Warning: This might humble you
You Don’t Listen
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The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond, because you don’t belong to God.”
John 8:47 (NET)
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What?!
Jesus attacking people with words?
It certainly bucks the typical soft-spoken, meek-and-mild Jesus that so many in the world falsely believe is what He was like.
More than anything, Jesus told the truth -- even when it was harsh.
That’s a lesson to learn in its own right.
But that’s not what I came here to talk about today.
I want to talk about how I handle tough passages like this. When Jesus calls out peoples’ hypocrisy, or unbelief, or faithlessness.
It’s easy to throw rocks at those people.
I tend to think, “If I was around then, I wouldn’t be like those people. I’d believe what Jesus had to say from the start. In fact, I’d be better than Peter or doubting Thomas!”
…
Suuuuurrre I would.
If I take a hard look in the mirror, I have to admit that I have all kinds of trouble listening and responding to God today.
What makes me so sure I would have listened & responded to Him back then?
Often when I read words where Jesus puts people “in their place,” my response is to stop and humbly pray: “Lord, may this never be true of me.”
I already know my own tendency to wander from righteousness.
To follow sin.
I certainly don’t want to get in God’s crosshairs by living in foolish pride.
The next time you read about Jesus attacking the Pharisees, consider how close you might be to following in their footsteps.
It might humble you.
It humbles me.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2026 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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