LEARNING DAILY

Luke 11:46, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”

When I read this the other day from the Chronological Bible I am reading for my devotions, my thoughts went immediately to what is being taught in the public schools and the institutions of “higher learning”. The New International Version of the Bible uses the term “teachers of the law” for lawyers. I suppose the word teacher triggered my thoughts. A lawyer or teacher of the law would be an expert in the law of Moses; one of these experts made the comment that the words of Jesus was bringing “reproach” to them. In other words, Jesus’ criticism of them was hurting their feelings. Those teaching and following the Oral traditions (the Pharisees) placed their life style on how they acted in public, seeking the praise of men. Sounds like the weekend’s message on legalism, doesn’t it! The pharisees would then twist the traditions that came from the Oral Law to fit their own needs and greed. God never sanctioned the Oral Law. It was written down by scribes or “teachers of the law regulations” to become rules which would keep the people in line.

Here is where my thoughts turned to what is happening today. Those who were intent on following man-made rules that focused on not making God angry instead of following Him in faith and obedience is not Biblical. The same thing goes for today! I cannot help but think of leaders in the world today. I cannot help but think of educators in our classrooms of higher education. These leaders are doing the same thing that the “teachers of the law” were doing. However, the scenario has changed a little. The thought of gaining salvation through works has gone to “doing what is right in your own ideas” to defining good as evil and evil as good”. For example, have you read or heard that there is a bill in the California legislature to take children away from parents who object to sexual transition of their children. At school board meeting, parents who have spoken out against teaching in public schools have been labeled as domestic terrorists.  At the national level, our leaders have spoken that parents cannot know what is best for their children and must defer to the teachers in the educational system to speak into their children what is best for them (my wording, my understanding). This is not biblical! This is happening while those teachers of places of higher learning teach ungodliness and extreme liberalism in their classrooms. It is no wonder this philosophy has become so prevalent at the elementary and secondary levels of our public schools!

There is much reporting on who supports Israel and who is supporting Hamas and the Palestinians in the war we see. Is it any surprise that so many from the places of higher learning are in support of Hamas, saying the people of Israel have no right to defend themselves? Government groups such as “the Squad” have denounced those who support Israel and are doing what they can to disrupt United States support for Israel.

Judgment is coming for those who are teaching evil, ungodliness, rebellion from God. I believe Jesus’ exclamation against those doing this would be greater than, “Woe to you also, Teachers of the Law”!

We are living in “perilous times”, times that we could hear the trumpet sound calling His True Church to Him at any moment! I repeat the statement of Dr. Ed Newton, “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready”!