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R.C.H. Lenski · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 6
Lenski - What did David do in his need? He went into “the House of God,” which, however, does not mean into the Holy Place or Sanctuary of the Tabernacle but into the courts, where he might freely go; compare Ps. 122. The ἄρτοι τῆς προθέσεως, “the breads of the setting forth” or the showbread, were twelve loaves, each made of about 6¼ pounds of flour and set forth in two rows on a gold-covered table in the Holy Place every Sabbath Day; and when they were removed they were to be eaten only by the priests, Lev. 24:5–9. The bread that David received was not that which was at the time lying in the Holy Place but some that had been removed after having served its sacred purpose. It was God’s own law that made it “unlawful” for any persons but priests to eat this bread; it was not merely a rabbinical dictum such as the Pharisees brought against Jesus to condemn the plucking of a few ears of grain. Jesus overtops the charge of the Pharisees. He proves by David’s own example that even the divine ceremonial law was not intended to be absolute in its application. The rabbinical refinements are disregarded as being unworthy of notice. God cares more for the right spiritual condition of the heart than for the outward observance of his own ceremonial regulations. The argument is overwhelming. David’s hunger sets aside even a divine regulation—shall not the hunger of the disciples set aside mere rabbinical notions? (See The Interpretation of St. Mark's Gospel) Jesus agreed that generally it was not lawful for any but the priests to eat the bread. However, David (the anointed of God, the predecessor of the "Greater David") and his men had a legitimate need and so God was not offended by their action! There is no record in the Bible of David and his men being condemned for eating the consecrated bread in their time of great need! In the present context the "Greater David's" men were in need of sustenance, which by comparison with the OT story should have resulted in no condemnation. Unlike the OT story, religious men stood as judges in the place of God and condemned Jesus' men for an action God Himself did not condemn. THOUGHT - Do we ever put ourselves in the place of God as judges of other men's actions, only later to find out that their attitudes and/or actions were justified. If we are honest, there is a little bit of "Pharisee" in all of us! Deliver us O God! Amen! Except the priests alone - "Luke added “only” (alone) to his account in order to emphasize David’s violation of the commandment. This ultimately heightens the authority of the One greater than David, i.e., the Lord of the Sabbath." (Stein) NET Note sums up Jesus' reference to David - Jesus’ response to the charge that what his disciples were doing was not lawful is one of analogy: ‘If David did it for his troops in a time of need, then so can I with my disciples.’ Jesus is clear that on the surface there was a violation here. What is not as clear is whether he is arguing a “greater need” makes this permissible or that this was within the intention of the law all along. Only Mark 2:27+ has the statement in which"Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." What is Jesus saying? He is saying that God made the Sabbath to give men a time to rest. By the addition of all their minute rules and regulations the Jewish "sages" had in effect made the Sabbath the "master" over men, and a heavy burden hardly conducive to giving one rest. The Jews instead of enjoying the Sabbath as a day of rest, now had to work even harder than ever to make sure they did not break any of the many Sabbath regulations. They had to be cautious about what the did, where they went, how far they went, and on and on. It must have been a heavy mental burden on all who tried to comply with the non-Biblical regulations. In short Jesus is saying the Sabbath was made to be a blessing for man, but the plethora of non-Biblical rules had turned the day into an onerous burden. It is interesting that in our modern culture many often dread Monday, but given the burden of the Sabbath, one cannot help but believe most of Jews would say "T.G.I.M" (Thank God it's Monday! Actually Sunday for that was the day after the Sabbath) A T
