ESOCS Devotional 18 August 2023 – The Key of Knowledge Taken Away
MEMORY VERSE: “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.” Luke 11:52 NKJV
TEXT: LUKE 11: 45-END (KJV)
Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”
46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.
52 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”
53 And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54 lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The word key of knowledge means the truth; which is the only thing that can set people free. (John 8: 31-32). This primary truth is the Jesus Christ who alone LORD and SAVIOUR.
It implies therefore that the living word and the written word are both the truth (John 14:6; 17:17)
As a result, Jesus Christ is the key of knowledge in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 1: 15-20)
In the above the lawyers who are pharisaical religionist are not interested in telling people this very important key of life because (i) They don’t know the truth (ii) They don’t really want they people to be set free. They rather hinder people from discovering the truth and walking in freedom. Ironically, they offer precisely the opposite services they are supposed to provide (Mathew 23: 15)
This is because of pride they feel needed and superior if people are weak, dependent and needy. But people set free, they will no longer have control over them finally legalists cannot people free because they are not free themselves
This spirit of the Pharisees and legalist has seeped into the churches, where the pastor or ministers will only go so far in helping others because they want to keep the congregation weak and need so that they will be in total control because they don’t want congregation to surpass them one day.
In contrast to the above the teacher Jesus intends that everyone be set free and so be able to insert the key of knowledge rightly for abundant freedom in life. However, if this is done, the work of the ministers will no longer be required or needed and he loses control and the ministry collapse.
In summary contrarily to this human way of thinking’s the LORD Jesus has offered freedom to the whole world so that this perfect knowledge of Him in all, will give volume and credence in the understanding of God Almighty who in response will bless his people more abundantly.
- Pray God to return the key of knowledge to Christians.
- Pray that God Almighty will imbue you with the spirit of truth.
FURTHER READING: Ruth 3:1-end; Zechariah 5:1-end; Luke 11:45-end; 1 Corinthians 4:1-13
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ESOCS Devotional 18 August 2023
