An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Paul is speaking of professed people called Jews who rest in the law and boast in God, who know His will and approve excellent things because they are instructed out of the law, and who are confident that they are guides of the blind, lights to those in darkness, instructors of the foolish and teachers of babes. To have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law is to have great light and great opportunity, added line upon line and precept upon precept, yet to hold only the outward form without doing the Word. The principles of that law are an expression of God's character, so the form itself is a sacred trust and not a mere profession.
Possessing that form is not enough and does not excuse the teacher, for God requires doing and not merely hearing or acknowledging the authority of the law. The one who teaches another must teach himself and obey instead of breaking the law, and teaching another without teaching self stands condemned, since only doers of the law are justified. Even the most zealous advocates had perverted the law and were themselves transgressors, breaking it through stealing and adultery and sacrilege, thereby dishonoring God and causing His name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles.
True standing is inward, of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter, with praise not from men but from God. When the law is treasured in the heart the speech gives evidence of it, and the outward appearance testifies to the inward working of the heart. Truth received in the heart transforms mind and character into zeal according to knowledge, modest apparel and good works, as doers who teach themselves before teaching another.
Such profession gives no right to put human measurement on ministering brethren, to read the heart, judge character, exclude from fellowship and counsels, or oppress with hasty temper, criticism, bigotry and inquisition while neglecting one's own salvation, for the one found fault with may be more righteous in God's sight. Those who guard the sacred writings and praise their own religion yet show no sympathy to sincere seekers are surpassed by those they regard as heathen, who stand higher in God's sight than these professed worshipers. This is instruction for those living amid the perils of the last days.
It exposes idolatry cherished in families and churches and pride budding and blossoming in apparel and in speech and deportment in small as well as large matters, which separates from God and brings shame without repentance when reproved. God entrusted His Israel with the most sacred truth ever committed to mortals as repositories of His holy law to shine light to those in the darkness of error when iniquity abounds. But as a jealous God He will not long bear perversity and will expose workers of iniquity who disgrace the religion of Christ, because their corrupting influence spreads through churches like leaven through the whole lump. In contrast to the teachers who held only the perverted form, Christ fulfilled every letter of God's law and observed even the precepts and ceremonies of the Mosaic institutions, while bringing about a transformation to make all things new.
Paul is speaking of professed people called Jews who rest in the law and boast in God, who know His will and approve excellent things because they are instructed out of the law, and who are confident that they are guides of the blind, lights to those in darkness, instructors of the foolish and teachers of babes. To have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law is to have great light and great opportunity, added line upon line and precept upon precept, yet to hold only the outward form without doing the Word. The principles of that law are an expression of God's character, so the form itself is a sacred trust and not a mere profession.
Possessing that form is not enough and does not excuse the teacher, for God requires doing and not merely hearing or acknowledging the authority of the law. The one who teaches another must teach himself and obey instead of breaking the law, and teaching another without teaching self stands condemned, since only doers of the law are justified. Even the most zealous advocates had perverted the law and were themselves transgressors, breaking it through stealing and adultery and sacrilege, thereby dishonoring God and causing His name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles.
True standing is inward, of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter, with praise not from men but from God. When the law is treasured in the heart the speech gives evidence of it, and the outward appearance testifies to the inward working of the heart. Truth received in the heart transforms mind and character into zeal according to knowledge, modest apparel and good works, as doers who teach themselves before teaching another.
Such profession gives no right to put human measurement on ministering brethren, to read the heart, judge character, exclude from fellowship and counsels, or oppress with hasty temper, criticism, bigotry and inquisition while neglecting one's own salvation, for the one found fault with may be more righteous in God's sight. Those who guard the sacred writings and praise their own religion yet show no sympathy to sincere seekers are surpassed by those they regard as heathen, who stand higher in God's sight than these professed worshipers. This is instruction for those living amid the perils of the last days.
It exposes idolatry cherished in families and churches and pride budding and blossoming in apparel and in speech and deportment in small as well as large matters, which separates from God and brings shame without repentance when reproved. God entrusted His Israel with the most sacred truth ever committed to mortals as repositories of His holy law to shine light to those in the darkness of error when iniquity abounds. But as a jealous God He will not long bear perversity and will expose workers of iniquity who disgrace the religion of Christ, because their corrupting influence spreads through churches like leaven through the whole lump. In contrast to the teachers who held only the perverted form, Christ fulfilled every letter of God's law and observed even the precepts and ceremonies of the Mosaic institutions, while bringing about a transformation to make all things new.