A Second Trial

 Here we go again.  In these verses, Luke gives the account of the apostles second trial before the Sanhedrin.  

The first time, the council basically gave them a warning ticket (Acts 4:18).  Peter and John told the Jewish leaders this wasn't going to stop them from telling others about Jesus (Acts 4:19-20).  

These religious big wigs toss the apostles in the clink a second time for continuing to proclaim the Gospel (Acts 4:17).  But this time God sends an angel to bust them out of the joint and continue preaching the Good News (Acts 4:19-21).

When the high priest and the Sanhedrin reconvenes the following day, they send for the 12 prisoners (v21).  There's only one problem.  They are not there (v22).  

And they are stunned at what they do find.  The cell block is still locked tight.  The guards are still standing at each cell door.  "But when we opened them we found no one inside” (v23).  

That left everyone scratching their heads (v24).  What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on?  

Suddenly, someone runs in to report that prisoners are actually "standing in the temple teaching the people" (v25).  They immediately send out the temple security detail to bring them in.  

But the cops don't make a big scene.  They don't use force.  But this has very little to do with civility and everything to do with public opinion.  "They were afraid of being stoned by the people" (v26).

It is interesting to note the difference in the reactions of the apostles and the captain of the temple guard.  

The Twelve didn't care that the council would most certainly arrest them.  They were going to obey the Lord.  They feared God.  

On the other hand, the temple cops worried about the people's reaction to putting the apostles in a paddy wagon.  They feared man.  

The Apostle Paul had the right priorities.  "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Gal 1:10).

Once the hearing gets underway, the high priest reminds them of the warning ticket he gave them just the other day.  

What particularly ticked him off was that these men were teaching the people that the Sanhedrin played a central role in Jesus' execution.  "You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this Man's blood upon us” (v28).  

Clearly, the Gospel is turning the city on its head.  It's all the buzz.  

As they have done many times before, Pete and the boys boldly accuse the Jewish leaders as being culpable in the death of Christ (Acts 2:23, 26; 3:15; 4:10).  The apostles pulled no punches.

As leader of the Twelve, Pete responds.  And the Sanhedrin's not going to like what he has to say.  "We must obey God rather than men” (v30).  He says they really have no choice.  

When the ruling authority demands a follower of Jesus to sin in disobedience, there is but one godly response.  Obey God.  

We've come to call it civil disobedience.  A better term would be godly obedience.  This call to obedience was such a burden for Martin Luther King that he led the American Civil Rights movement.  

Throughout the Bible, we read of God-fearing individuals thumbing their noses at sinful authority (Ex 1:15-17; Dan 6:4-10).

Pete goes on to proclaim Jesus' resurrection before the council.  "The God of our fathers raised Jesus” (v30).  

Let's be clear on this.  This is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who brought the Rabbi/Carpenter back to life.  

This is OUR God!  This is the God these Jewish leaders claimed to follow.

Then the fisherman drops the hammer and accuses the Sanhedrin of murdering Messiah.  "Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree” (v30).  

And the Greek word used here is διαχειριζω/diacheirizo.  It means to lay hands on violently, to seize and kill, to murder.  

Pete doesn't want the high priest to miss his point.  Yes, Jesus' blood IS on his hands!

But it didn't end with simply a risen Jesus flaunting the council's failed plot to eliminate Him from the scene.  "God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior” (v31).  

Jesus has returned home to heaven.  And His Dad was saving a chair for Him.  It was the throne of authority at the Father's right hand (Ps 110:1 Lk 20:41-44; Acts 2:34-36; Phil 2:9-11).

God has given His Son the authority "to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins" (v31).  We often think of the forgiveness of sin as a gift, but how about repentance?  

Peter is teaching that repentance itself is a gift of God.  The Lord doesn't have to let us turn back to Him.  Our holy God could simply damn us to hell for a single sin, no questions asked.  

