Reading for March 28-April 1
Acts 22:30-23:1-11
Tuesday
“Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. 3 But Paul said to him, 'God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! . . .' 4 Those standing near Paul said to him, 'Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?'
5 'I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,' Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, "You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.” Acts 22:3-5
Pastor’s Reflection
Like Jesus, Paul didn’t shrink from using strong language against the religious authorities. Personally I don’t like reading what sounds like harshness to me, but it’s there and I’m in no position to judge either Paul or Jesus.
However, when challenged, Paul “took back” what he said, not because he was afraid or backed down, rather it was pointed out to him that he was speaking to the high Priest, the “boss”. Scripture prohibits this because he represents God. Paul submitted to the authority of the Bible and of the office of high priest.
It strikes me that the honoring of and submission to authority out of respect is almost a lost virtue in today’s world. Our idioms betray our values. “He’s got to earn my respect” we say about a new boss or colleague. In the Bible we learn we must first give respect.
How easily do you give respect to others? Do you demonstrate respect for others before they earn it? How about superiors? Doing so is a very good spiritual discipline. It leads to humility.
Withholding respect, I suspect, is an act of pride which keeps us in judgment of and above others.
As a side note, slapping another's face in Jesus' day was how you insulted that person. See this in verses 3 & 4. So when Jesus commanded us to turn the other cheek when slapped, He was telling us to not retailate for the insult. He was not saying we should offer the other cheek in the case of physical abuse.
ReplyDeleteWe often picture Jesus as a gentle Shepherd holding a small lamb. That is the kind of Lord we want. We rarely picture Him ranting “Fools and blind” to the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 23: 17-19) or calling them “sons of your father the devil” (John 8:44) or “a wicked and adulterous generation” (Matt 16:4) or “Sin no more lest a worst thing come upon you” to the infirm man at Bethesda (John 5:14). Why was Jesus so harsh and forthright? Because the loving thing to do when someone is behaving sinfully is to sternly speak to them in whatever terms are necessary to gain their attention and lead them to change their behavior. You might even say that when we wink our eye at sin, any sin, then we are also sinning as we are not loving our brother and we are rendering harm to both our brother and ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThe issue of respect seems to be a "no brainer", but when we look a little more closely, at least to me, its deeper than we think.
ReplyDeletePaul's statements to the Sanhedrin were truthfull and deserving. Ananias was unrecognizable as a High Priest, keeper of the law, because he, himself broke the law by striking Paul.
I see Paul's response as a statement of fact that points directly to the heart of the matter. It underscores Ananias' hypocrisy, not negate it.
Ananias' position was not obvious because the behavior descripting his position was 'not obvious'. Had his behavior been respectful of the position he held, there would not have been a question as to whether Paul would have 'realized' and then not 'spoken evil..."
The fact that Paul says he didn't 'realize' who the high priest was had nothing to do with whether he 'knew' the high priest or not, for I'm sure his attire would represent that, it had to do with his behavior.
And what did Paul do next?
He changed the subject to resurrection. Which caused these two ruling classes to turn on each other. Supernaturally, he had realized that the crowd was half Sanhedrin and half Pharisee.
He didn't apogize, he didn't discuss it, he made his point poignantly with the safety God provided.
The Bible says to respect others, most assuredly. It also says to be someone "worthy" of respect.
But, I do believe that there are situations where respect concerning authority requires action that may require one to 'respectfully' counter evil or abusive authority.
Jesus thought so in the temple and I think Paul thought so here.
Sorry, but I have to say one more thing, that's the trouble with paraphrasing. "I'm sorry" is not in the Greek and its not in the NIV...
ReplyDeleteRead what Jesus said to the Pharisees in Luke 11.
ReplyDeleteHis words to Paul were, "When you are brought before synogogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."