Unsound Wisdom

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. James 3: 15.

We are exploring, through living testimony and convincing proof, which show that the wisdom of Jesus excels the highest earthly wisdom. In the text quoted above, these words of James, though they may bring unease, are unequivocally true concerning earthly wisdom. Such earthly, sensual and demonic wisdom is wisdom that is laden with partiality and hypocrisy. It is wisdom that is unsound and worth avoiding.

Jesus has much to say about such wisdom, but we are only going to explore three such powerfully wise statements. We have the Pharisees before us. They were considered and revered as some of the highest thinkers of that day. They were among the men of pedigree, whose beliefs and ways became the foundational, religious, liturgical and ritualistic basis for Judaism. Pharisees and other distinguished, learned men of honour, dominated in the time of Jesus. They were there, as large as life itself, and Jesus did not fail to notice them, as they were most visible in all that they said and did.

I’m quite sure that these words of wisdom are all known to you. Nonetheless, having them listed before your exploring eyes and mind, truly causes one to straighten up, listen up and take full stock. These are all unadulterated words which Jesus spoke about the Pharisees in particular. They have all been gathered from Matthew’s Gospel. We are receiving them in relation to how Jesus saw and treated their; authority and authenticity, their dedication and deceitfulness, and their wisdom and worth. 

Jesus gives them credit for their God-given authority, but totally rips apart their authenticity. Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say and do not do. Matthew 23: 1 – 3. Clearly, Jesus is not against their authority, but decisively against their inauthenticity, in not practicing what they preach to the people. 

Such utter deceitfulness from those who purport any kind of unsound wisdom, in their contrariness in matching words and works, must be totally avoided. Such wisdom is earthly, not heavenly in any form or fashion. 

Jesus gives them credit for their dedication in tithing, however, He raps them hard on their deceitfulness, and fraudulence in neglecting the more important observances of law, such as justice and mercy. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. Those you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Matthew 23: 23. It is obvious that Jesus is not against their observances, but He is totally against their warped wisdom, in choosing to neglect the more important observances of law. How wise is it to spend all one’s energies on the outside of the cup and leave the inside dirty?

Such disingenuousness from those who practise any kind of unsound wisdom, in their utter lack for truth as seen in the eyes of God, and not in their own self-righteous eyes, must be totally and completely shunned. Such wisdom is demonic, not from above.  

Jesus, in teaching about the Law and its fulfilment to a vast crowd of people, makes this most surprisingly stunning statement about the righteous people of His day. These are the Pharisees, scribes, Sadducees and all other very religious people, who place themselves as the authority and wisdom of the Law of God. These are the leaders, whom the ordinary folk see as the first people to gain entrance into the kingdom of God. Jesus capsizes the apple-cart as it were, with this radical wisdom. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 20.

Jesus is final and most pointing in His explanation about the true wisdom of righteousness. Yes, the Pharisees display a high-level form of righteousness, but Jesus has publicly announced, without any qualms, that their righteousness, which is laced with greed and self-indulgence, is worth nothing, as it has no place in heaven. Their righteous wisdom is nothing but, emptiness and froth. It is totally disregarded by God.

Such disgusting practices from those in high office, who teach and preach unsound wisdom to their learners, must be absolutely denounced and emphatically denied. That kind of wisdom is sensual, not from heaven above. All wisdom is not wisdom! Always seek the wisdom of God, through His Holy Spirit. 

For the LORD gives wisdom, from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2: 6