But He doesn't.  He grants us the gracious gift of repentance.  We should take full advantage of this wonderful gift each and every time it is needed.  For me, that is all too often.

Peter goes on to testify that the followers of Jesus "are witnesses to these things" (v32).  And they aren't the only ones.  “So is the Holy Spirit” (v32).  

God's Spirit also testifies to the truth of the Gospel.  And God gives His Spirit "to those who obey Him” (v32).  What a marvelous promise!  

And notice the appearance of the Trinity here in these verses.  The Father is at work.  The Son is risen, ruling and reigning.  The Spirit testifies.

In essence, Pete tells the council that if they make the apostles choose whom to follow, they will follow Jesus every time.  

How 'bout you?  

©2011

Jay Jennings

Seeking the Spotlight

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow up?

Remember when you were a kid and people would ask you what you wanted to be when you grow up? For me the answer wasn’t a baseball player, an astronaut, or a firefighter.

I wanted to be famous. It didn’t matter what I would do. I just wanted fame. I wanted people to recognize me. I dreamed of the day I would walk down the street and folks would ask me for my autograph.

I loved me some me. And I wanted everybody else to love me too!

Famous for Being Famous

Yeah, I know. Pretty shallow stuff. But it’s true. One hundred percent true. Decades before the Kardashians and everybody who’s famous for just being famous, I had career goal of being a celebrity.

That’s exactly why Jesus’ teaching here in Mark 12:38-40 is like a dagger piercing my still bloated ego. Christ calls out the religious celebrities for their love of the spotlight. First, watch them. Second, watch out for them.

Not Just Any Tuesday

Before we zoom in on the details of the Lord’s dialogue, let’s pull the camera back for context. It’s Tuesday. But not just any Tuesday. This is Tuesday of the last week before His betrayal and brutal murder. 

The place is Jerusalem. Specifically, the temple courts. That’s where Jesus did a little housecleaning by driving out the various vendors who were making a quick buck on worshipers through a nasty system of exchanging currency and officially licensed sacrificial offerings. And you thought prices were bad at the airport!   

A Series of Confrontations

The temple courts are also where Christ faced a series of confrontations with all sorts of religious big shots (Mk 11:20-12:36). The chief priests. The religious teachers. The senior Jewish leaders. The Pharisees. The Herodians. The Sadducees. 

He took them all down. Every. Single. One. And the huge crowd in town for Passover went bonkers (Mk 11:37)! That will all change on Friday, but that’s a story for another day.

Back to Teaching

It’s at this point that Jesus gets back to teaching, you know, what He was doing before He was so rudely interrupted. He does so by using one of the groups who has just tried to ambush Him as an example of what NOT to do.

The Son of God says, “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces” (v38).

Teaching the Teachers a Lesson

Ah, the teachers of religious law. You may remember them from just getting their collective butts whipped after poking their fingers in the chest of Jesus. He ends up teaching the teachers a lesson they will never forget.

So just who are these guys? The phrase “teachers of religious law” we see here is the Greek noun γραμματευς/grammateus. It’s where we get our word “grammar.”

Word Nerds

It generally describes anybody who deals with the written word. A clerk. A writer. A scholar. A word nerd. In Acts, Dr. Luke drops this term when talking about a local government bureaucrat (Acts 19:35).

But more often that not, it’s talking about a recognized expert in Jewish law. Think of a seminary grad or a theologian. You know, those folks who are your lifeline when you can’t figure out some confusing passage in Scripture.

Illiterate Idiots

Interestingly, some of these very same Hebrew honchos throw Peter and John under the bus after Jesus’ resurrection by calling them “ordinary men with no training in the Scriptures” (Acts 4:13). 

Most translations go easy on their trash talk and call them “unschooled” (NIV) or “uneducated” (NASB). But the original language here literally says they are “illiterate” (Gr. αγραμματος/agrammatos) “idiots” (Gr. ιδιωτης/idiotes).

