Under The Olive Tree

“Today’s special is………tolerance”

When you read the Gospels you rarely find Jesus expressing truth in list form. There are a few instances where Jesus does make something of a list in His expression of a certain idea. One of, or perhaps we should say, the most famous or well known, are the Beatitudes - “Blessed are ye……”To find lists of behavior we usually go to the Epistles - and even there the lists are infrequent - but they are more common.”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance - against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:20,21

In this same chapter of Galatians you can find another list - one on the works of the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkeness, revellings, and such like;” Gal 5:19-21a

First of all - do you personally even understand what most or all of these are? Probably not.

You probably do understand a few of these - and they are most likely the ones most repeated from the pulpit - adultery, fornication, witchcraft, hatred, murders and drunkeness.

You probably also know what Idolatry is - but you won’t hear that one decried as often from the pulpits - seeing that we live in a nation of idol worshipers.

But what is variance or seditions?

And is this the complete list?

Are there more?

Which list in the Bible is the most important and complete? Is it the Ten Commandments? Do I have to keep all the lists faithfully to be saved?

Who then can be saved?

“For if there had been a law which could have given life - verily righteousness should have been by the law.” Gal 3:21 “Ye that desire to keep the law, have ye read the law?” (paraphrase of Gal. 4:21)

So why then the lists?

I believe that the Apostle - with his enumerations, was trying to illustrate the quality, the texture, the character, the color, the smell & the sights & sounds of the works of the flesh or the fruits of the Spirit - not categorize them for adherence.

In fact - in one instance, a certain action could be a “work of the flesh” - and under different circumstances the same action could be a manifestation of the “fruits of the Spirit.”

It is a matter of judgement; and righteous judgement depends on a keen insight into all the various aspects of an action - which include motive, circumstances, ramifications - all the many aspects or facets - the ripples formed by the pebble tossed through the undisturbed surface of tranquil waters.

Take “tolerance” for example.