“He didn’t suffer fools gladly” reads the obituary… “Cantankerous old grouch” we imagine… Or at least I do. I might be wrong in the particulars, but that’s how I read the phrase in general. No-one ever does suffer fools gladly. We are only told when someone definitely does not. And since, generally, no-one seems to […]
Three times Jesus uses this image in the Gospels: “Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” (Luke 6:39) “They be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matthew 15:14) “Woe unto you, ye blind guides.” (Matthew 23:16) […]
Jesus was always using comic imagery to make His points. If you know the Lord and don’t speak of Him, it’s like using a bucket as a lampshade. If you’re a hypocrite, you’re like a tutting eye doctor blinded by a plank of four by two. If you’re trying to be good but not born […]
What does a true disciple of Jesus look like? Perhaps we imagine soldiers assembled before their commanding officer. Or students in the school of their Rabbi. Or labourers in gospel service. Or worshippers at the feet of their Lord. In Matthew chapter 19, Jesus gives us a hands-on portrait of the kingdom: 13 Then were […]
Isaiah addresses the blindness of human unbelief. He proclaims the LORD’s word to a “people walking in darkness.” But while he insists that human wickedness is a disease, he never prescribes human religion as the cure. No, healing is found only in the Righteous King- He is the LORD of the temple vision, He is […]
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the […]
If you accuse me of putting words in your mouth you’re probably complaining that I’m misrepresenting your views. Perhaps I have elaborated on your statement in a way you never intended. “Stop putting words in my mouth,” you’ll say. But the biblical origin of the phrase is a little different. In the bible, Moses is […]
There’s something so fitting about an arrogant fool cut down to size. The Bond villain declaring “I am invincible” seconds before his grizzly death. The cocky athlete slowing down for the cameras and then tripping before the finish line. The deluded despot, overstretched and finally overthrown. At these times we love to quote from Proverbs: […]