I’m NOT saying education is a bad thing. But considering what Jesus is going to say about the cockiness of these religious hot shots, let's be careful not to think we’ve got it all going on just because we’ve got a couple of degrees on the wall.

On High Alert

Now that we know who the Lord is talking about, let’s taking a closer look at what He says about them. Spoiler alert. It’s not good.

He tells the big crowd to “beware” of these goobers. The original language uses a verb (Gr. βλεπω/blepo) which means to look at carefully, take notice and consider, or be on high alert while watching out for danger.

Danger, Will Robinson!

Picture one of those caution signs telling warning us of a slippery floor, an angry dog, or even a biohazard. When you’re around these religion experts, be VERY careful. Watch them VERY closely. 

It’s a lot like that famous warning from the robot on “Lost in Space”…Danger, Will Robinson! 

Bad Examples

So what makes these “teachers of religious law” such a threat? Jesus says one big reason is the bad example they set. Just watch how they “like to parade around in flowing robes and receive greetings as they walk in the marketplaces” (v38).

Don’t miss just how much they get off on everyone’s attention. Would you allow me to nerd out in Greek one more time? Ah, you’re the best!

The One in the Mirror

Check out the word the NLT translates here as “like” (Gr. θελω/thelo). It means to truly enjoy or take so much pleasure in something that you’ve just gotta make it happen.

They wake up in the morning thinking about it. They plan their whole day around it. They’re so focused on the one in the mirror that helping others never crosses their mind. 

These guys absolutely love getting all gussied up just to be seen in public. I mean, they are obsessed with it. Can’t you just see them standing in their walk-in closet carefully choosing their outfit. Hmm, I wore that robe yesterday. And that one is so 25 AD.

Hoping to Get Noticed

The language here makes it clear that these teachers don’t simply do this occasionally. No, they are preoccupied with it. And when they put on their best, they make sure they’re seen.

They constantly “parade around” (v38). They don’t just go to the busiest places in town which have the most people. They walk up and down, back and forth. Hoping to get noticed, looking for recognition. Nobody loves a parade like these teachers love their parade.

The Red Carpet

These dudes are constantly walking the red carpet. Their life is an extended photo op. Can’t you just see some First Century cable show dedicated to which theologian wore it best?

It seems to me that long before there was ever an internet or social media, these religious teachers were the original influencers. Let’s be blunt. When someone calls themselves an influencer, it’s usually a desperate plea for attention and fame.

The Best Seats in the House

Jesus tells the crowd at the temple how these Jewish celebrities are constantly angling for the best seats in the house. “And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets” (v39).

One commentator points out that there was a bench at the very front of every synagogue that faced the rest of the people. These are the seats they want. And it’s not so they have a good view. It’s so others will have a good view of them.

Looking for the Limelight

Think about that for just a second. When folks gather to worship God, these religious scholars are looking for the limelight. Here’s a pro tip: God refuses to share the stage with anyone or anything else.

Mind if I ask you a question? Why do you sit where you sit when you go to church? Is it to be seen? Is it so that others will know what a super saint you are? No, I didn’t think so. Where would I get such a ridiculous idea?

These scribes also seek to score the best tables at the restaurant. Anytime there’s an event, it’s important for their ego to sit up front. The closer to the speaker the better. 

A Truth Bomb 

What Jesus says here is a truth bomb that busts the bunker of my ego. For most of my life, I wanted to be famous. I wanted to be noticed. I wanted the attention. 

I’m fairly confident that I would have been a charter member of the religion scholars club if I lived during the days of Christ. Shiny new suit? Check. High traffic location? Check. Luxury box at church? Check. Best table at the trendy restaurant? Check.

Fear of Man

It hurts to type these words. But it’s the truth. I struggle with a little something-something called Fear of Man. The quick explanation is that I’m WAY more concerned about what others think of me than what God does.

The Holy Spirit has done some serious heavy lifting in my life over the past few years when it comes to this. I’m far from finished but grateful for what He’s done.

