Is It Lawful?
Is It Lawful?
24049 QGA
Mark 03:04 (Lk 06:09) The Context: Jesus was in a Synagogue on a Sabbath day. The Jewish leaders were watching Him to see if he would heal a man on the Sabbath. They considered healing to be "work" which they considered forbidden on the Sabbath. They were not just curious, but were watching to see if Jesus would do something for which they could "accuse Him." Knowing perfectly the thought and intents of their hearts Jesus asked them the following question:
God Asks Us: "And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent."
jne: The answers to Jesus questions seem rather obvious. It should be lawful to do good, to save life, and unlawful to do harm or kill. Jesus "looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart." Then he "healed the man with a withered hand." In response, the leaders went out and counseled together "how to destroy Him."
It seems to me the most revealing part of this encounter is the response of the leaders not to Jesus healing the man, but to His questions to them. The Bible says simply: "But they were silent." As I noted, the answers to the questions were not that difficult. My assumption is that they were unwilling to answer, unwilling to engage Jesus in discussion.
This assumption is based not primarily on the context but the observation that an unwillingness to participate in reasoned conversation is a very common human trait. They, like we, already had their hearts and minds made up about Jesus and the questions were merely a distraction to their agenda.
How about me, how about you? When I read God's questions in the Bible do I skim past them as if directed to someone else? "Being silent" like these Jewish leaders, says a great deal about the condition of my "heart." When I refuse to answer God's questions He is at least "grieved" at my "hardness of heart." At some point He is even "angry," which is an eternally serious thing. Is there a question God is asking you to which you are silent?
24049 QGA
Mark 03:04 (Lk 06:09) The Context: Jesus was in a Synagogue on a Sabbath day. The Jewish leaders were watching Him to see if he would heal a man on the Sabbath. They considered healing to be "work" which they considered forbidden on the Sabbath. They were not just curious, but were watching to see if Jesus would do something for which they could "accuse Him." Knowing perfectly the thought and intents of their hearts Jesus asked them the following question:
God Asks Us: "And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent."
jne: The answers to Jesus questions seem rather obvious. It should be lawful to do good, to save life, and unlawful to do harm or kill. Jesus "looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart." Then he "healed the man with a withered hand." In response, the leaders went out and counseled together "how to destroy Him."
It seems to me the most revealing part of this encounter is the response of the leaders not to Jesus healing the man, but to His questions to them. The Bible says simply: "But they were silent." As I noted, the answers to the questions were not that difficult. My assumption is that they were unwilling to answer, unwilling to engage Jesus in discussion.
This assumption is based not primarily on the context but the observation that an unwillingness to participate in reasoned conversation is a very common human trait. They, like we, already had their hearts and minds made up about Jesus and the questions were merely a distraction to their agenda.
How about me, how about you? When I read God's questions in the Bible do I skim past them as if directed to someone else? "Being silent" like these Jewish leaders, says a great deal about the condition of my "heart." When I refuse to answer God's questions He is at least "grieved" at my "hardness of heart." At some point He is even "angry," which is an eternally serious thing. Is there a question God is asking you to which you are silent?