Who Do You Dine With? – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

 Today’s Reading: Isaiah 1-4, Proverbs 30, and Luke 15-16

Today’s Passage: “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” – Luke 15:1-2.

Good morning. In our passage today, we can easily see that the Pharisees and scribes forgot where they came from. The Bible does say that we are all sinners, and none of us are righteous. The only righteousness we have is the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ that was imputed to us. Our own righteousness is as filthy rags. The Pharisees must have skipped over that verse in Isaiah. Here are a few ways to tell if you are a Pharisee.

Do you murmur (talk, gossip, spread lies or even truths) about others? “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”

Do you look down at others while lifting yourself up? “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:10-14)

Do you get upset when you are corrected? “But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.” (John 9:18-34)

Are you upset or angry at only these three questions? Remember: if the shoe fits, you still have a choice whether to ware it or not.

And if you listen to someone talking about another person, think about this: is that person also talking about you to others when you’re not around? Sorry – didn’t mean to make you paranoid – but that’s the way it is with gossipers, back stabbers, and the like. We need to accept others the way they are. Compared to others, we may know a little bit more, or a little bit less. Compared to God: we know nothing.

Peace. (John 13:34)