The Audience of One

A guy named Paul wrote something that the Lord has used to help turn things around. “I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant” (Gal 1:10).

Pleasing people versus pleasing God. What’s it gonna be? It’s a choice I’m faced with just about every single moment my eyes are open. For me, the audience for which I perform is the Audience of One.

An Overwhelming Relief

What an overwhelming relief I found when I stopped trying to impress everyone and get the world to like me. I could stop being something I wasn’t. I could simply be the real me. The One who made made me not only knew me but loved me.

I didn’t need to dress to impress God. I didn’t need to go anywhere special for Him to see me. It didn’t matter where I sat in church or whether I sat at the kid’s table at the party.

Misdirection

Meanwhile, back in the temple courts, Jesus tells the big crowd what these religious teachers are REALLY up to while putting on a show. They may project a slick image but there’s something else altogether different going on.

These experts want you to look over here at their impressive activities. That will distract you from what’s really going on. Magicians call it misdirection. It’s that little trick of calling our attention over here so they can pull off the sleight of hand over there.

Stealing from Widows

So what exactly are they trying to do? I’ll let the Lord tell you. “Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property” (v40).

The scribes use their leverage to put the squeeze on those who can’t protect themselves. In First Century culture, widows were an easy mark. They had few rights and very little protection. 

Looking out for the Most Vulnerable

Apparently their strategy for building their real estate portfolio by running roughshod and basically stealing property from single women. No late night cable infomercials on how to flip houses for these guys. All they had to do was hoodwink a woman who’s lost her husband. 

A couple of thousand years later, has much really changed? Grifters and con artists are still target the elderly and single moms as their prey. As the followers of Jesus, we need to look out for those who are the most vulnerable.

Smokescreens and Flowery Prayers

Christ points out one of the favorite tactics used by the religion teachers. At the same time they’re cheating the powerless, they “pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public” (v40).

They throw up smokescreens with flowery prayers when the crowds are around. Jesus sure seems to indicate there’s not a whole lot of praying going on when they’re alone. As the divine Son of God, He should know who’s really talking to God and who’s not.

Flying Solo in Prayer

Here’s another moment when the Lord’s words hit a little too close to home for me. Don’t get me wrong, going to God in prayer with other followers of Jesus is an awesome experience.

But what’s my prayer life look like when I’m flying solo? Do I pray as passionately and frequently when I’m alone as I do when I’m around others? Asking for a friend.

Getting What They Deserve

The radical Rabbi/Carpenter wants us to know that these religious phonies won’t get away with it. “Because of this, they will be more severely punished” (v40).

He knows they will get what’s coming to them. Maybe not on this side of eternity but God ensures they will get what they deserve. 

How can Jesus be so sure? Because He’s the One who will do it! “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body” (2Cor 5:10).

Making God Famous

Which brings me back to the whole “what do you want to be when you grow up” thing we started with. Like a I said before, what I wanted was to be famous. What I wanted was to be liked. What I wanted was to be the center of the attention.

Little did I realize at that time that my career goal was to be a religious legal eagle. A phony who was only concerned with my image but had no real substance when you peeked behind the curtain. As they say in Texas, “All hat and no cattle.”

While I’m far from perfect, I’m so incredibly grateful that Jesus has saved me from that. That He saved me from MYSELF! My life is so much so more fulfilling now that my goal is to make God famous.

©2020

Jay Jennings

The Deacon Test Drive

“And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (1Tim 3:10).

In many ways, the most important part of buying a car is the test drive. You may love the make and model, the color, and the sticker price, but that doesn’t mean jack if your potential new ride fails the road test. You don’t really know how it drives until you go for a drive. 

In the same way, the working interview is all the rage. It wasn’t that long ago when an employer examined your resume, checked all the references, and brought you in for a job interview. But these days, you can expect to do a working interview. Your potential new boss wants to see what you can do on the job BEFORE you get the job. Just as importantly, you get to see if it’s gig you’re willing to do. 

