Matthew 11-13: Jesus Respects My Intelligence!

I'm now living near a center of Catholicism: New Orleans. It has been interesting to discover some of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. One of their foundational beliefs is "common" people cannot understand the Bible for themselves. The "clergy" interprets Scripture for the "layman." Thus, private Scripture reading and spiritual growth is discouraged.

I have a question for them: Who gave the "clergy" the ability to understand the Scriptures, and why am I (as a layman) not given this same privilege?

Jesus prayed: "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight" (Matt. 11:25-26).

Doesn't Jesus teach exactly the opposite of what the Roman Catholic Church teaches? Who did Jesus teach? He spoke with the common people. He did not go to the Pharisees and Scribes. He said the Physician goes to those who are sick. His teaching is understandable by every man.

I also noted the WAY He taught in these three chapters. John's disciples posed a question in Matt. 11:3 - "Are You the expected one?" Jesus did not say "Yes" or "No." He said, "Go and report to John what you see and hear" (Matt. 11:4). Why did He not just give them a straight-up answer?

When the Pharisees challenged His disciples about eating grain on the Sabbath day, Jesus didn't just say, "I know what I'm doing; stop pestering My disciples." He said, "Have you not read...?" He REASONED with them from the Scriptures. Then they questioned Him again: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" (Matt. 12:10). Jesus, again, did not simply say, "Yes." He gave them something to chew on: "It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath," He said (Matt. 12:12), and proceeded to heal a man's withered hand.

Jesus made people THINK. He did not give pat answers. He did not do their thinking for them. He spoke so often in Parables (Matt. 13), which were meant to make the hearers DIG for the meaning. Jesus respects the intellect of the common man! He wants us to follow His teaching to the correct conclusions by discovering spiritual principles.

And it's so interesting so many of these big-shot, big-name, wealthy men and women MISS His main points completely.

God bless,
Nathan

Tomorrow's Reading: Matthew 14-17