I am just talking in plain English, here. A very long time ago I was reading through my bible (Just reading all of it) and saw how mad Jesus was at the Pharisees. (see Luke 11) and I thought “How can I avoid being like that?” I thought about it deeply (I kind of felt sorry for them). I realized okay they knew God’s word but they did not KNOW God and they did not personally understand how the word applied to them, Personally. 
They didn’t get why God even sent his word! They missed the heart of the matter, entirely. (HIs Love!). Because they did not know him (or his love) they used God’s word to beat people down. They were so set in their ways, they thought Jesus (the son of God) was a blashemer for healing people (and setting them free). Oh they were full of pride! My goodness sake! And it could happen to anyone (you, even me) if we are not careful. 
So That’s when I started saying “I need you to make your Word Real to me Father. “if you don’t” I said, I can never be a witness for you.” I saw that everyone is supposed to be a witness. (Who is Christian). Now I ask you, how can he make his Word real to you if you do not experience NEEDING HIM For something? I”m sorry about the trials but that’s where we learn MORE of who he is (to us) personally.
Love you all! Let’s not be Pharisees. 
-Laura
Luke 11:46-54 46Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. 47“Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. 52“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” 53When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54waiting to catch him in something he might say.
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They thought of themselves as Abraham’s children. And by being his physical lineage, they thought they had salvation in the bag. I believe both Jesus and John the Baptist told them that God was able to raise up seed of Abraham through rocks. He called them a generation of vipers. Because they were spreading a deadly doctrine by word and deed.
Just exactly like how people are adhering to denominational doctrines and smiling faces on Bible apps today.
True Jews were/are those who hear the word of God and keep it to heart.
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Good Point! Thank you 🙂
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