The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Sons of the Kingdom, #22

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. (Luke 9:33)

Let us build three tabernacles.

At this point Peter was not hearing from the Lord. He did not know what he was talking about.

How often has it been true that people, being moved by a religious experience, have set out to build tabernacles, not knowing what they were doing.

Did Peter think he was going to shut up Jesus, Moses, and Elijah in some kind of booth? Not too far from them the disciples were struggling with the demons that had bound a child. The Lord did not come to earth to be put in someone's box. He came to release the prisoners of Satan. The son of the Kingdom listens to the Lord for His directions. The son of the wicked one rushes about in the efforts of the flesh, not knowing what he is doing. Sooner or later he will come into conflict with the son of the Kingdom and attempt to destroy the true work of God.

The temptation of the gable took place in Jerusalem.

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: (Luke 4:9)

This is the temptation that has to do with personal ambition. The Lord Jesus did not move from the gable because He was waiting to hear God's direction. He would be perched on the gable yet if God had not spoken. Jesus is faithful and true.

Why did Satan bring the Lord to Jerusalem? It is because it is in "Jerusalem" that the sin of personal ambition is so destructive, so satanic.

Sodom and Gomorrah represent the lusts of the flesh. Egypt represents the lust of the eyes, that is, covetousness and worldliness. Jerusalem symbolizes the pride of life. All of these proceed from the sons of the wicked one. But it is the pride of life that is the least recognized and the most destructive.

Several times in the Book of Acts we read that the Jews followed Paul as he preached Christ in the various cities and attempted to murder him. The Jews were filled with fury. Gamaliel had some understanding of God and advised the leaders to wait and see if what was happening was of God. This was wise. But Satan entered the Jews through the door of personal ambition. They were tares—sons of the wicked one. Yet they had no consciousness whatever that they were not doing God's will.

To be continued.