Bear Vent

Pride is a deadly sin, and God must humble every one that He would save. If we are to be saved, we must be humbled. People do not think much of what they are doing when they nurture pride in children. Many of the common methods of education tend to feed this dangerous passion. The desire to be first is encouraged by multiple means, when these ought to be used to restrain the love of eminence in the young heart. Nothing can so effectually overcome it as the Gospel of Christ. There we learn that we are polluted beings, and that nothing but the blood of the crucified Savior can wash out our stains. Do you believe this humbling doctrine? Then remember the words of the apostle Paul, “I urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness.” ( Ephesians 4:1-2 )

Matthew 23:1-4 NLT       ¹  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ²  “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. ³  So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. ⁴  They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. ——————— We read here how the Lord warned the people against imitating the example of hypocritical religious teachers. When they read the Scriptures to the people, then they are to be regarded. Their wrong interpretations, however, must be rejected; for our Savior on one occasion reproved them for teaching as doctrines mere human rules. ( Matthew 15:9 ) Verse 3 must therefore mean, that all the instructions they give, which agreed with God's word, must be followed, however wicked these teachers might be.