Luke 6:9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
I recently saw a post on social media that said, “Christ invited everyone to the banquet. Get people to the table. God will do the rest.” That reminds me so much of the billboard I saw once that has stuck with me for years: “Just love everyone. I’ll sort them out later. ~God.” These two ideas are light years away from where the Pharisees and the teachers of the law are in today’s scripture.
Luke 6:10a He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
Here’s the truth. It’s easy to be offended. It’s easy to be angry. It’s easier to handle anger, bitterness, offense than it is to handle fear and uncertainty. I think that’s what the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were battling. They had a certain idea of who the Messiah would be, what He would do. Jesus didn’t fit that idea–and they were terrified, so they needed Him gone. Unfortunately, sometimes I’m not so different in my attitudes.
Luke 6:10b He did so, and his hand was completely restored.
Precious Savior, when I am afraid, when I am uncertain, it is so much easier for me to react with anger and bitterness. Forgive me. Help me to love as You love. Help me remember that the goal is to love You, first and foremost, and to love people, all people, to get them to the banquet so that You can show them Your eternal love. Help me, Jesus, not to get in Your way. Amen.
Luke 6:11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Have a blessed day.