Today’s post hopefully will give us an idea of what the key of knowledge is. As usual, I’m reading from the ESV -English Standard Version. It is the most accurate translation to date. We’re studying based on (Luke 11:45-52) Verse 52: “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
What, exactly, is the key of knowledge? Well, if you’ve been reading along, I’m pretty sure you could venture a good guess. A mother and father are priests in the home. We can see in God’s Word , that knowledge is a serious thing to God. We’re responsible for seeing to it that it stays true, and is passed on to the next generation. (Malachi 2:7) For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
(1Cor. 13:1-3) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. -This tells us that love is vital, not only to being, but to being successful. Love always aims for a gain in understanding, reconciliation, growth, and progress. When we work it out this way, everyone wins. It also strengthens faith and empowers boldness/courage, dispelling fear and mistrust. (2Peter 1:5-10)
The way we gain the key of knowledge, is by knowing God the Father, and our Lord, Jesus. (Romans 3:10) For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (John 14:7) (Philippians 2:5-7) (1John 4:16) –God is love, and we are created in His image, after His likeness. (2Peter 1:3-4)) His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. That divine nature gives us the power to understand things like love, peace, justice, mercy, and grace. Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” (Matt. 9:13) Yet, just like at Golgotha, there has to be a sacrifice to atone for the sin. Oh, yes, there does.
Do you remember when Jesus told the woman at the well that God seeks those who worship Him to worship in spirit and in truth? (John 4:23) (1John 4:10) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Other versions use the word “sacrifice,” instead of “propitiation.” What do we sacrifice? We sacrifice our fatigue and the urge to say something that’s not edifying, but hurtful (God forgive me, please)-yes I have been there. We sacrifice a few minutes of time to make sure that child, or even that grown person, is okay, and to help clean up the mess, or correct whatever the error may be; or to just help that one with whatever he/she may need. We sacrifice our ego, our self, just like Jesus did. When we do that, we are building one another up in love rather than tearing each other apart. There are a few more scripture references below. PS -Be helpful to yourself too, by sacrificing the urge to indulge in that negative self talk and attitude of self-loathing. (James 3:17) (Luke 6:36) (2Cor. 6:6) (Heb. 12:11) (Romans 3:25)
Love you from Cafe du Mondieu
Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, October 2, 2022 2:52 p.m.