A Great Expectation

Steven’s Scribbles
“A Great Expectation” 
Proverbs 15:1-2


“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools sprouts folly” (Proverbs 15:1-2). It is true that we are expected to answer people with gentleness (1 Peter 3:15). My favorite example of this is how Jesus responded to people. When Jesus was asked by a lawyer, or an expert in the Law of Moses, what one should do to inherit eternal life, his answer was, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” (Luke 10:25-26). He asked this man "what does the Scriptures teach?" But just like I wrote about last week, that didn’t stop Jesus from telling people what they needed to hear, even if it offended them. He just did it with gentleness (Mark 10:17-22). But looking at the overall pattern of Jesus, He expected more from the leaders. While He always tried to teach everyone, He expected the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and Lawyers to not only have more knowledge, but held them to higher standards of behavior. When speaking to His disciples, Jesus instructs them to “do and observe” what the scribes and Pharisees told them, but “do not do according to their deeds” (Matt. 23:1-3). He delivers eight woes upon the Pharisees for egregious behavior. He used words like: hypocrites, fools, blind men, blind guides, white washed tombs, brood of vipers, etc. (Matt. 23:13-33). Why use such harsh language Son of Man? Because He cared for people's souls. He was trying to encourage His disciples to not be merely hearers of the word, but doers (James 1:25). We have the same examples today. When dealing with individuals, be gentle. If you’re going to teach someone, you have great expectations (James 3:1-2). I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley