MONDAY, JUNE 6
Scripture: Luke 9:51-56

There is perhaps no greater passage in the New Testament that has been used as bludgeoning club against those who stand for righteousness than Luke 9:51-56. This passage says, “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’ And they went to another village.” We are told today that anybody who makes a judgment about what is wrong, is, in fact, a person who does not know what spirit they are of. This passage above all others in the New Testament, brings us into the conflict about which of our attempts at resolution determine whether we are an exegete or an isogete. Which one will we be? Will we be honest interpreters of the Word or will we be dishonest interpreters of the Word, in order to gain advantage and get more money? That is an interesting choice. James and John wanted to call fire down from heaven. Jesus said “No, you do not know what spirit you are of.” So the question we ask is, what spirit are we of?