Matthew 9:3-4

Matthew 9:3-4

And behold!  Some of the scribes said among themselves, “This one blasphemes!”  And after Jesus saw their thoughts He said, “Why do you all think evil things in your hearts?”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Isn’t it interesting how quickly the attack on Jesus comes!  Here is Jesus about to perform a miracle.  Here is Jesus telling a paralyzed man that God is a forgiving God.  Yet the scribes want nothing to do with the grace.  The scribes solely know that forgiving sins belongs to the domain of God and they are quick to condemn Jesus.  They don’t caution Him.  They don’t question Him.  They don’t inquire to know more deeply what Jesus is up to.  They simply hear Jesus’ words and condemn Him on the spot because of it.  So often human beings are quick to follow their own logic and their own understanding without pausing to stop and really check things out by getting to the heart of the matter.

How quick are you to judge and condemn when you see something that you believe to be wrong?  Why might it be better to caution the person rather than condemn the sinner?  What can you do to be less condemning in the future? 

Second Thought:

The Bible is clear that Jesus’ response is different.  Jesus doesn’t jump to conclusions.  Jesus takes a moment to perceive the motives of these scribes.  The Bible tells us that Jesus speaks only after He sees their thoughts come out.  Immediately after seeing the bad example of the scribes we hear about a great example from Jesus.  Jesus can saw what He says because He took the time to discern.  Granted, He was the Son of God.  So the discernment was probably faster and definitely more accurate than what we humans could do.  But Even the Son of God takes a moment to perceive the motives of the hearts of these scribes who come to accuse and attack Him.

Why is it so difficult to discern?  Why is it even difficult to remember to discern?  Why do we as human beings like to react more like the scribes than like Jesus?  What can we learn from Jesus about how following Him means letting go of our human nature?

Third Thought:

Jesus asks a poignant question.  “Why do you all think evil things in your hearts?”  Notice where Jesus places the inquiry.  It is the heart of these scribes that is in question.  There words were bad enough.  Their words were wrong.  But their words weren’t the main issue.  It was the status of their heart was their downfall.  Their words came out as they did because their hearts were bad.  It is the same principle that Jesus teaches us elsewhere.  It is not what comes into our mouth that defiles us.  Rather, it is what is within us that then comes out of our mouth that defiles us.

Do you ever have evil in your heart?  How can you recognize such moments?  How can you combat such moments?  How readily do you listen to correction and rebuke in such moments?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 9:5-8