Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear ones.

Beautiful sunny day so far. I managed a jog with Dandy earlier…plus met in town with some business people to discuss their sign needs (three separate businesses), and now need to get ready to do a run to Andy’s shop in Dallas (Oregon) where he has prepared several sign panels for me to install for another business.

I’m getting some pressure to install a little zip line for Nicholas before I depart…so I better get busy.

Blessed.

Love, Dad/Ray.

PS: I almost ended up by saying, “Until such a time as you lose it, keep your head.” But then I reasoned that that might sound too shocking…maybe even offensive. So I won’t say it. But, read on.

If there is any single concept that should be absolutely clear in our minds as a result of being exposed to an overview of Biblical truth, this could be it: GOD DOES NOT WANT TO MESS AROUND WITH YOUR DUPLICITOUS SUPERFICIALITY! But alas! For many, if not most, that truth is clearly not clear. To help sustain a Biblical perspective, this could be a good reminder-message for a plaque to hang on your wall: SUPERFICIALITY DOES NOT GO TO HEAVEN! Since I’m talking about worthy warning plaques, how about this one?—HYPOCRISY RUNS DEEP IN YOUR HUMAN DNA (NATURAL SIN NATURE—Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23). That leads me to another significant plaque message: NO HYPOCRITE VIEWS HIMSELF AS A HYPOCRITE. I think we have just given ourselves the equivalent of a 20-year Bible School education! Have a nice day!

Wait—before parting, let’s give some attention to who they were who approached Jesus with the lead question that set Jesus off. They were “some Pharisees and teachers of the law”—in other words, they were the top religionists of that culture—in other words, they were professional HYPOCRITES! And that’s not my judgment—that’s specifically how Jesus defined them—“You hypocrites!” (15:7). Notice what gets these guys fired up. We can assume that they came to Jesus with their highest, best, and most important question—that which was uppermost in their minds. There is not a hint as to whether they wanted to explore the possibility of Jesus being sent from God—the possibility of His being the Messiah. Nope! Their question was far more important than that. “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” (15:2). What? Is that the best you guys can do? Please recognize that at the heart of their stupid question are foundations of RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY.

We are wise to pay attention to what Jesus went on to say: “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men’” (15:7-8). Do you discern any importance here for pursuing a HEART AFTER GOD? Please do not allow yourself to be defined by Isaiah’s prophecy.