The Key

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

THE KEY

Luke 11:52

52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." 

NIV

Our research has found the experts in the law, the Rabis would wear a key as a symbol of their position as a teacher or as an emblem of knowledge. A key is what opens a door, but the problem Jesus was dealing with here is that these experts in the law not only did not use the key to knowledge to open the gospel of Jesus Christ. This brings it home to those who either teach the scriptures or preach. There is a great responsibility placed on their shoulders. God holds them to a higher standard because they should be able to have the correct way to see the truth through a combination of their studies and the leading of the Spirit. Yet we have such a diverse interpretation of the scriptures depending on denominational bias. We engage in arguments about what this or that scripture means. We take some verses completely out of context and make a theological statement or take a theological position to the detriment of many. It was said of the Jews, that when two gathered together there were three opinions. Sadly, that has not changed much among Christians. We charge each other with the idea, “What makes you think you have the right interpretation?”. Then we have those that key in one truth leaving all others behind. However, what do we do? How do we come to terms with how we should live through all this diversity? We do know the Spirit leads us into all truth. How can we trust that others are following the leading of the Spirit, or are they following their own minds? What we know is that we have to be mindful to listen to the Spirit, do our due diligence of study, and see the way to live by the way God intended us to. It is the Spirit who holds the key and He has opened the door.