Topic(s): Bible Study

In the Sanhedrin there were both Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were not a political party at all; their sole interest was in living according to every detail of the law; and they cared not who governed them so long as they were allowed to continue in meticulous obedience to the law.

On the other hand, the Sadducees were intensely political. They were the wealthy and aristocratic party. They were also the collaborationist party. So long as they were allowed to retain their wealth, comfort, position, and authority, they were well content to collaborate with Rome. All the priests were Sadducees. And it is clear that it was the priests who dominated the meeting of the Sanhedrin that condemned Jesus. That is to say, it was the Sadducees who did all the talking.

They were notoriously discourteous. Josephus said of them (The Wars of the Jews 2:8,14): “The behavior of the Sadducees to one another is rather rude, and their intercourse with their equals is rough, as with strangers.” “You know nothing at all,” said Caiaphas (John 11:49), or, “You are witless, brainless creatures.”

If Jesus was the cause of civil disorder, Rome would descend in all her power. It never even occurred to them to ask whether Jesus was right or wrong. Their only question was: “What effect will this have on our ease and comfort and authority? It is still possible for a man to set his own career before the will of God. Finally the Romans, weary of Jewish stubbornness, besieged Jerusalem, and left it a heap of ruins with a plough drawn across the Temple area. —William Barclay

To Be or Not to Be

Topic(s): Wisdom

Syndicated columnist Sydney J. Harris made the following keen observation: “Men may be divided almost any way we please, but I have found the most useful distinction to be made between those who devote their lives to conjugating the verb ‘to be,’ and those who spend their lives conjugating the verb ‘to have.’”

It is a necessity of life, I suppose, that we must spend a certain amount of time “conjugating the verb ‘to have.’” Could it be possible, however, that our focus becomes blurred when we forget that it is much more important who we are than what we have? The Master said, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). He followed those words with the story of the “rich fool,” who had no time for God. “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (12:21).

There is, however, more to the observation of Mr. Harris, I believe. “Conjugating the verb ‘to be’” is really our life work. We are certain things—parents, sons, daughters, Americans. We are most importantly Christians, children of God. But beyond what we are, there is something even more important. What we must remember is that we are all always in the process of becoming. We are becoming more faithful or less faithful, more Christ-like or less Christ-like, more godly or more ungodly. Life is not static, and neither are we. We are always becoming. We ask the child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The questions for us are always, “What do we want to be?” “What are we becoming?” and most importantly, “Who are we becoming?”

Paul told the Romans, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1,2). The reason we should not be conformed to the world is that God has something better in mind for us. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:28,29).

Hamlet began his soliloquy with the words, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” He then mused about whether it was better to struggle on or just prepare for the time when “we have shuffled off this mortal coil.” The time will come when we will “not be” on this earth. How well we can live with ourselves now and later, depends on whether we devote more time to who we are and are becoming than on what we have. —Bob Prichard, Morristown, TN

God Is Like...

Topic(s): God

• God is like Coke—He’s the real thing (Exodus 3:14).
• God is like Pan Am—He makes the going great (John 10:10).
• God is like General Electric—He lights your path (Psalm 119:105).
• God is like Bayer Aspirin—He works wonders (Psalm 89:8,9).
• God is like Hallmark Cards—He cares enough to send the very best (John 3:16).
• God is like Tide—He get the stains out others leave behind (Acts 22:16).
• God is like VO5 Hair Spray—He holds through all kinds of weather (Matthew 7:24-27).
• God is like Dial Soap—Aren’t you glad you know Him? Don’t you wish everyone did (Matthew 28:18-20)?
• God is like Sears—He has everything (Acts 17:24,25).
• God is like Alka Seltzer—Try Him, you’ll like Him (Matthew 11:28-30).
• God is like Scotch Tape—You can’t see Him but you know He’s there (John 6:46).