A couple of thousand years before anyone ever thought of hopping behind the wheel with a salesman in the front seat, Paul tells Timothy to do the same when it comes to serving as a deacon. “And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (v10). Make sure you check them out first. Consider an audition. See if they can do the job. See if they like the job. See if you like them doing the job. Take the deacon for a test drive. 

Deacons are a big part of getting the church in Ephesus back on track. A team of false teachers drove the congregation into the ditch. So Paul asked his sidekick Timothy to step in as lead pastor and get things rolling again. The list is pretty straightforward. Step one: get rid of the rest of the spiritual snake oil salesmen (1Tim 1:3-7). Step two: Find and appoint new leaders called overseers (1Tim 3:1-7) and deacons (1Tim 3:8-13) to fill the newly created leadership void. 

God calls overseers to…well…provide oversight for the church. (Impressed with that observation, aren’t you? You’re looking at years of seminary training pay off right in front of your eyes!) They watch over the flock, watch out for trouble, and look to the horizon providing direction. Overseers (AKA pastors and elders) should have mad teaching and preaching skills when it comes to God’s Word (1Tim 3:2). 

Meanwhile, deacons are to set the bar for sacrificial service in the church. The word “deacon” actually comes from the Greek word that means “servant” (Gr. diakonos). Deacons roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty allowing the elders to focus on teaching. That’s exactly how the whole deal got going in the first place back in the Book of Acts (Acts 6:2-4). The apostles got themselves overcommitted and dragged into food service when they should have been concentrating sermon prep and prayer. The church drafted the Serving Seven to take that off their plate. 

Paul tells Tim to test every prospective deacon to see if they’re up to the job. He uses the Greek word dokimazo, which means to learn if someone or something is worthwhile through actual use. You put them through the paces. In one of Jesus’ parables, He describes how a farmer turns down an invitation to the social event of the year in order to check out his new livestock. “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go examine (Gr. dokimazo) them. Please have me excused” (Lk 14:19). Hmm, would you call that going for a test cattle drive? Yeah, I was sorry about that one the moment I typed it.

The apostle is talking about the kind of testing that reveals the true quality of something. What happens when the rubber meets the road. Jesus’ kid brother James writes about how “the testing (Gr. dokimazo) of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3). In other words, your trust in Jesus gets a LOT stronger after you’ve held on tight to Him in the storm. And one day, we’ll eventually know if what we’ve done stands up to the blast furnace of God’s judgment because “the fire will test (Gr. dokimazo) what sort of work each one has done” (1Cor 3:13).  

Before giving someone the title of deacon and the church’s seal of approval, they have to “prove themselves blameless” (v10). Paul drops a term here (Gr. anegkletos) which describes someone who’s beyond reproach. It’s a compound word that literally means somebody who is unable to be called out. If you’re a fan of the WWE, you know what I’m talking about. A wrestler like the Rock or Ric Flair is standing in the ring with the mic and they challenge a rival who’s done them wrong to come out to fight right now. You’ve seen it movie westerns. One cowboy stands outside the tavern challenging the man who shot his pa to a gunfight. The person who climbs into the ring or through the swinging doors of the saloon has just eliminated himself as a deacon. 

Paul uses a slightly different term here for “blameless” (Gr. anegkletos) than he does when requiring an overseer to be “above reproach (Gr. anepilemptos)” back in verse 2. Don’t think there’s a huge difference in the integrity of an pastor/elder and a deacon. The apostle writes similar instructions to buddy Titus as he searches for overseers for churches on the island of Crete. These men need to be “above reproach (Gr. anegkletos)” (Titus 1:6-7). If we’ve done our due diligence on our deacons, we shouldn’t have to worry about seeing them involved in a scandal the next time we turn on the 6 o’clock news.