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Lenski has an excellent comment - The principle back of all that God ordered in his law regarding the Sabbath was that it might be a blessing for man. This day afforded man physical rest and, still more important, time to attend to his spiritual needs. But the Jews had inverted this. They treated man as if he had been created for the purpose of keeping the Sabbath laws. The Sabbath had to be kept, no matter how man fared, whereas God intended that man should be blessed—by the Sabbath, of course, but, if necessary, even at the expense of the Sabbath. (See The Interpretation of St. Mark's Gospel) Kistemaker adds that "The sabbath was instituted to be a blessing for man: to keep him healthy, to make him happy, and to render him holy. Man was not created to be the sabbath’s slave." (BNTC) The Jews themselves recognized the burden of the Sabbath writing “the rules about the Sabbath...are as mountains hanging by a hair, for [teaching of] Scripture [thereon] is scanty and the rules many” (m. Ḥag. 1:8)." J
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Lenski quips that “The disciple loses less by letting his things be taken wrongfully then he would by with a selfish heart clamoring to have them returned." NET Note on do not demand it back - Do not ask for your possessions back … is an example of showing forgiveness. Paul’s remarks in 1 Cor 6:7 may reflect this principle. Asks (154) aiteo means to ask for something or make petition. It can mean to ask with a sense of urgency and even to the point of demanding. For example, Thayer notes that the use of aiteo in 1Cor 1:22 conveys a stronger sense of demand. One gets that same sense of aiteo in Mt 27:20 (in fact NJB translates it "demand.") Aiteo is sometimes combined with other prayer words like proseuchomai (Mt 21:22, Col 1:9), so the idea of aiteo is to be asking for something while praying (proseuchomai). Takes away (142) airo literally means to lift up something (Mt 17:27) and to carry it (Lxx - Ge 44:1, Ex 25:28 = the Ark). In the first Septuagint use of airo in Ge 35:2 Jacob told his household "Put away (airo) the foreign gods." Jesus used airo figuratively when He declared "Take (aorist imperative) My yoke" (Mt 11:29-note) and again when he said "Take (aorist imperative) up (your) cross." (Mk 8:34) Figuratively airo speaks of the taking away of sins. John used this same verb (airo) in John 1:29 writing "The next day (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away (airo) the sin of the world! Luke's uses of airo - Lk. 4:11; Lk. 5:24; Lk. 5:25; Lk. 6:29; Lk. 6:30; Lk. 8:12; Lk. 8:18; Lk. 9:3; Lk. 9:17; Lk. 9:23; Lk. 11:22; Lk. 11:52; Lk. 17:13; Lk. 17:31; Lk. 19:21; Lk. 19:22; Lk. 19:24; Lk. 19:26; Lk. 22:36; Lk. 23:18; Acts 4:24; Acts 8:33; Acts 20:9; Acts 21:11; Acts 21:36; Acts 22:22; Acts 27:13; Acts 27:17 Demand it back (523)(apaiteo from apó = again + aitéō = to ask) means generally to demand or desire. More specifically apaiteo refers to property (stolen or borrowed) and is a demand to get it back, to ask again or to require (Lk 6:30). Apaiteo is used of stewards in 1 Cor 4:2 who are required to be faithful. Figuratively apaiteo conveys the sense of one's life as if it were a loan from Who demands it back (Lk 12:20-note). To recall, demand back, legal exaction of a demand or legitimate claim (Deut. 15:2, 3). Apaiteo - 4v - demand...back(1), required(3). Lk. 6:30; Lk. 12:20; Lk. 12:48; 1 Co. 4:2 ILLUSTRATION - The truth of this verse was amply illustrated in the life of Pastor Uwe Holmer. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, no person in all of East Germany was more despised than the former Communist dictator, Erich Honecher. He had been stripped of all his offices. Even the Communist Party rejected him. Kicked out of his villa, the new government refused him and his wife new housing. The Honechers were homeless and destitute. Pastor Uwe Holmer, director of a Christian help center north of Berlin was made aware of the Honechers' very difficult situation. Pastor Holmer felt it would be wrong to give them a room meant for even needier people. So the pastor and his family decided to take the former dictator into their own home! Erich Honecher's wife, Margot, had ruled the East German educational system for twenty-six years. Eight of Pastor Holmer's ten children had been turned down for higher education due to Mrs. Honecher's policies, which discriminated against Christians. When the pastor took them into their home, they in essence cared for their personal enemy and the most hated man in Germany. By the grace of God, the Holmers loved their enemies, did them good, blessed them, and prayed for them. They turned the other cheek and in a way, they gave their enemies their coat (shelter in their own home). (Treasures from the Scriptures) Luke 6:31 "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you KJV And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. BGT Καὶ καθὼς θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς ὁμοίως. NET Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you. CSB Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. ERV And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. ESV And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. NIV Do to others as you would have them do to you. NLT Do to others as you would like them to do