Yes, the healed “blind beggar” soon learned that even his parents were not excited about his “miracle!” They turned their backs on their own son, for fear of the Pharisees!
The exact verse Reference I forgot to include in our Class today is Matthew 19:29. “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold.” Wow, no wonder this man is presented so positively in John’s Gospel!
Someone defined a Pharisee as “a good man gone bad!” Once defenders of the purity of the Word of God, they had drifted into genuine legalism. Here is the Lord describing such a haughty attitude, quoting Isaiah 65:5. First a description of them … “Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou.” Then God’s evaluation of them … “These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.” Irritating to God Almighty!
Here’s the attitude of those self-centered parents … “Near is my friend. Near is my child. NEARER IS MYSELF!”
Now, note the attitude God blesses … “Thus saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isaiah 66:2, humble and meek!
The Pharisees in our chapter REFUSED to believe in Jesus! I’m going to say they violently refused our Lord. But (praise be to His dear Name) there are many through the ages who have believed, EAGERLY BELIEVED, VIOLENTLY (the King James Version’s word) BELIEVED IN HIM!
Believers who wanted Jesus so bad that their very conversion created a commotion! That’s part of what Matthew 11:12 means, I think … “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” One Greek scholar renders the verse something like this … “From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven has been taken by storm, and violent men seize it by force (that eagerly) as a precious prize.”
Yet, wicked as these men had become, Jesus still had a burden for them and their city … “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37, clearly amazing Grace!
By the way, God is not though with Israel yet! He has (ultimately) bright plans for her future! Here’s a hint … “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Paul writing in Romans 11:26! He’s alluding to Isaiah 59:20 when he says “as it is written.”
Now do this, watch the whole Lesson …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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