Blinded by Knowledge

Karl Marx referred to religion as the "opium of the people." In the case of the Jewish leaders of Jesus' day, he may have been right. As a mass of people began to follow Jesus and to respond to his teachings, the Pharisees sent out temple guards to arrest Jesus. When the guards returned empty-handed, the following dialogue ensues (John 7:45-47 NIV):

... the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?"

"No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.

"You mean he has deceived you also?" the Pharisees retorted.

Apparently as the guards awaited the opportune time to arrest Jesus, they listened to him. As they did, they were captured by his words and his teachings. When we encounter Jesus, we can't help but be captured by his words. As he taught in chapters 6 and 7, they are the very bread of life.

Note the Pharisees response as the dialogue continues (John 7:48-49 NIV):

"Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them."

Paraphrasing, only the ignorant are accepting him.

In 1 Corinthians 8:1, we find that knowledge puffs up. The Pharisees had become blinded by their own knowledge. The study of the law became their "opium" and resulted in them deceiving themselves. Knowledge itself is not wrong. (It's kind of like the cautions against wealth.) It's what we do with it. The Pharisees knew the law and knew of God ... yet they missed the very promise and manifestation of God's Word. How tragic? Be cautious of being caught up in knowledge or tradition or your own way. God, through Jesus Christ, wants to give us a new mind, and a new heart. Be still and know that He is God.