Topic: Hypocrites In The Synagogue [Saturday August 19, 2017]
Text: Luke 13:11-22
Key Verse: “…Thou hypocrite… ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” (Luke 13:15,16).
In the parable of The Good Samaritan, there were two religious leaders who saw a wounded man in great need but passed by without helping. Yet a Samaritan, belonging to a race that was highly despised, “as he journeyed, came where (the man) was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him”.
One of the greatest areas of conflict between our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious leaders of His day was that He healed the sick on Sabbath days. This woman, “a daughter of Abraham”, who had been under satanic bondage for eighteen years was healed by Christ on a Sabbath day. This angered the rulers of the synagogue who had openly complained that there were six days “to work”, that people should come for healing on those days and not on a Sabbath day. Christianity without compassion, devoid of “weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy and faith” is an empty profession.
Love and concern for the welfare of all humans including purported enemies is the demand of true Christianity. “Recompense no man evil for evil… therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirst, give him drink… (Romans 12:17,20). “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God… He that loveth not knoweth not God…” (1 John 4:7,8). The real test of our Christianity is how much we love our brethren and others, including our enemies, at all times.
Thought for the day: True love is a mark of true Christianity.
Bible Reading in one Year: Jeremiah 43-45
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
