[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]
This week we continue our discussion of chapter 22 of Luke’s Gospel. Please read verses 14-30 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
[/column]
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]
[/column]
[divider type=”1″]
[/divider]
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]
Luke 22:21-23 (NIV)
‘“But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.’
One of the major criticisms of the church is that it is full of judgemental hypocrites. Ultimately, I guess that we probably are hypocrites. After all, who among us is capable of living to the high standard that Christ is calling us to? Even the apostle Paul says that ‘the things I should do, I don’t do and the things I shouldn’t do, they are the things that I end up doing.’ We have talked much about hypocrites in these devotions and we are not going to do so again other than to say that hypocrisy is really unpalatable when we try to enforce something on others that we are not doing ourselves. E.g. It is hugely hypocritical if I say that you should not purchase anything on a Sunday and yet call in to the newsagent to pick up the Sunday Times before going to church. It’s not so hypocritical when I do my best to encourage everyone to live a holy life and yet stumble myself on occasion.
The other aspect to the criticism was in regard to being judgemental. While hypocrisy can be subjective and difficult to resolve in some people’s eyes, being judgemental is something that we definitely CAN do something about. This is one of the worst aspects of human nature and we have to be on our guard continually if we are to fight against it and show God’s love and compassion to a lost community. Please don’t misunderstand me, I am very clear that God is calling us to live a holy life and one that is pleasing to Him. I’m also very clear that if anyone fails in this effort that His Church is not to condemn or to destroy that person. We are called to love and restore them in an attitude of love and grace. We do not condone any sin but neither do we condemn anyone caught in that sin. Correction is an act carried out exclusively within the boundaries of grace and surrounded completely by love and forgiveness.
In our verses today, we see the disciples doing exactly what most people would do in the circumstance. Jesus has just informed the group that someone in that room is the betrayer and issues a warning to that person. Can you imagine what you would do if you were one of the disciples? I think the first reaction would be to look around the room to see if you can ‘guess’ who it is. Perhaps we would begin to think back to circumstances that could be interpreted in some kind of way that gives clues to betrayal. E.g. “I remember him saying something against Jesus and so it’s probably him!” It is a natural response to look at others with a condemnatory attitude. We know from Matthew’s gospel that Judas actually responds with “Surely, it’s not me Rabbi”. That is the worst kind of hypocrisy. Judas knew exactly what he had done and yet, in public, he maintained a façade of righteousness.
We ought not to be hypocrites nor should we stand in condemnation. I think the proper response for us all is to reflect honestly and ask God to reveal truth in our lives. After all, ‘there go I but for the grace of God’. David the Psalmist opens up to God honestly and asks Him to ‘Search me, try me and see if there is any wicked way in me. Lead me in the way everlasting.’ May we have the same attitude to every area of our lives and allow the light of grace and forgiveness to shine brightly.
[/column]