to you. NRS Do to others as you would have them do to you. YLT and as ye wish that men may do to you, do ye also to them in like manner; GWN "Do for other people everything you want them to do for you. Matthew 7:12; 22:39; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8-16 Luke 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 6:31-38 The Content of Kingdom Love - John MacArthur Luke 6:27-35 Radical Love - Steven Cole Luke 6:17-49 Jesus' Teaching - Darrell Bock Parallel passage - Matthew 7:12+ “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. "THE GOLDEN RULE" Treat (poieo) others the same way you want (thelo in present tense) them to treat (poieo) you - Notice that this does not say to treat others as they treat you, but as you would like them to treat you. Treat is the verb poieo meaning "Do" and is in the present imperative which calls for a lifestyle of doing to others what you want them to do to you. This command is impossible to obey in our natural strength and emphasizes our continual need to depend wholly on the Holy Spirit to carry out this unnatural action! David
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Lenski - What do we find? Why this that it is only the good man who out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth the good in word, deed, and influence. Would you expect such a thing of the wicked man? It is the wicked (man) who out of the wicked (treasure of his heart) brings forth the wicked. Would you expect him to bring forth the good? Note the triple repetition, first of ἀγαθός, “good,” then of πονηρός, “wicked,” active wickedness, not merely “evil.” As is the man, in particular his heart, so is the product of his life. Take the mouth for instance—what comes out of it in the way of utterance (λαλεῖν)? Why, the overflow of the heart! When the heart gets too full it spills over through the mouth in speech. And you can at once tell whether the heart is treasuring what is good or what is wicked, whether the man is good or whether he is wicked.... So the fact is hammered in that the heart must be changed, the spiritual nature of the very man himself, before God can accept the fruits of his words and his deeds.(Ibid) THOUGHT - The idea inherent in perisseuma is anything that is left over because its container has reached its capacity. Wow! In the context of Luke 6:35 the container is our heart! What fills my heart? Don't do a gut check but a "speech check!" Of course if only carnal conversation comes forth it is a strong indicator one is not converted. But even believers can lapse into "potty mouth," "salacious speech," or carnal conversation, especially if our heart is not "filled with" and thus controlled by the Holy Spirit, Who then enables holy words and holy speech to spew forth! And I personally believe a believer's speech is a strong "barometer" (so to speak) of whether he or she is filled with the Spirit. Why do I say that? In Ephesians 5:18+ Paul commands believers "do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit." Then the very next word in the Greek sentence (Eph 5:19+) is laleo (λαλοῦντες) in the present tense, "speaking continually to one another (ἑαυτοῖς)" and then Paul goes on add "in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." The point is that in this context the first "member" of our body to be controlled by the Spirit is our tongue! It stands to reason then that what we say and how we say it (inflection, tone, etc, are you listening husbands and wives?) is a strong indicator of whether or not we are controlled by the Holy Spirit. THOUGHT - And one more thought to tie this together. In Ephesians 4:29+ we read a command to "Let no unwholesome (sapros - same word used in Lk 6:43 of bad fruit!) word proceed (present imperative with a negative only possible to obey as we are filled with/controlled by the Holy Spirit!) from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." The very next word in the Greek text (in Eph 4:30+) is "kai" which means "and" (and sadly is not always translated), which is important as it clearly couples v29 and v30. Here is the point - notice the link between unwholesome (rotten) speech in v29 and the quenching of the Holy Spirit in v30. Not only does the Holy Spirit enable good speech, evil speech can in fact grieve the Spirit and blunt His power in our life! That is how important our speech is to God. And just for context you will encounter many opportunities to test your speech for "It has been estimated that from the first “Good morning” to the last “Good night,” the average person engages in thirty conversations a day. Each day, his words could make a book of 50–60 pages—the equivalent of more than one hundred books a year of 200 pages each." (MacArthur) O how we need the Holy Spirit to set a guard over our mouth and keep watch over the door of our lips! (Ps 141:3).