The good news about the Good News is that Christ came to make every person who trusts Him blameless as well. God promises to “sustain you to the end, guiltless (Gr. anegkletos) in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 1:8). Jesus has given Himself up “in order to present you holy and blameless (Gr. anegkletos) and above reproach” to our heavenly Father (Col 1:22). Our Savior swapped His perfection for our imperfection (2Cor 5:21). His sinlessness for our sinfulness. His righteousness for our wrongfulness. Someone once called it “The Great Exchange.” Jesus does for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves. As a result, we’re shame-free and blame-free. Blamelessness. It’s not just for overseers and deacons.

Meanwhile back in Paul’s first letter to Pastor Tim, we read that once deacon passes his working interview and proves to have integrity, leadership endorses them in their service. Think of seeing the UL tag on your new microwave or plasma TV or a great review from Consumer Reports. A deacon gets the…wait for it…God Housekeeping Seal of Approval. See what I did there?

Businesses use working interviews as part of their hiring process. Customers take their new ride for quick spin as part of buying a car. Paul says we should do the same when checking out our deacons. It’s good for the church. It’s good for the servant. Call it the Deacon Test Drive. 

Paul's Religious Resume Part One

“Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:5-6).

At some point, it seems every one of us needs to update our resume. Either we’ve been “outsourced” (does anyone really think this is a kinder and gentler way of saying fired or laid off?), looking to find a better place to work, or just trying to find our first job. Whichever category we fit in, we all need a resume and we all want it to look GREAT! Be honest. Who hasn’t pushed the edge of the envelope when it comes to your skills and work history? Go ahead. Raise your hand. Those of you who didn’t have now lied on more than your resume.

Here in Philippians, Paul shares his resume. And he didn’t need to shade the truth to make it impressive. He’s the religious real deal. The apostle reminds his friends back in Philippi of the resume he planned to drop on God’s desk. The Almighty would have to be impressed, right? Just check out the top half of his curriculum vitae. “Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee” (v5). A few years back, our man Paul worked his tail off to build up his credentials. He checked all the boxes. He was the best and the brightest. Top of his class. But once he met Jesus, that all changed. He realized his resume wasn’t so impressive. He realized it was actually worthless. There’s only one resume that matters and it belongs to Jesus.

You may wonder why the apostle feels the need to share his religious qualifications with the Philippians in the first place. There’s a pack of false teachers headed their way spinning a counterfeit gospel. They call themselves the Judaizers because they try to convince Jesus’ Gentile followers they must become Jewish in order ensure their spot in God’s kingdom. Paul has some choice nicknames for these knuckleheads as he warns the church back in Macedonia (Phil 3:2). Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evildoers! Beware of the mutilators! We don’t earn God’s approval through our personal performance. Don’t buy their snake oil of “confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3:3-4). Instead, place your trust in the only One who’s resume is perfect, Christ Jesus. Back when everyone knew him as Saul, the man from Tarsus had a resume that would blow even the best Judaizer out of the water. 

Paul’s resume begins at the beginning. His parents had him “circumcised on the eighth day” (v5). Saul/Paul’s folks were seriously old school. They made sure they followed God’s commandment to Abraham and his descendants to the very letter of the law (Gen 17:12). This delicate procedure was to be a sign of God’s covenant promise to His people to bless the entire world through His people. But apparently Saul saw circumcision as less about God and more about him. It wasn’t so much as sign of God’s goodness through His promise but that Saul was hot stuff. Before the resurrected Jesus mugged him on the outskirts of Damascus, Saul believed he was one of God’s chosen people because his parents obedience. There’s just one little problem with that. As Billy Graham’s son Franklin likes to say, God doesn’t have any grandchildren. Each person must come to their own faith in Jesus no matter their parents’ beliefs. Do you find a false security through the rituals and traditions of your parents and family? Turns out “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love” (Gal 5:6).

