Mankind has a Need Problem

Luke 6:6-11

I am overcome with the reality that mankind is like God in one aspect God is the same today as He was yesterday, and man is the same way, but God is pure, good, perfect and holy.  Mankind is as sinful today as they were yesterday.  I do not advocate reading or watching too much news of the day, but the most casual reader understands mankind is not improving.  So as it was in the time of Jesus walking on planet earth, it will be so today when it comes to the hearts and minds of people.

With that backdrop we will examine these verses from Dr. Luke beginning with, “On another Sabbath, he (Jesus) entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered.”  Luke being a doctor has paid attention to details like the man’s right hand, and he also is noticing who is paying attention to what Jesus is doing.  Who do you expect to see at worship?  People of like mind, men in this case, for the women were not allowed to worship with the men.  And for sure the Pharisees and scribes for they were the teachers and the rule keepers of the traditions of the synagogue.

Now do you recall how we began?  Man has not changed, and I can tell you when I examine myself that I find the Pharisee always ready to bring to my mind what is proper, he tells me, that is not the way church should be done.  The Pharisee in me wants to have rules about how others should live and what they should and should not wear to the church building on Sunday.  If I listen to him, and I have at times, and I bet you have too, we lose the mind of Christ, we lose our joy, and we lose our kingdom mindset.

Pharisees are always watching for the rule breakers, and they are very judgmental, did I mention they are very religious, much like the young man we find in the book of Acts, the one addressed as Saul, later to meet Jesus on the road to Damascus and have his name changed to Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ.  I have no doubt Paul, the follower of Christ, always had that Pharisee come to his mind, but he did what you and I must also do, Paul renewed his mind daily in fellowship with the Lord.

Picking up the story in verse seven, “And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him.”   I hope you have read this far because it’s going to get very interesting.  “But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.”

A Pharisee then and now is one very religious person, and one should not forget religion’s end game is always death.  They care more about rules and traditions than God or man, so watch out for the Pharisee who is always close, and remember one can fall under the power of his appetite, and without the mind of Christ will gratify his appetite.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice