The Hard Heart of the Depraved Soul

11/27 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 23; 1 Peter 4; Micah 2; Luke 11

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11/27 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 23; 1 Peter 4; Micah 2; Luke 11

Luke 11:54

lying in wait for Him, to catch Him in something He might say.

DEPRAVITY

To the Christian reader, this gospel statement may seem the acme of idiocy; nevertheless, it is a true testimony of the hardened heart within the depraved soul. Although the true follower of Jesus Christ might find some of the sayings and narratives in the Scriptures hard to understand, and even difficult to digest at times, we certainly wouldn’t think we could throw something Jesus said in His face. Although the Pharisees met the Lord Jesus Christ, they did not know the Lord Jesus Christ. They did not encounter Jesus Christ in spirit and truth. Had they truly known the Lord Jesus, they would not have pursued any attempts to catch Him at His words, for they would have realized it was a fool’s errand. The Lord’s indictment of these religious charlatans exposed their nature and character. They relished man-made rituals (Luke 11:38-40) rather than pure, undefiled religion (Luke 11:41; Jas 1:27). They were meticulous in their details of God’s commands rather than desiring devotion to God’s heart (Luke 11:42). The Pharisees coveted recognition in the synagogues, distracting worshipers from honoring God, for they grabbed God’s glory for themselves (Luke 11:43). Finally, they were like unmarked graves, which men walked upon ignorantly (Luke 11:44); for had they been like regular tombs, washed white with lime, at least men could avoid them and keep from being defiled by their dead works.

To be fair, some Pharisees were probably saved by God’s grace on the Day of Pentecost, when some 3,000 souls were added to the church (Acts 2:41); and afterward, like Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:17-18). And why not? The condition of our hearts, before Jesus saved us by His grace, was no different than theirs. God’s grace is truly amazing. Let us exalt Him for it! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Yes, sinful man will try to catch
Our Lord in what He says;
Yet Christ can never play the wretch,
Who’s right in all His ways.