The next bullet point on Paul’s resume lists him as one “of the people of Israel” (v5). That’s not-so-subtle shorthand for one of God’s chosen people. He’s not only talking about his national heritage but also pointing back to Jacob whom God renamed Israel (Gen 32:28). All true Jews are direct descendants of the fathers of the faith, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You see, Paul is as pure a Jew as has ever walked the planet. As Saul, he had forgotten the only reason the Israelites are special is because God chose them to be on the receiving end of His blessing. They did nothing to earn His love. They did nothing to stand out. They wasn’t anything impressive about them. Do you think you’re hot stuff just because of your family name? Your ethnicity? Your income? Your neighborhood? Your college? Jesus came to knock all those walls down (Gal 3:28; Eph 2:11-13)! 

The apostle was once proud to say he was “of the tribe of Benjamin” (v5). This particular branch of the Israelites traces their lineage back to Jacob and Rachel’s youngest son Ben (Gen 35:18). You might remember him as Joseph’s little brother. The name Benjamin means “son of the right hand.” That’s Bible talk for a place of privilege and honor. Ben’s descendants became one of the superstar tribes of Israel. The Benjaminites joined Judah as the only two tribes to remain loyal to King David and ultimately made up the Southern Kingdom (2Ki 12:21). Do you believe God is impressed by the fact you’re from the right side of the tracks? As the old saying goes, some people were born on third base and think they’ve just hit a triple. 

Scanning on down the resume, we read how Paul is “a Hebrew of Hebrews” (v5). He’s not just an Israelite. He’s not just from Benjamin’s tribe. He’s among the best of the best. Despite growing up among Gentiles in Tarsus, Saul’s family maintained the distinctive nature of their religious and cultural heritage. They didn’t let the surrounding culture stop them from observing all of the traditions of their faith. That almost certainly meant they spoke Hebrew at home in the heart of a Greek-speaking city (Acts 21:40). Let’s me clear. God calls us to be in the world but not of the world. We should be different. We should stand out. But we don’t do this to be holier-than-thou. It’s not a way to rub our neighbors’ noses in their sin. There’s no reason to thump your chest because of your faith. We’re simply beggars who’ve figured out where to get the Bread.

Paul wraps up the first half of his religious qualifications by telling us “as to the law, a Pharisee” (v5). Israelite, check. Tribe of Benjamin, check. Hebrew of Hebrews, check. The apostle kicks it up a notch by playing the Pharisee card. When it comes to being a Jew, he was the best of the best of the best. Top shelf. First in his class. Number draft pick kinda stuff. The best and the brightest. There’s no group of Jewish people who were more serious about obeying God’s law than the Pharisees. “According to the strictest party of our religion, I have lived as a Pharisee” (Acts 26:5). They were SO amped about following the law they even tithed out of their spice rack (Mt 23:23; Lk 11:42)! One thing gets lost in the passage of time is the view of Pharisees during Jesus’ day. We see them as the bad guys through the lens of history and Scripture. We’re supposed to boo and hiss whenever they appear on stage. But the most of the Jewish people saw the Pharisees as religious superstars in the first century. Seeing one of them on the street was like catching a glimpse of a celebrity. They were rock stars of religion. Are you meticulous when it comes to following the rules? Do you dot every “i” and cross every “t” in obeying God’s law? Are you trying to earn your way into God’s approval with a perfect spiritual 4.0? It’s not happening, dude. Just ask Paul.

The first half of this religious resume certainly is impressive. Let’s face it, if ANYBODY is getting in on the basis of personal performance it’s gotta be Paul! Compared to you and me, this guy’s a first ballot Hall of Famer. But the problem is God isn’t comparing our resumes against each other. He’s holding it up next to His. Paul’s might be great but it’s far from perfect. As Tullian Tchividjian says, God doesn’t just need to save us from unrighteous badness but our unrighteous goodness as well. Good deeds done for the wrong and selfish reasons are no better than the worst act of rebellion in God’s eyes. This first part of the apostle’s resume is there to show us we can’t earn our way into God’s favor. We can’t be good enough. Not no way. Not no how. So in the end, Paul’s resume isn’t such hot stuff. But there’s one resume that matters and it belongs to Jesus.