Psalm: 20 Meditation Mark: The opening verses involve the Pharisees seeking a sign. Here is a lesson in saying “no”. “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth no sign will be given to it.” Did Jesus actually say “no” to a request? That can’t be right. Many times …
Tag: Pharisees
Saturday, January 29
Psalms: 124, 126 Meditation Mark: Since Mark spent so much time (or space) talking about this issue, it must be important. Mark is celebrated for being succinct in his writing so the subject must, therefore, be weighty. And so it is. Pharisees and their ilk, wise, and very keen; their predecessors had established guidelines to …
Sunday, January 2
Psalms: 46, 47 Meditation John: The “Jews” of verse 41 were probably members of the “Council” – scribes, Pharisees, and priests, which composed the “elders”. These would be people steeped in Scripture and would haggle over the meaning of a word. If they had them then, then this Council would have used a magnifying glass …
Thursday December 30
Psalm: 119:145-176 Meditation John: This vignette in Jesus’ life is striking. The self-professed law-biding Pharisees bring forth to Jesus a woman caught in adultery. So many questions – so little space! This obviates the position women held in ancient Jewish society. That’s all very well, but it is not the point of the story which …
Sunday, November 21
Psalm: 50 Meditation Matthew: Again, we get a glimpse of Jesus charming the scribes and Pharisees. Of course, anything beginning with “Woe” cannot be good – and there are seven of those, but this passage mentions six. So as not to insult these men completely, He calls them “fools” and “blind guides”. I have come …
Friday, November 12
Psalm: 139 Meditation Luke: Ever eager to be “nice”, Jesus addresses some well-meaning Pharisees who were warning Him of Herod’s unveiled threat to Jesus. Like John the Baptist, Jesus advances rather than retreats, explaining that He must continue His good work. This is also a reference to His passion, suffering and death. “Today and tomorrow, …
Monday, October 11
Psalms: 113, 121 Meditation Acts: Paul is now back in Jerusalem – the place where Agabus had prophesied that Paul be taken captive by the Jews and that they would hand him over to the Gentiles (the Romans, in this case). Paul could read a crowd. He was being examined by both Pharisees and Sadducees. …
Monday, September 13
Psalms: 147, 150 Meditation John: Sometimes I think that the “Jews”, or what I believe to mean the scribes, priests, and not all the Pharisees – or as it were, the elders, follow Jesus around with the sole purpose of trapping Him. I prefer to think that they are really seeking the Truth. Jesus tells …
Tuesday, July 13
Psalms: 56, 57 Meditation Matthew: I can’t begin to know what kind of mood Jesus was in when He unleashed this tirade on the scribes and Pharisees. One “woe” and “hypocrite” after another. Consider: why were the scribes and Pharisees singled out? Unfortunately, most Jews were illiterate – cold not read nor write. A scribe …
Wednesday, July 7
Psalm: 80 Meditation Matthew: This episode takes place during Jesus’ last week before He dies. This is significant in that in the parable Jesus tells His listeners, the son who was sent to the tenants was Himself, the vineyard is Israel, and the tenants are the priests, scribes, and Pharisees – all of them should …
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