THE DANGER OF IGNORANCE
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (Matthew 22:29).
The knowledge of God’s word is so important. Jesus said to the Jews, “…Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). What Jesus said to the Jews back then is still very relevant in our day. It becomes even worse when one is a minister, a leader, or a teacher of the Word, and doesn’t know the Scriptures.
When Jesus made the assertion in our opening scripture, think about the fact that He was addressing the leaders that the whole nation of Israel trusted to give them the knowledge of God. So much trust was reposed in them, but it turned out they were ignorant.
The same leaders of the Jews were the ones who, ignorantly, condemned Jesus Christ. They called the Lord all derogatory names and discouraged the people from believing in Him. They condemned Him to death, and before their very eyes, Jesus was reviled, insulted, assaulted, and crucified. They called Jesus a deceiver, but they were the ones deceiving and being deceived.
No wonder Paul, in one of his writings, said, “The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn’t have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross” (1 Corinthians 2:8 MSG). Paul had his share of these malicious attacks fomented by the Jewish leaders.
On one occasion, he and his colleagues were in Thessalonica
to preach. As Paul preached in their synagogue, some Gentiles
and many important women believed his message. But the Jewish
leaders were offended, and then incited some insurrectionists to
start a riot in the city (Acts 17). They were ignorant of God’s plan
of salvation for the Gentiles.
Lack of knowledge of the Scriptures makes people do a lot of
terrible things. Even Paul alluded to the danger of ignorance and
how it led him to persecute the Church before his conversion:
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for
that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who
was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but
I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (1
Timothy 1:12-13).
Get to know the Word; study the Scriptures for yourself like the Bible says: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Dear Father, by your Word, you lead and guide me into the destiny you planned for me. I live confidently and joyfully always, knowing that you’re working with me and in me to fulfill your perfect will. As I study the Scriptures, the eyes of my understanding are enlightened to know you more, in
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 18:15 AMPC; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 2:15
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 1:1-14 & Isaiah 11-12
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 6:1-16 & Jeremiah 41
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