Chapter

36

The Old Leaven of

Pride and Gullibility

     Pride is that state of the human heart that thinks that it knows better than anyone else what is best for itself.  Pride prevents one from receiving from another.  On the other hand, a total lack of self-esteem leads to gullibility, that state wherein one can be led by every wind of temptation.

     And so, humankind caroms between the two taskmasters.  Pride prevents us from listening long enough to right teachings and sayings while gullibility opens us up to anything the enemy wants to throw at us.

     Our Maker turns His face away from the proud, for they ignore the truth that they do have a Maker and a Counselor on high.  And He does not help the foolish and gullible for in their heart they have already accepted everything else.  Hard taskmasters, pride and gullibility, but people love to have them rule over them.

     Yahshua was lamblasting Capernaum and other cities because of their pride and the unbelief that pride generates.  The cities where He had done His most mighty miracles did not repent.  The mighty works were done so that men would come to the realization  that  there is a Supreme Being in heaven who is responsible for the miracles here on earth. 

     And they who lived there were religious people.  They attended services every sabbath and en- deavored to keep the law on their own strength and evidently thought they were pretty good people, so much so that they had no need of a Savior.

     Then He says something very curious in verses 25-27.  He thanked the Father for hiding the truth from the people who had rejected Him, from the “wise and prudent” in their own eyes, and for revealing the truth to “babes”—those who are not prideful.  Then in v. 27 he says that “no man knows the Son (who the Son really is) but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”  He is the One who reveals who He really is to whoever He desires to.

     And then the Master issues this plea to all who are laboring in their own pride and strength: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Mt. 11:30.

     Come to me, He is saying, you who have been trying to do it on your own strength or who have been led around by other people’s thinking.  Leave those taskmasters, for they will put you in hard bondage. Come to me and I will give you rest.  Come

my way and learn about me, for I am gentle and humble in spirit.  I am not a hard taskmaster like pride and gullibility.  I’ll help you keep the law; I will take away your sins and guilt.  I will help you carry the load, for my burden is light.