Matthew 5:1-12; Micah 6:1-8; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Some time ago I came across a definition of biblical discernment that has always stuck with me as I think it readily applies to the study of theology and biblical doctrines. I believe a lot of errors and controversies in the history of the Christian church have resulted from a failure to properly apply this definition.
“Discernment isn’t just knowing the difference between right and wrong; it’s knowing the difference between right and almost right.”
I would suggest that nearly every heresy and false doctrine through the ages could have been avoided by a closer scrutiny of this definition. Every aberration of orthodoxy, in order to gain adherents, contains some measure of truth…thus it’s partly, or “almost” right. I think in many cases, you could make the argument that “almost right” is in fact “wrong”.
Matthew 5:1-12
Our Gospel lesson last Sunday was the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, known as the Beatitudes. As per Jesus’ usual approach, He cuts through all the noise and the “almost rights” to the core, the infallible truth. It is a masterful exposition of the law and a potent assault on Pharisaic legalism. He also shows how truly keeping the law is humanly impossible and closes off every avenue of human merit. The Pharisees were “partly right” that doing stuff was important. But Jesus points out that it is far from what the law demanded. The motivation and intention of the heart was just as important. This required absolute purity of the heart which is impossible for a fallen man. Also, a 99% hit rate wouldn’t make the grade as James 2:10 decrees:
“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it”
Micah 6:1-8
Using the motif of a courtroom setting, Yahweh, via Micah, is pleading His case against His people. The people respond and Micah plays the lawyer for the plaintiff. Yahweh uses the mountains and hills as His witness and jury picturing their presence at Mt. Sinai at the giving of the law. God reminds the Jews of all His gracious acts toward them and how He has kept all the promises He gave them. With all the faithfulness toward them, how could they continue their hypocrisy by being outwardly religious (i.e. almost right), while inwardly sinful? Spiritual blindness had led them to offer everything except the one thing He wanted: a spiritual commitment from the heart which right behavior would ensue.
First and foremost, God wanted a relationship with His people. Was it God’s fault for Israel’s failure? People acted as if serving the Lord was wearisome. Micah directs each individual to God’s Word where He tells them what is required. God has clearly revealed in His Word what is required. The problem is not a failure to know what to do but a failure to do.
I Corinthians 1:18-31
Christ is the power and wisdom of God. You can’t come to God in worldly human wisdom as it’s impossible and would only serve to exalt man. The Gospel, in all its power and fullness, centers in the incarnation and crucifixion of Christ. Man’s wisdom will be destroyed. Human wisdom at best is only “almost right” and always proves to be unreliable and impermanent. Paul notes in his letter to the Corinthians that not many are called what the world calls wise, mighty, or noble.
We must constantly strive to master the Bible, the Word of God. Along with prayer and illumination of the Holy Spirit, that is the only way we can be assured of discerning what is right, and what is almost right.
Mark Packer
Church Elder