In Luke 7, Jesus has just complimented John the Baptist, as we saw last time.
Now let’s look at the response He gets from the people gathered where He is teaching:
Luke 7:29-30
29 When all the
people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God's justice,
having been baptized with the baptism of John.
I think we should understand exactly what this baptism of John was. It was a baptism in water, which was a ritual baptism to identify the person with the Kingdom that Jesus Christ was going to institute here on earth. It also, therefore, identified them with the King, Jesus Christ. This was a baptism of REPENTANCE. The person would recognize that they were a sinner and needed a savior, and would then submit to the baptism. Of course, not everyone was baptized with the baptism of John:
30 But
the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having
been baptized by John.
You had to realize that you had sin to be willing to go through this baptism! Of course, the self-righteous and arrogant Pharisees and lawyers did not see themselves as sinful. They failed to acknowledge their own sinfulness, and therefore refused to go through the baptism of John.
When you are self-righteous, it will keep you from accepting God’s purpose for your life! These well-educated scholars and religious leaders were so caught up in their own importance that they didn’t see the need for a savior. Self-righteousness is condemned throughout the word of God:
Romans 12:16
16 Be of the same
mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the
lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
That’s what Jesus was talking about here:
Matthew 11:25
25 At that time Jesus
said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and
intelligent and have revealed them to infants.
When you become wise and intelligent IN YOUR OWN ESTIMATION, then God will not reveal things to you regarding your own spiritual life! To truly live the life that God has for you, you must keep an attitude of humility.
Mark
17 And hearing this,
Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician,
but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners."
Self-righteous arrogance makes you focus on yourself, and how great you are. A true recognition of your own sinfulness will make you focus on the SOLUTION, Jesus Christ!