August 27 Missing the Truth

Luke 23:1-2 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.”
 
READ again Luke 22:66-71. Mark where you see Jesus saying, “I am a king. I am the Christ.” Oh, you can’t find it? Look then in Luke or the other gospels to find where Jesus said, “Don’t pay taxes to Caesar.” Again, the Scriptures do not reveal such words from our Lord. In fact, he said in Matthew 22:21b “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” How tragic when we lie to condemn the Lord.
    Their lies are even more tragic when you consider the priests and teachers of the law were responsible to keep God’s Word sacred and holy among his people. Historical evidence shows many ways the Jews’ religious structure successfully protected the worship of God’s people from Gentile idolatry. They diligently upheld God’s commands against the pagan intrusions into Judea.
    Why then, do these men break the law, even act as the pagans, to condemn Jesus? Have they forgotten that three times God’s law declares: 1) Exodus 20:16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”  2) Deuteronomy 5:20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”  3) And see both the command and the penalty when breaking the command: Deuteronomy 19:18-19 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, 19 then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. In God’s law, the teachers and priests should have been crucified!
    Surely these men are aware of these laws. It was their life’s work to know it, memorize it, study it and teach it. What possible motive could they have to put their own souls at risk? What moved the Jewish authorities to lie to the Roman governor in order to condemn Jesus against Rome’s laws?
    How desperate we are to hold fast to our traditions, beliefs and power. Let’s, instead, humbly and joyfully see God holding fast to our lives. He has brought us into the world and lovingly called us to himself. Submit to his reign. Speak and live his Word. He knows all you think and say. One day he will hold you to account for your life.
    Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
 
Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for your true law to reveal our sin. Thank you for Jesus, who paid the horrible price for our sin. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, who strengthens our thoughts and mouths to believe and speak in truth. Amen.