But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” – Matthew 22:29

“You are wrong”. Do we ever like hearing these words? These days it seems rare. It would be politically incorrect to say some one or something could be wrong. Words like “correction, rebuke and discipline” are common Biblical phrases that seem less applicable today. When someone tells us we are wrong we become defensive. We immediately want to prove that we are right. We take correction as an attack on our personality or way of life. How could we be wrong? And who has the right to judge me?
My ten year old son (soon to be eleven!), Caleb, is reading Proverbs everyday right now. It is a book of wisdom. According to Proverbs, much of wisdom comes from how we receive correction and discipline. Do we reject it? Deny it? Or, do we learn from it? Though it is a good message for the young student to learn, this book is not limited to children. It is just as true for adults. We struggle with admitting our faults and receiving correction. I will admit that correction poorly handled can do more damage than good. But, it is essential for God’s people to be open with their own fallibility if we are to continue learning about God. How can a man/woman of God grow if they are not able to hear the other side?
The fact of the matter is we are in a world that has gone wrong and we have had a hand in creating the mess. Remembering Jesus words to the Sadducees we should not be quick to point at them for being wrong. Instead, we should heed the correction of our Savior to seek to understand the Scriptures and the powerful God who breathed them. He calls us to continually let God be the one who shapes us. Repentance teaches us to say, “I am wrong”. The sacrifice of Christ has given us all a second chance. It is out of his mercy that he has shown us the way of righteousness.