Above: Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness, by James Tissot
Image in the Public Domain
Pretenses of Knowledge
JANUARY 17, 2021
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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2 Chronicles 10:1-11, 19 or Joshua 2
Psalm 75
Ephesians 1:1-14
Luke 4:1-13
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The Gospel reading for today is one account of the temptation of Jesus. I have written of those temptations and their implications for people and institutions today in other blog posts. (Just follow the germane tags, O reader.) I am not included to repeat myself today–at least not regarding that point.
Perhaps the main temptation I face is to pretend to know more than I do. This is an error of King Rehoboam of Israel/Judah in 2 Chronicles 10. We read of the disastrous consequences for his realm in that chapter. Perhaps one would judge a prostitute harshly. Yet Joshua praises Rahab, who saved the lives of Israelite spies and won a place in Israelite society for herself and her family (Joshua 6:22-25). We even read of her place in the family tree of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
In God, in Christ, our pretenses prove to be worthless. That which we know is inadequate, and we do not know as much as we imagine. Besides, salvation is not a matter of knowledge. If it were, learning would constitute a saving work. God is sovereign. God knows much more than we do. If we approach God with humility, we will learn more than we can imagine. We will certainly learn how little we know. Perhaps this humility will lead us to become more cautious about judging others.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MARCH 15, 2020 COMMON ERA
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT, YEAR A
THE FEAST OF SAINT ZACHARY OF ROME, BISHOP OF ROME
THE FEAST OF SAINTS JAN ADALBERT BALICKI AND LADISLAUS FINDYSZ, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN POLAND
THE FEAST OF OZORA STEARNS DAVIS, U.S. CONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER, THEOLOGIAN, AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF VETHAPPAN SOLOMON, APOSTLE TO THE NICOBAR ISLANDS
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2020/03/15/pretenses-of-knowledge/
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