Searching for What?

John 5 39-42 You search the scriptures,because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is theythat bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that youmay have life. I do not receive glory from men. But I knowthat you have not the love of God within you.


Just because he was talking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, we should not dismiss our own connection to this story. It seems that we play multiple choice with the teaching of Jesus. Our recent preaching series was the beatitudes. I kept following this with another look at the sermon on the mount. What is it that we do with the profound words of this message. I think most of us, perhaps even all of us play multiple choice with the words of scripture. 


I think Jesus was upset with those in the story because they were searching the scriptures for loopholes. They wanted a way out from what they knew God really wanted. They found ways to be law binding citizens while short circuiting the intent of the law. They convinced themselves and they convinced others that the law didn't really mean what it said. That is why the the book that explains the law was thicker than the book of the law. 


When we play multiple choice with the teaching of Jesus we are in the same boat. Turn the other cheek; certainly he couldn't mean that. If I look at a woman with lust I've already committed adultery; he couldn't mean that. Harbor anger; no not that. We amend, dismiss, ignore or re-interpret any part of his teaching that makes me uncomfortable.


Would jesus say the same things to me? Or you? Hmm!!!