“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Matthew 23:15
Jesus chastised the religious scribes and Pharisees. He referred of them as hypocrites. A hypocrite is one who says they have a particular moral belief but behaves in a way that shows they are not sincere. Cambridge.
These are quick to teach others of the perils of sinful living, the error of “false” teaching. They are not considering their deep inward motivation, they pretend sincerity. In the name of “truth” they mutilate the Truth.
The fruitless end of their labor looks like, “twofold more the child of hell than themselves.” To men, these slanderers try to demonize God — to God, they demonize Men. They misrepresent the character of God and so indict men. They speak toward God about the scandalous errors of men, believing to ignite God’s anger. They see only an unhappy, unloving God who demands the holiness of His creatures.
These error mongers, perhaps, have referred to their own past experiences in the error of “private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:20, ” Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
“of one’s own interpretation”; that is, such as a natural man forms of himself, by the mere force of natural parts and wisdom, without the assistance of the Spirit of God; and which is done without comparing spiritual things with spiritual; and which is not agreeable to the Scripture, to the analogy of faith, and mind of Christ;” J. Gill on “private interpretation”
“no prophecy of the Scripture is of a man’s own impulse”, invention, or composition; is not human, but purely divine:” J. Gill
We have all met those believing the lie of natural thinking. Their sincere beliefs attract those other natural thinkers. Their camaraderie is based in what is simply human. But these lack divine inspiration. They have not allowed the Holy Spirit to interpret, in fact guide the believer into truth. John 16:13
Brothers and sisters, without the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, men are left to their own devices. Unfortunately when their devices try to interpret certain kinds of events, catastrophes, negative events, hindrances, or blatant attacks, they have no remedies for these. There is no redemption in their interpretations. Human viewpoint has no propitiation, no vicarious atonement, no bloody cross ,no deliverance, no loving father, no gracious God, no father of mercies.
Before God ever commanded us to love (John 13:34-35), He first commended His love toward us, while we were sinners. (Romans 5:8). Authority that is not backed by the love of the cross is not bona-fide authority. It will only drive people away from God. But, true authority will always draw people to God who is Love. Dr. Carl H. Stevens
In closing, David reminds us succinctly that, “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.” Not the extreme disciplined character of a harsh taskmaster, but the loving hand of an understanding God. This God has not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. Ps 103, Our sins, he has cast behind his back. Is 38 Micah teaches us in 6:8, love mercy. He reminds us in 7:18, to “rejoice not against us oh enemy! When I fall I will arise, when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. ”
In John 15:9 , Jesus speaks to us who believe, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. ” And in verse 4-5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. “
Lastly, In Matthew 23:23 Jesus speaks to the Pharisees, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith:”
Sorry to say many privately interpret Life. They have no idea about a benevolent God who loves them dearly and is the master of the universe. Their interpretations are too short, their coverings are too narrow, see Isaiah chapter 28. Brothers all come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. Let us draw near to God , for only in His eyesight , in his all-knowing eyes, is the glory of truth . Love ya
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