10月22日

標　　題：向聰明通達者隱藏

經　　節：正當那時，耶穌被聖靈感動就歡樂，說：「父啊，天地的主，我感謝你！因為你將這些事向聰明通達人就藏起來，向嬰孩就顯出來。父啊！是的，因為你的美意本是如此。」（路加福音十章21節）

唯一能阻礙我們聽到神的話語，是我們自己的智慧。智慧就像成功一樣，可能會欺哄我們，讓我們自以為應該扮演教師的角色，而非學生的角色。知識會哄騙我們，讓我們自以為擁有足夠的智慧，可以面對任何挑戰。自以為有智慧會使我們挑剔人的缺點，卻不知道自己還有許多地方需要成長。法利賽人是當時的宗教專家，他們擁有許多關於神的知識，但是他們與神毫無個人的關係。知識遮掩了他們在神面前，對真實景況的認知。耶穌感謝天父，沒有把屬靈的真理顯示給那些「專家們」，反而顯示給那些謙卑、並且自知需要神啟示的人。

當宗教領袖們靈性失敗時，他們跌倒之處往往出人意料之外。其實是不該如此的，那些擁有豐富知識的宗教領袖，有時候對神的話毫無反應。知識很容易導致人的驕傲，驕傲會阻礙人尋求神。

你怎麼知道自己是「法利賽人」？當你沒有一顆受教心之時。當有基督徒夥伴關心你的屬靈狀況，你變得相當自我保護之時。當你不尋求神的心意，而相信自己知道神的旨意之時。當你覺得自己可以幫助別人的屬靈生命，而沒有人可以教導自己任何東西。

Hidden from the Wise

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. (Luke 10:21)

One hindrance to hearing a word from God may be our own wisdom. Wisdom, like success, can delude us to think we should take the role of teacher rather than student. Our knowledge lulls us into thinking we have sufficient wisdom to meet any challenge. Believing we are wise tempts us to evaluate the shortcomings of others yet be unaware of how much growth is still required in ourselves.

The Pharisees were the religious experts of their day. They possessed much information about God, but they had no personal relationship with Him. Their knowledge clouded their view of their condition before God. Jesus thanked His Father that it was not to these “experts” that the Father had revealed spiritual truth, but rather to those who were humble and who recognized their need for God’s revelation.

When religious leaders experience spiritual failure, their downfall is often met with surprise. It shouldn’t be. Religious people with the most knowledge are sometimes the ones least responsive to God’s Word. Knowledge can easily lead to pride, and pride impedes us from seeking God.

How do you know if you are a “Pharisee”? When you do not have a teachable spirit. When you become defensive if a fellow Christian shares a concern about your spiritual condition. When you do not seek to hear from God, believing you already know what He thinks. When you feel that you are capable of helping others in their spiritual lives, but no one can teach you anything. Don’t allow the limited knowledge you now have to blind you to the great truths God still wants to reveal to you.