Beware of Legalistic interpretations of Scripture:

(Try to understand what Jesus means, rather than analyzing his word like a lawyer....
sometimes He is trying to get us to understand with our heart a little bit... v.s. thinking with our mind)

"When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. ‘Be careful,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ They discussed this among themselves and said, ‘It is because we didn’t bring any bread.’ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, ‘You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand .... (He had just finished multiplying the food - out of five loaves He fed 5,000 people ... why would the disciples think He was talking about a lack of bread. If they needed more Jesus could produce it.) . . . How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ Then they understood that He was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Matthew 16:5

Nicodemus steps in at a meeting of the religious leaders and defends Jesus, "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee." (John 8:50) They totally rejected Jesus as being the long awaited Messiah because (one reason) they knew he grew up in Nazareth and they read that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem. Since they could not logically resolve this apparent contradiction they rejected Jesus. They never dreamed that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and moved to Nazareth to grow up.

"The disciples asked him, ‘Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus replied, ‘To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. . . Then the disciples understood that He was talking to them about John the Baptist." (Matt 17:11)

Can this same principle be applied to appearances instead of just words?
"Now that same day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles walk from Jerusalem. . . As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him. . . ( after talking with Him extensively ... ) When He was at table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight." Is Jesus trying to get us to recognize Him by His presence and character rather than appearances? (Luke 24:13,20)

Questions? Comments? Email me at ChrisSarris@hotmail.com