“Woe unto you, lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in you hindered”, said Jesus to the lawyers of Israel. Although these words were meant for the lawyers of the people of Israel, Jesus could speak the same words to many leaders, who are appointed in churches. Because many people, who call themselves apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers have taken away the key of knowledge.
The lawyers had taken away the key of knowledge
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered (Luke 11:52)
Jesus spoke these words to the lawyers; the interpreters and teachers of the Mosaic law. Jesus said, that the lawyers had taken away the key of knowledge. Because although they belonged to God’s people and had carnal knowledge of the law of Moses, they didn’t possess the knowledge of God.
And although they were teachers of the law and were familiar with all the laws of God and apparently knew all these laws by head, they didn’t know God and were not acquainted with the will of God, since they lived in disobedience to Him.
They didn’t love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength and didn’t walk in His ways, because otherwise, Jesus wouldn’t have spoken these words, which He received from the Father.
But Jesus, who they saw as an unskilled son of a carpenter, who didn’t hold a high position in society, did speak these words to them.
These lawyers, who were supposed to represent God and His Kingdom to His people, represented themselves.
They held high positions in society and were respected by the people and they considered themselves superior above the people and had set themselves as gods in the temple.
They thought they possessed the key of knowledge and to be the key of knowledge to the people, but Jesus brought the truth into the light and exposed the lies of these lawyers, whose minds were darkened and who walked in darkness.
A key provides access
A key has value and provides access to a.o., a house, building, means of transportation (car, (motor)bike, boat, etc.), a safe, (computer) programs, etc. The keeper of the key has the power to open and shut*. Without a key, a person can’t get access and is hindered to enter and/or making use of something. This also applies to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus spoke about the key of knowledge, since the lawyers supposed to possess the knowledge of God and His will and His Kingdom, whereby they not only themselves would walk in submission to God and His words, according to this knowledge and live in the will of God, but also the people, whom they taught in the temple.
Many leaders have exalted themselves above God and have taken away the key of knowledge
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteths in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
And just like in the days of Jesus the lawyers had taken away the key of knowledge, many leaders, who are appointed in churches have exalted themselves above God and have taken away the key of knowledge and hinder those, who are seeking to enter (Read also: ‘The similarities between the leaders of God’s people then and now‘ and ‘The difference between Jesus and the religious leaders‘)
Instead of representing Jesus Christ and His Kingdom and preaching the truth and will of God and speaking His words, they represent themselves and preach lies by speaking their own words, opinions, and experiences and by making their own rules and regulations.
Many are not born again in Christ; they haven’t laid down their flesh and their spirit is not raised from the dead and they have not received the Holy Spirit, but they are still carnal and are led by their flesh and the ruler and spirits of this world.
They might possess great knowledge of the Bible, but as long as they are not born again in Christ and don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; the Word and God the Father through the Holy Spirit and if the Word of God is not the highest authority in their lives, then all their knowledge of the Bible doesn’t mean a thing and has no value, but only makes them prideful and puffed up.
How can someone who is not born again in Christ and has not received the Holy Spirit, preach about regeneration in Christ and the Holy Spirit? How can someone, who has not entered the Kingdom of God and doesn’t live in the Kingdom of God, represent, preach and bring the Kingdom of God to the people? And how can someone, who lives in sin, call others to repentance and the removal of sin? Exactly, that’s impossible!
That’s why the message has changed and the people don’t preach the words of God and His truth anymore, but have adjusted the truth of God and mixed the words of God with their own opinions and carnal knowledge, which derive from their carnal mind, which is fed by the world. And so they preach their own carnal truths.
A manmade gospel, which is not a gospel
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6-9)
Many preachers, who have become motivational speakers, and prophets have risen, who don’t speak, prophecy and act from the spirit, which is controlled by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word, but from their flesh and preach another gospel, which is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Instead of preaching the gospel of Christ, they have perverted the gospel of Christ and made the gospel of no effect and put Him to shame.
Since the gospel they preach and practice doesn’t lead to (spiritual) freedom but to (spiritual) bondage and submission to the flesh and the spirits of this world.
Instead of setting the captives free, the people are led into captivity.
This gospel doesn’t call the people to repentance and the removal of sin and to lay down the flesh, but this gospel feeds the flesh and keeps the flesh alive and calls the people to rebellion and to sin against God and to not love God, but to love the world.
And because they want to please the flesh and don’t preach the truth of God anymore but preach a manmade gospel, they have taken away the key of knowledge, and instead of leading the people to the true Jesus Christ and get them born again in Him, they lead them to the world, whereby many people, who are seeking are hindered to enter the Kingdom of God and inherit eternal life.
Many Christians have taken away the key of knowledge
But not only many leaders, who are appointed in churches have taken away the key of knowledge, but also many believers, who claim to be Christians and call Jesus their Lord and maybe possess a lot of Bible knowledge, but don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Word and refuse to submit to the Word and obey the Word and live according to the will of God.
They could be the access to the Kingdom of God and eternal life for many people, by preaching Jesus Christ; the Truth, the Way, and the Life and calling the people to repentance and by living as the new man, son of God, in obedience to God after His will.
But because many people don’t know Jesus Christ personally and are not truly born again and don’t have the Holy Spirit abiding in them and have not entered the Kingdom of God, but belong to the world and are world-like and carnally minded and live the same lives like the world, acting according to the will of the flesh, they also have taken away the key of knowledge.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
Source: Thayer’s dictionary
