“And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart” (Mark 3:5 ESV).
The Pharisees brought out the full range of emotion from our Lord Jesus. When He tried to show them the spirit of the Sabbath, they clung to the letter of the law, even that which they themselves had added to it. He asked them a simple question, one that begged a correct response. He asked whether the law permitted good on the Sabbath or evil? They wouldn’t reply. So, he put the man with the withered hand before the whole assembly in the synagogue and healed him. The man and his family rejoiced. But the Pharisees left angry, plotting with the Herodians, whom they normally hated, to plan the killing of Jesus.
This occasion caused conflicting emotions in Jesus. He was both angry and sad. Angry at the sinful pride that wouldn’t answer His question. And grieved at the hard hearts that wouldn’t listen.
Remember how the apostle Paul warned the Ephesian believers not to “grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph. 4:30) by their uncontrolled anger and lack of grace and reconciliation towards one another? It grieves the Spirit of Christ to see hard heartedness in His people.
What does Jesus see in your heart today? Is He grieved by your hard heart?
PRAYER: Lord, examine our hearts and reveal Your feelings about what You see in us. We repent of anything that does not cause You joy in us. Where we are stubborn, make us patient and willing. Where we are hard, make us tender and open. We would have hearts that beat with Your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.