Pam Padgett ... teacher
John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed
on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they
should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men
more than the praise of God.
As I thought of the chief rulers who believed in Jesus but didn't
confess Him for fear of not being allowed in the synagogue, I was
reminded of the parable Jesus told in which some seeds fell among thorns
... He also that received seed among the thorns is he that
heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of
riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13: 22)
Riches of this world are deceitful, promising more or better than is
actually the case. To the chief rulers it was more important to have
the praise of men and be allowed to continue in the synagogue than to
confess that they believed in Jesus. They held the "riches" of their
reputation among men of greater value than the praise of God that will
last forever.
Acceptance by the Pharisees sounds empty, "dead", and fleeting to us today. But our flesh wants acceptance by those we know. And, if we withhold speaking truth from God in order to be accepted by them, we find the situation, and even ourselves, being empty and dead as well.
Acceptance and praise of man are
deceitful riches, and cannot compare to what God has prepared for those
who love Him and lay down their lives to serve Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.