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Lenski quips that "The questions are of such simplicity and their interrogative form so childlike that a touch of humor plays into them." Jesus begins with a clearly rhetorical question about a blind guide. Can he is preceded by the Greek word meti in an interrogative (question) particle which anticipates a negative reply. Of course a blind man cannot lead a blind man. Jesus is not referring to physical blindness, but the inability to see spiritual truth. Only one who is born again and has the eyes of their heart opened by the Spirit can discern spiritual truth. And so a "blind" man cannot lead others and help them find their way. NET Note says "The picture of a blind man leading a blind man is a warning to watch who one follows: Won’t they both fall into a pit? The sermon has been about religious choices and reacting graciously to those who oppose the followers of Jesus. Here Jesus’ point was to be careful who you follow and where they are taking you." This picture is similar to Jesus' warning against the Pharisees “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Mt 15:14) Will they not both fall into a pit (bothunos)? Here the question is prefaced with ouchi which is an interrogative word in a question which expects an affirmative reply. The clear teaching is that a blind leader will lead those who follow them to disaster and death and ultimately to eternal doom! One cannot help but think of the tragedy of the cult leader Jim Jones which led to mass suicide and murder in the jungle (talk about a "pit"!)! While there is controversy in how to interpret this passage, one application is crystal clear to all of us - be careful who you follow! The question that is debated in the commentaries is to whom does the blind guide refer? Choices are (1) false teachers in general (cf Mt 15:14) or (2) the disciples themselves who need to be aware that only Jesus can guide them. Nelson's NKJV Study Bible - It is debated whether Jesus was describing the Pharisees here or simply warning His disciples about dangerous attitudes. The focus on the disciples' attitudes suggests the latter, though the remark would also have applied to the teachers with whom Jesus was in conflict. (Online Luke 6) John MacArthur is relatively dogmatic (but I do agree with him especially because of similar descriptions in the cross references he mentions). - The spiritual principle is obvious: those who follow leaders who do not know the way to God’s kingdom will never get there. Instead, they will all fall into the pit of hell. Jesus was referring in particular to Israel’s blind religious guides, the scribes and Pharisees. On another occasion, He used this same parable of the blind leading the blind to refer specifically to them (Matt. 15:14), while in His diatribe against the Pharisees Jesus repeatedly excoriated them for their spiritual blindness (Matt. 23:16, 17, 19, 24, 26). The inevitable outcome was that they led their followers to the same hell to which they were headed (Matt. 23:15). (See Luke Commentary) Wiersbe seems to apply Jesus' warning to both disciples and Pharisees (false teachers) - To begin with, as His disciples, we must be sure that we see clearly enough to guide others in their spiritual walk. While there are blind people who have a keen sense of direction, it is not likely any of them will be hired as airplane pilots or wilderness guides. Jesus was referring primarily to the Pharisees who were leading the people astray (Matt. 15:14; 23:16). If we see ourselves as excellent guides, but do not realize our blindness, we will only lead people into the ditch (see Rom. 2:17-22). (Borrow Be Compassionate - Luke 1-13) D A Carson - Though the Pharisees and teachers of the law had scrolls and interpreted them in the synagogues, this does not mean that they really understood them … The Pharisees did not follow Jesus; so they did not understand and follow the Scriptures.” (EBC) R C H Lenski - Nothing is worse than when men think that they see when they are in reality blind, and when in their delusion they make bold to act as leaders and guides for others whom they think blind and who, indeed, are blind in fact. This was the fatal delusion of the scribes and Pharisees, whose was a self-willed, deliberate blindness, a fixed opposition to the light and to sight, who obdurately chose darkness rather than light (John 3:19) and proudly called their blindness sight (John 10:40, 41), who loved to be called οἱ βλέποντες as so many today love to be called “scientists,” men who know. So they set themselves up as guides for others—with fatal results....The ground is so rocky in Palestine that stone is dug out along the roads for surfacing them, and dug out in other places for other purposes, leaving many dangerous pits. The author saw them when travelling and was reminded of the sheep falling into the pit on a Sabbath and of these blind men. Their delusion is comical in a way, but it is deadly in the end. When Jesus said “pit” he may well have had in mind the pit of hell, for he is speaking of the fatal results of spiritual blindness. (See The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel) Heinrich
