A post-Resurrection episode involving Stephen

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Like Master, like servant

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

This pattern of attack began with the Lord Jesus himself as these three encounters (below) illustrate.

About Resurrection

Have we gone offscript and are unfamiliar with God’s power.

After our Lord silenced the Sadducees on the question of resurrection the Pharisees decided that they would try to see if their attacks would fare any better. The Sadducees had thought they could muddy the hope of resurrection with ordinary marital developments. Their question was “who gets a many-times married woman to be his wife in the resurrection age?” This was probably a first rate silly question out in the open for the first time.

“Your mistake,” replied Jesus, “is due to your ignorance of the Scriptures, and of the power of God.

Matthew 22:29

What are the law’s priorities?

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Matthew 22:35-36

Though they did not know it at the time monotheism had so little to do with loving people that no neighbour of Israel was excited about become Israelite or imitating her religion. We now know that loving God wholeheartedly can quickly become a convenient cover for malice and apathy.

Identifying Messiah with a descendant of David.

Knowing that ultimately the question about Israelite destiny would come around to what authority our Lord had. The winds and waves were subject, the thoughts of men were open to him, so Yeshua did not wait for them to pose the question. He brought it up.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Matthew 22:41-46

Let us pose questions to the text. As we also learn from the birds and field lilies, let us live in one-eyed attraction to Christ. Failure to do so will result in angel worship, food and marriage barriers, and making the creature more influential than the Creator.

The satisfaction we have from getting our needs and desires met does not justify the wisdom that comes with the indwelling Christ. As long as the proceeds of prophecy, exorcism and wonderful works are still around the wisdom of God will take a back seat, being justified by her children apart from law and prophets and hirelings of all kinds.