“You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God.” Matthew 22:29
When Jesus walked on earth, His greatest opposition came from the religious leaders of his day—the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Though both groups were deeply committed to God’s Word, they had lost their way. The Pharisees added layer upon layer of human tradition, equating their rules with the authority of the scripture. Jesus confronted them directly, saying, “You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down” Mark 7:13. Their traditions had become a barrier to the true heart of God’s Word.
In contrast, the Sadducees rejected much of the scripture, denying supernatural truths like the resurrection, angels, and the afterlife. “For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both” Acts 23:8. They embraced only the first five books of the Bible, disregarding the richness of God’s full revelation. In doing so, they stripped away essential truths about the power of God and the promises of eternity. Paul said, they “Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:5
Neither the Pharisees nor the Sadducees understood that Jesus was the very fulfillment of God’s Word. He didn’t fit into their neatly defined boxes. His authority was from the Father, and He lived in perfect alignment with the scriptures. It didn’t take long for their suspicion to turn into hostility, and together, they sought to put Him to death.
This story isn’t just a historical account—it’s a mirror for us today. Many in contemporary Christianity have fallen into the same traps. Some have added man-made traditions to the gospel—rituals, programmes, and systems that drown out the living voice of Christ. Others have neglected the powerful practices and truths that were central to the early church. They’ve stripped away the vibrant, Spirit-led life that made the early believers so radically different.
But there’s hope. The solution is simple: we need to return to the pure, untainted model of the first-century church, the one that was centred on Jesus Christ as both the Head and the very life of the church. Jesus isn’t just our Saviour—He is the model for how we live, how we worship, and how we fellowship. Paul urges us to follow his example as he follows Christ’s (1 Corinthians 11:1). The church is called the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) because it’s meant to reflect Him in the world. When we add to His Word or subtract from it, we distort that image.
So, let’s examine our own lives. Have we allowed traditions or rituals to take precedence over the voice of Christ? Have we ignored or neglected the simple yet powerful practices that brought the early church to life—fellowship, shared participation, and reliance on the Holy Spirit? Jesus calls us to follow Him, to live as He lived, and to be the expression of His love and truth on earth. The early church was called a fellowship. They sprang up in homes, and everyone was responsible for its well-being. (Acts 2:42–47). How did we miss it? The Bible says, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.’” Matthew 22:29
Jesus, forgive us for the times we’ve added to your Word or taken away from it. We want to live according to your design for your church—simple, Spirit-led, and full of life. Help us to walk in the fullness of your Word, to honour you above all else, and to be the true body of Christ in a world that desperately needs to see you. Amen.
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Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk