PROBLEM OF PRIDE

“Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest” (Luke 22:24 NKJV).

From our verse, it seemed like the disciples also had difficulties with the problem of pride. Thus, we want to note the issue of their pride, the intensity of their pride, and the instant of their pride.

Issue of their pride - This was not the first time that the disciples argued about the issue of greatness. Earlier when they were first following the Lord Jesus, the issue of who was the greatest came up (cf. Luke 9:46). At that time, the Lord spoke to them about pride and the folly of their concern. But it seems as if the disciples did not pay much attention for here, they are again arguing over which of them was the greatest. Such an argument is selfish. And pride promotes selfishness. Ultimately, pride will hinder our honoring of God. Therefore, we need to focus on the greatness of God, not our own greatness.

Intensity of their pride - The Greek word here for “dispute” philoneikia (fil-on-i-kee'-ah), carries the idea of a zeal to contend, a contentious spirit. Thus, it shows the intensity of the pride. The word really condemns the disciples. It shows how strong their pride was. Pride produces strife. “He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife” says Solomon (Prov. 28:25). And the greater the pride the greater the strife.

Instant of their pride – Note that the time of their pride-inspired arguing occurred during the Upper Room experience. The Lord Jesus had just spoken of the betrayer. This should have put them in a humble mood; instead, they turn to arguing about who is the greatest. No time is sacred to pride. Pride is selfish, produces contention, and hinders the work of the Lord in the church. Pride is a great evil.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Pride is a barrier to all spiritual progress!”

Henry Allan “Harry” Ironside (1876 – 1951)

Canadian American Bible Teacher, Preacher, Theologian, Pastor, and Author

Word Study

Fainting

In Luke 21:26 we read, “Men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken" (NASB).

“Fainting” is the Greek word apopsuchō (ἀποψύχω = ap-ops-oo'-kho). It is made up of two words: “apo” which means from, and “psuchō” which means to breathe. Thus, the word means to breathe out life, to stop breathing and thus faint or lose consciousness. In light of the fear and terror generated by the cosmic turmoil men will stop breathing, either in the sense of taking their breath away and fainting or in the sense of dying from the trauma. The word could also refer to complete discouragement because of fear, leading people to give up hope.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 KJV).

Did You Know…

Before his death, Joseph asked that his bones be taken back and buried in Canaan. So, when he died, he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt (Gen. 50:25-26).

Bible Quiz

When Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus, how many days was he without sight?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: Who watched as Moses floated in the basket down the Nile? His sister Miriam (Ex. 2:4).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“STUMBLING STONE”

"And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed” (1 Peter 2:8 NJKV).

1. Meaning – STUMBLING STONE refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as the One whom unbelievers reject to their own peril.

2. Insights – Here the apostle Peter quotes Isa. 8:14, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” The implication is that the “Stone” causes embarrassment, offense, and hurt for all who refuse to believe. What is Peter saying? Simply put, he is saying that we either put our faith in the Lord Jesus, the foundation stone, or we dash our foot against it. To persistently reject the Savior is to court judgment because all who do not receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will one day face Him as their Judge. Because of sin, all disobedient unbelievers are destined for a “stumbling,” which will lead to eternal condemnation. The rejection of the Savior will become the means of their ruin.

Did You Know – Christian History

Ulrich Zwingli was born January 1, 1484 in Wildhaus, Switzerland. He was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland.

As a boy Zwingli distinguished himself at studies and music. He determined to become a priest and was ordained at the age of 23. Zwingli hand-copied and memorized Paul’s letters in the original Greek. Impressed by the reform writings of the great humanist scholar Erasmus, he moved toward reformation even before Luther. The use of young Swiss men as mercenaries especially angered him and he spoke vigorously against the practice. As priest of Einsiedeln, a city whose income came from pilgrimages, he preached against pilgrimages, too, labeling them a corruption.

Arriving in Zurich in 1519, Zwingli announced that he would not read the prescribed lessons but instead preach the gospel of Matthew. This he did, bringing objections to the use of images in the church, to the mass and other practices of the church which he considered to be in error. Christ alone is sufficient for salvation, he said. The town leaders took to heart Zwingli’s teaching. They ordered that the Holy Scriptures be taught “without human additions.” However, some of his followers did not think he was pressing the reforms fast enough. Known as Anabaptists, they were particularly agitated over infant baptism, which they rejected. The Zurich council ruled against the Anabaptists, but they defied the council and re-baptized themselves as adult believers. When they continued to defy the council, some of the radicals were put to death.

Zwingli also met with Luther at the Colloquy of Marburg in Hesse, Germany on October 1529. The reforms under Luther in Germany and Zwingli in Switzerland had many parallels, and the two agreed on most essential points of doctrine. However, on the matter concerning the Eucharist, no agreement could be reached: Zwingli interpreted the presence of Christ in the Eucharist in a more spiritual and metaphorical way than Luther could accept. Argument over the Lord’s Supper, a sign of the oneness of God’s people, rather than bringing together these two stalwart defenders of Scripture, instead drove a mean wedge between them.

This disagreement between Protestant and Catholic in Switzerland continued. The Protestants then established a blockade, threatening Catholics with starvation. In 1531 the Catholic cantons marched against Zurich. Zurich’s forces ordered Zwingli to take the field bearing their banner. Under poor leadership and on badly chosen ground near Kappel, they made critical errors were wiped out. Zwingli was among the dead. His body was chopped up and mixed with dung. Told the news, Martin Luther, who disliked Zwingli, replied, “all who take the sword die by the sword.”

A Little Humor

There are two great financial geniuses in the Bible. One was Noah, who floated his stock while everyone else had to go into liquidation. The other one was the pharaoh’s daughter, who went to the bank of the Nile and drew out a prophet.

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Man is saved by believing Christ; he is lost by believing the devil!”