June 28
________________________________________
GOD MOCKS HUMAN WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERSTANDING, I WILL CONFOUND.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.
– 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
________________________________________
In this letter, Paul specifies very clearly how human wisdom is not like God’s wisdom. In verse 18, he states those who are unbelievers or who do not know God are going to perish for they do not understand the wisdom of the cross of Christ, but to those who are saved, it is the most powerful thing. In verse 19, Paul clearly reiterates an Old Testament verse in Isaiah 29:14 where God destroys the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden. He seems to confront those who loves human wisdom so much such as the scribes and the debaters of his time, whose pre-occupation is to boast about how much they know. In verse 21, Paul mentions how God mocks these people who depends so much on their understanding that he deprived them of knowing God because it only understands the world. In verse 22, Paul exposes the foolishness of the Jew who seeks signs while the Greeks search for worldly wisdom. Isn’t it so ridiculous to watch these people who are blinded to think that they know many things and yet, they do not understand the cross of Christ? They rely so much on what they know that they fail to comprehend what sacrifice Jesus did on the cross for humanity. Paul gives us the reason in verse 24 why this is so. Only those elected by God would know him and all the truth that he reveals only to them. What a privilege and honor it is to be those selected by God himself to have a glimpse of his wisdom by believing Jesus Christ!
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why does God mock those who think they know and understand things?