April 7

"In every gentle and submissive way, Jesus tried to please those with whom He came in contact. Because He was so gentle and unobtrusive, the scribes and elders supposed that He would be easily influenced by their teaching. They urged Him to receive the maxims and traditions that had been handed down from the ancient rabbis, but He asked for their authority in Holy Writ. He would hear every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; but He could not obey the inventions of men. Jesus seemed to know the Scriptures from beginning to end, and He presented them in their true import. The rabbis were ashamed to be instructed by a child. They claimed that it was their office to explain the Scriptures, and that it was His place to accept their interpretation. They were indignant that He should stand in opposition to their word."

          Desire of Ages, page 86 from the chapter, 'Days of Conflict'

    In a recent Sabbath School class we noted that the extra laws that seem to be referred to here as, ‘the inventions of men’ could be of real benefit. Although in these early days the extra laws were not written down they were preserved as oral laws. Those extra laws were very useful, in theory. They were supposed to act as a ‘hedge around the law’. The aim was to help people keep the law.

     One could guess that a law, designed to help people keep the Sabbath, might suggest that an observant person might want to start the Sabbath an hour early and end an hour late. The fringes of the Sabbath would thus be well guarded.

     The rabbis did have some excellent guidance and could help guide a young man. This young man was special. He was not happy to just accept everything he was told, He needed to hear the voice of His Father in all that He lived by.

     Each day, as you accept the Holy Spirit into your life at your own request you re-affirm your relationship with the whole family of God. Notice then that it should be the voice of our Father in heaven that we also ought to be seeking to hear. Even the healthiest of maxims may not neccesarily contain the word of the Father.

The song for today is by Vince Gill and was selected by Bryn. Please click on the picture.