Acts 23:12-35

 Acts 23:12-35

Nothing speaks of the depth of Jewish corruption more clearly than the plot to murder Paul. Within Jewish thought of the time, it was believed that in certain cases murder was justified. In this case, none other than the chief priest sanctions it. Neither religion, nor knowledge of the Bible, nor the participation in the rituals of worship is enough to protect us from the most horrific of evils when our hearts are turned away from the Lord. All those things that are designed to lead us to Him will become co-opted to support our trajectory toward evil. “Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” is about more than cursing. It is about doing evil in the name of God. All things must be a means to know and love God. Never should we use God as a means to the things that we love or desire more than Him.

This passage is subtly significant as a point of transition. The Temple, Jerusalem, and the Jews will begin to fade in their significance in the Biblical narrative. Within about 10 years of Paul’s departure, the fanatical spirit of the Jews would rise up against Rome. False messiahs would pronounce themselves as the agency by which God would throw off the Roman oppression. Their followers would fight Rome and each other and bring the crushing might of the Empire against them. All the plans and intrigues of the high priestly family to keep and maintain power would come to nothing. The siege of Jerusalem, one of the most brutal in all of human history, by Titus would leave the city a wreck. Spiritually, Jerusalem was reprobate. In Revelation 11:8 it is referred to as “Sodom and Egypt.”. It was the very personification of sin and slavery.

The Lord wept over the city, wanting to gather her to Himself. Now Paul leaves her, and in 10 years she will be ruined and will play little or no part in God‘s plan of redemption. We must never lose sight that the fall from great to ruin is possible. When we reject the promises of God and use His name for our own agenda, we can be sure that we are following the course of Jerusalem.

“Lord, keep my heart pure that I will always serve You and never attempt to use You. AMEN”