“ Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
John 11:45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.
Romans 3:8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!
1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and the Pharisees come up with the notion to kill Him. This is not the only time when those who should know Him have rejected His signs. Jesus had healed a man of demon possession and the elders of the city came out and pleaded with Him to leave their town. Another time when He gave sight to a man who had been born blind from birth the religious leads wanted to stone Him for healing a person on the Sabbath. In all of these examples those condemning the actions of Jesus thought they were right in what they were doing. How many times do we think we are right in what we are doing but are blind to if it is right in God’s eyes? How much influence does our culture and what others think mold our thinking and actions? We need to take care to know and understand that our purpose is to honor and glorify God. I sometimes think we get a bit confused because we neglect His word, or are complacent in seeking His purpose and plan each day, or are wanting to be wise in our own eyes and in the eyes of those we come in contact with each day, rather than humbly serving Him. We are prone to wander paths that are not ordained or guided by God. Spend time in His word, desire Him, seek Him, and choose, commit, and dedicate your life each day to His purpose and plan, knowing and understanding His word, and listening for His whispers of guidance for your life.
