For I bare them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Romans 10:2
The founder of the al-Qaida terrorist group, Osama bin Laden, was responsible for the deaths of many thousands of people, both directly as a participant in various attacks and indirectly as the mastermind behind some of the worst terrorist attacks in history. Most of bin Laden’s victims were innocent people who were killed or maimed as part of bombing operations. It would be difficult to find a more cruel, bloodthirsty, and evil man in all the world. He rejoiced in the suffering and misery he created, as long as it advanced his vile cause. And yet, if we were to study the life of this despicable man, we would find him to be deeply religious, entirely devoted to his extreme application of Mohammedanism. Every action he took, every speech he made, all were based on his desire to be faithful to what his religious beliefs were. He was even more zealous for his false god than the Jews that Paul refers to in our text. He is a prime example of how misguided zeal is wrong.
Unlike Mohammedans such as bin Laden, who follow the satanic rantings of an evil prophet, the Jews at least have the record of the Old Testament law and prophets on their side. Many of the Jews knew the law and prophets well, and committed much of the Old Testament to memory, and were very zealous about learning more and following the teachings of Moses and the prophets. So why would Paul say their zeal was not according to knowledge? Because they failed to recognize that much of the Scriptures in which they took such pride were speaking of the One they had rejected and crucified. The Lord Jesus Himself told them to search the Scriptures, for in them ye think he have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me (John 5:39). They missed the whole point of the Scriptures, so their zeal was misplaced. We need to be careful that we don’t get caught up in the same mistake.
We know it is good for Christians to have zeal. It is exciting to see young Christians, for example, willing and eager to give out Seed Sowers texts and Gospel meeting invitations. It is good to hear Christians lifting their voices in vibrant praise to our Lord. It is good to see Christian parents putting forth extra efforts to get their children out to Gospel meetings. There are many ways in which we can be appropriately zealous for God. But sometimes, we get so involved in maintaining the status quo that we fail to take advantages of doors that God opens for us. We need to be careful that the rules we make and enforce are not built up to a greater importance than the Word of God and the Saviour Whom the Word portrays.
Zeal that is according to Scriptural knowledge is what our Lord is looking for in us today. -Jim MacIntosh