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Lenski writes "A mathetes is one who has imbibed the spirit of his teacher. But as being one who is a disciple he remains under his teacher, for the thing that makes him what he is he has received and will always have received from his teacher." (Ibid) Henry
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Lenski - He who is devoid of all spiritual insight pretends to aid another who is lacking in that insight to a small degree. The very idea is farcical—yet men act thus. (See The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel) This was a common proverb familiar among the Jews that referred to the one who with greater sins, reproved the lesser faults of others. Tragically these fault-finders seldom find anything else!Leifeld observes that "The humorous illustration (Lk 6:41) of the “speck” (karphos) and the “plank” (dokos) hits the mark with force when the person who casually calls the person he is criticizing “brother” (Lk 6:42) suddenly hears himself called “hypocrite” by the Lord. (Borrow the The Expositor's Bible Commentary - Luke) "It is much easier to be critical than to be correct." -- Disraeli In his Essay on Criticism Alexander Pope wrote that "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." W A Criswell - The illustration is dramatically exaggerated and is typical of the humorous reproof that Jesus frequently uses (Lk 18:25; Matt. 23:24). Jesus was able to see humor in life, while simultaneously addressing serious subjects. Jesus requires honest self-evaluation and self-improvement as the prerequisite to helping one's fellow. Failure to do so is tantamount to hypocrisy. (The Believer's Study Bible) Ray
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Lenski points out that "Every statement is axiomatic, clear as crystal, so obvious that a child can understand—and yet how important and precious every word! Every statement also applies to all men who belong in either the one class or in the other. In Matthew the false prophets and in Luke the blind leaders, etc., are specimens. All are judged by the axioms that are here pronounced as is also every good man and every teacher." (ISLG) There is no good (kalos) tree which produces bad (sapros) fruit (karpos), Nor, on the other hand, a bad (sapros) tree which produces good (kalos) fruit (karpos). - The fruit produced by a tree gives clear evidence of the health of the tree.
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Lenski - This emphasis on the fruit is essential. We recognize every tree as to its excellence or its worthlessness only by its fruit; there is no other way to tell the quality and the nature of the tree. In order to make this obvious truth still more obvious Jesus illustrates by referring to figs and a ripe grape cluster (σταφυλή, the ripe grapes that make a cluster; βότρυς, the cluster itself). Are these found growing on any kind of tree or bush? For instance, do we see anybody going out to gather figs “from thornbushes”; or to harvest a fine cluster of ripe grapes “from a bramblebush” (like the one Moses saw burning, βάτος)? The idea is not only comical, it is ridiculous—and Jesus wants his hearers to catch the humor. Why do people (the subjects of the plural verbs are indefinite) do nothing like this? Because they have learned to judge every tree, bush, etc., by its fruits. Brambles and thornbushes bear no figs and grapes. So it is in the case of men. Trent Butler has an excellent comment - Use another image to get the picture. Go to the orchards. Look at the fruit trees—old trees, limbs just barely hanging on, leaves dried and withered, infested with bugs. What kind of fruit do you expect from trees like these? Then look at the strong tree—limbs rising to the sky, loaded with beautiful green leaves, no bugs in sight. What kind of fruit will you look for on these trees? Now look in the mirror again. What kind of fruit do you expect from what you see there? Do you have a spiritual mirror to look at yourself? Does God’s Word reflect back at you the kind of person you are and the kind of fruit you are bearing? You must fit some category. Fig tree or thornbush, grapevine or brier? (HNTC-Luke) Henry
