting them above me (or perhaps up beside me if it
is something I had also accomplished). Honor and glory lift others up.
My friend in this example might not feel as though he is worthy of the
honor because he might be focused on someone or something else who is
even better than he is. This means that honor is in the eye of the one
giving honor – and Jesus says He has honored His followers like God had
honored Him. God the Father lifted up Jesus, and Jesus lifted up His
followers, and we are called to continue the cycle of honor by returning
it to God. We complete our connection and unity with God by giving
honor to Him for everything He has done for us through the Father,
through Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit. When we close this circle by
returning honor to God, we become one with Him and this oneness becomes
a witness to those living around us that God loves us. While God’s love doesn’t always mean that we are protected
from bad events, it does mean that we have Someone who is willing and
happy to walk through life with us as we continue to live, learn, and
grow towards being the person God created us to be. This post first appeared on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com What do you think? Do you agree/disagree? Leave your thoughts below.