M-G: 3.23.17 // Settling for Another Vastly Inferior Opinion

Have you ever noticed that Jesus never offered an opinion? Nowhere in the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John do we ever read of Jesus saying, “Well, I think” because “all authority” (pāsa exousia) or all power or boundless authority was given unto Him from above (cf. Mt 28:18; cf. Mt 7:29; 10:1, 7-8; 11:27; 22:43-44; 24:35; The Father is exempt: 1 Cor 15:27-28). The truth is that God never offered an opinion anywhere in Scripture. When Jesus finished His sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7), read the crowd’s response,

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mt 7:28-29).

Keep in mind that the rabbinical interpretations of the Law made the commandments of God of no effect because their interpretations arrogantly transcended the true meaning and spirit of the Law (cf. Mk 7:9; 2:27). The judicial and religious ruling authority of Israel (the Sanhedrin) was more interested in interpretations based on their long history of traditions or their version of the truth rather than the truth of Scripture. The scribes would cite the opinions of the rabbis to give “authority” to their position.

Jesus, on the other hand, always gave the right interpretation of the Law with His “You have heard…but I say” (cf. Mt 5:27-28). Concerning Mt 7:28-29, Jesus didn’t need to cite anyone; He was the Architect of the Law. Wasn’t it ironic that the rabbis thought He was unlawful because Jesus broke their interpretations of the Law but not the Law itself (cf. Mt 5:17; 15:1-2, 3).

Jesus saw the spiritual leadership of Israel as hypocrites and usurping authority,

“THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN” (Mt 15:8-9).

Rather than making sure the rabbinical interpretations of Scripture were lining up with the truth of Scripture, the Sanhedrin was more concerned with behavior being in alignment with their interpretations (control issues) that institutionalized into entrenched cultural traditions that became a merciless and intolerant rule of law. They were guilty of usurpation of authority. Don’t you think people were ostracized, their reputations were ruined, or stoned to death for disobeying a tradition rather than violating the Law of Moses? I do.

Sometimes it appears we are no better than the Pharisees, Sadducees, lawyers, and scribes in Jesus’ day; because we think that God offers opinions rather than decrees because we treat His commands as optional, and say without saying, “God you have your opinion; I’ve got mine,” and live our life out accordingly. This is how those who are not wholly under the authority of the Word live.

They cherry-pick the Scriptures all day long for what appeals to the flesh and disregard the rest, and attend a worship service where they can honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him! The most disregarded is a collection of commands known as the Decalogue or the Ten Commandments (nine reiterated in the NT, except Sabbath-keeping).

I realize we are not Jesus, but I am going to suggest to you that one of the ways we can express Christ-likeness to the world is to avoid saying, “Well, I think,” which actually turns out to be nothing more than a confession of ignorance of the heart, chased by the words, “I’m sorry,” as if to give the opinion factual credibility, not an apology. People love to share their ignorance and officially seal it with a signet of wax, “I’m sorry.” This really is ludicrous and humorous all bundled up in one.

Don’t you think the world needs to hear more of the authoritative expression, “Thus says the LORD” (an OT expression used over 400 times including various following phrases, such as, “of hosts,” “God of Israel,” “the Holy One of Israel,” et al.), and less of a personal opinion of, “Well, I think” followed by blah, blah, blah? Perhaps there is more “I think” going on than “I know” because most believers are abysmally ignorant of what the Lord has said contained in the special revelation called the Bible? 

When we live for the Lord it is according to something, the Word. The very thing we don’t have time for! Thus, we have no time for God. In essence, we are saying, “God, I would like to know you more, but I am too busy!” Believers who think and treat God apart from the Word are in a bad way spiritually and following down a path of self-destruction.

Here is what I know from the crowd’s reaction after the sermon on the mount was over. People heard an amazing difference between the words of Jesus and the customary teaching of the scribes during His sermon from the mount that day. Frankly, they were spellbound and amazed, “astonished” (Mt 7:28); literally, they “were struck out of themselves” (Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament).

Jesus doesn’t expect us to all be theologians, but He does expect us to live the Word-driven life as our rule of authority (Jn 14:15). Failure to do so starts with leaving the Book out of the equation; it really boils down to a love issue. To love God with the totality of our being is the prime directive of all of Scripture, right (Mk 12:30)? We cannot love Him and ignore the Word! The real authority comes from God’s Word, not from a self-bloated, “I think,” or because so and so said, or this is the way it has always been (traditional).

Brothers and sisters, there is no greater authority as a rule of life than the Word of God. Would to God we would all be struck with astonishment by it rather than settling for another vastly inferior opinion on how shall we then live. <><