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Lenski says "Only when we do what Jesus says, of course by his grace and help, is he really our Lord, and are we truly his disciples, good trees bearing good fruit. Mere prodigality in calling Jesus “Lord” is no ticket of admission to heaven." (Ibid) Jesus is Lord, and He wants our works, not words! -- Warren Wiersbe Why do you call (kaleo) Me, 'Lord, Lord (kurios) And do (poieo - present tense) not do what I say - Here Jesus gives what amounts to a warning in the form of a question. Jesus' point is that if one truly hears and heeds His words, they will experience a change in their hearts and in their attitudes and actions. He has just described bad "fruit" of those who are not genuine followers. And so His question implies they made professions of His lordship, but there is no fruit in keeping with repentance, in keeping with accepting Him as Lord. Professors who are not "doers" deceive themselves! And they are not "doers" because they lack the supernatural power (the Spirit) to obey Jesus' words. In Luke 8 we read "And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who HEAR (present tense) the word of God and DO (present tense) it.” (Lk 8:20,21+) So here we see Jesus made habitually hearing and doing the WORD more important than all human relationships! In a word they are saying Jesus is their absolute owner! But they either lie (overtly) or are self-deceived, because their actions (lifestyle) demonstrate that they are "lord" of their life, not Jesus. Lordship demands Obedience! THOUGHT - As an aside I hear Christians argue over the Lordship of Jesus and some saying they have believed but have not yet made Him Lord! Jesus is Lord. Period! We do not make Him Lord! To profess to believe and fail to obey is a false profession that will take a soul to hell. When we receive Jesus as Savior, we receive the "full package," so to speak, Jesus Christ the Lord. Paul could not have been clearer in Romans 10:9-10+ " if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Let us mark, in these verses, what an old and common sin is profession without practice -- J C Ryle He gave a more direct warning in Matthew 7 where He links the warning with the dire consequences of profession (of Jesus as Lord) without possession (not regenerate)... Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven (THIS IS "SHORTHAND" FOR THEY WILL NOT BE SAVED), but he who does (present tense = HABITUALLY = DOES NOT SPEAK OF PERFECTION BUT "GENERAL DIRECTION" OF ONE'S LIFESTYLE) the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many (THIS IS A FRIGHTENING ADJECTIVE!) will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ (NOTICE JESUS DOES NOT DISPUTE THEIR CLAIMS, SUGGESTING THEY IN FACT DID DO THESE THINGS! ANOTHER FRIGHTENING THOUGHT!) 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never (ABSOLUTELY NEVER) knew (TO KNOW JESUS IS TO BE IN THE NEW COVENANT WITH HIM) you; DEPART (A COMMAND) FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE (present tense = HABITUALLY WHICH INDICATES THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN AGAIN - THEY HAVE NO INTERNAL POWER OF THE SPIRIT TO KEEP FROM PRACTICING LAWLESSNESS! DO NOT BE DECEIVED! READ PAUL'S CLEAR WARNING - 1 Cor 6:9-10 AND CONTRAST WITH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SPIRIT INDWELLS A FORMER FORNICATOR, ETC - 1 Cor 6:11!) LAWLESSNESS (SYNONYMOUS WITH Luke's phrase here "DO NOT DO WHAT I SAY").’ (Matthew 7:21-23 - see notes Mt 7:21; 22; 23) After all is said and done, there is far more said than done. Obedience always trumps outward expression! Ye call me the "Way" and walk me not, Ye call me the "Life" and live me not, Ye call me "Master" and obey me not, If I condemn thee, blame me not. Ye call me "Bread" and eat me not, Ye call me "Truth" and believe me not, Ye call me "Lord" and serve me not, If I condemn thee, blame me not. —Geoffrey O'Hara Lord, Lord - The repetition is normally used in situations of emphasis, but Jesus' point is that even such an emphatic confession without action means nothing. The truth is their persistent profession belied their absent actions. As James writes the one who hears the Word of Truth and does not do it actually "deludes" (see paralogizomai which is in the present tense = HABITUALLY) himself (James 1:22+). Comment on delude = paralogizomai: The idea of paralogizomai is that of incorrect reckoning or reasoning, often including the idea of deliberate false reasoning for the purpose of deceiving. In mathematics, the meaning is that of miscalculation. Professing Christians who hear the Word without obeying it (cf "and do not do what I say") make a serious "spiritual miscalculation", which causes them to delude themselves. Such a man does not delude anyone but himself! In short they are self-deceived. An old Scottish expression speaks of such false Christians as “sermon tasters who never tasted the grace of God.” Beloved, you can mark it down as an immutable axion = Any response to the Gospel that does not include obedience is self-deception. See discussion of the relationship of faith and obedience. If a profession of faith in Christ does not result in a changed life that hungers and thirsts for God’s Word and God's righteousness and desires to obey that Word, the profession is only that—a mere profession. Satan, of course, loves such professions, because they give church members the damning notion that they are saved when they are not! He is still their spiritual father.