Pierced

Acts 7:51–53 (NKJV)

51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

In our previous study we came to the conclusion that in the fulfillment of Christ’s death there is no longer a need for a Temple, a sacrifice, or a weekly Sabbath. All those things from the old form are done away in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, who was and is, the embodiment of the Word and Old Covenant of death, has transitioned us into a new form of worship based on two laws and two sacraments; that illustrate His life, death, and resurrection. The two laws are love for God and for neighbor and the two sacraments are communion and baptism (1Cor.11:26;Rom.6:4;Col.2:12;1Pet.3:21). As often as we do these things in remembrance of Him we are illustrating the gospel and applying it to our lives fulfilling the law (Rom.13:8,10;Gal.5:14). In summary, Stephen’s whole rebuttal leads to the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of David and the Messiah that the Covenant promised.

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Stephen has made the case that the fathers of Israel have rejected the voice of God and have not been penetrated by the Spirit of the Law. He has also made the case that ethic Israel has only been circumcised in the flesh and not in heart. He is not referencing the remnant of Israel who have been saved by grace through faith, but he is charging the present leadership with the same failure of the fathers of the nation. This was a double condemnation by Stephen in that the fathers resisted both the Law of God and the Messiah of God. The first phrase, “stiff-necked,” alludes to Israel’s lack of repentance. When someone turns or changes directions, the first thing one does is turn their neck around to see where they are turning. But you must first perceive that you are going in the wrong direction. The next phrase deals with why Israel was not able to perceive the destruction that was coming upon them. The phrase, “Uncircumcised in heart and ears,” was what Stephen used to show them why they were resisting the Holy Spirit. They did not have a heart or the ears to hear the Word of God. Their hearts were seared by self-will and self-assurance. They really thought keeping the law of God was the means of His favor and acceptance. They did not know the Scripture or the power of God (Mk.12:24). Until the calloused and hard skin is removed from their heart (circumcised), the Word of God will not penetrate them and lead them to repentance.

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, . . .

I am not going to get into the persecution of the prophets, but we can agree with Stephen that all the prophets sent by God to Israel suffered some form of persecution. Those prophets that spoke much of the promise of the Messiah were killed or imprisoned like Jeremiah. But Stephen wants the Sanhedrin to notice that they themselves have betrayed and murdered the Just One. My pastor has been preaching through Luke and has come to the burial of Christ. In his study today, he mentioned Zechariah’s prophesy of Israel’s repentance.

Zechariah 12:10–11 (NKJV)

10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

Indeed, the Spirit will penetrate Israel. The Spirit of the holy Law will show them that they murdered the innocent. It was the Jews who offered the Messiah as a sacrifice to the Romans to keep the peace in the land (Jn.11:49, 50); only they didn’t understand this was God’s offering to grant them eternal life. In the providence of God it was not the time of Israel’s repentance, but that did not keep Stephen from preaching the Lord Jesus. What we need to see in Zechariah’s prophesy is that this gift of repentance will be given to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. No matter how my Amill and Postmill friends spiritualize this text, it clearly singles out the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This is not talking about Gentiles who have been made partakers of the commonwealth of Israel. However, in a broad sense, it is talking about us all, as sinners. We all have pierced Christ with our sin and broken His heart causing His death. It was for sinners that He died and rose again. It should cause us to grieve that we have all murdered God with our sin.

Dr. W. Stroud (Physical Cause of the Death of Christ) argues that this fact proves that the spear pierced the left side of Jesus near the heart and that Jesus had died literally of a broken heart since blood was mixed with water. [Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 19:34). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.

Notice what this medical doctor emphasizes about the meaning of the blood and water. The literal cause of death was a broken heart cavity. While Stephen is expressing fury for their lack of repentance; Christ wept for them with a broken heart because He loved them. Listen to the compassion in His voice.

Luke 13:34 (NKJV)

34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

Luke 23:34 (NKJV)

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

The guilt and shame for the murder of Christ has been laid upon the Sanhedrin. It was their self-will that prevented them from being willing to come to Christ. Christ’s love did not penetrate their hard hearts. Zechariah is directly applying this Scripture to them. The sad news, as we will see, is that the high counsel remains blind; and only their children from a future generation will receive the repentance of their father’s sin. Just as they murdered Christ and the prophets, they too, will murder Stephen for his rebuke of their sin. They continue to harden their hearts against the truth and mercy of God. But the good news that Zechariah gives us is that Israel will look upon whom they have pierced.

But what about you? Have you seen what your sin has done to the King and Savior of the world? Have you looked upon the one you pierced with your sin? Have you repented? Have you hardened your heart away from God’s law and grace? Have you betrayed Him with false worship? Have you offered your own works as the means of acceptance with God? Do you think God is pleased with your performance or with His Son’s? Has the Law penetrated your heart to reveal your sin? Has the love of God resurrected your assurance in Him? Do you know God? Rather, does God know you? You see, that is where the Jews failed. They thought they knew God, but were not willing to see how God knows them, as sinners.

. . . who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

Listen to Stephen’s tone as he increases in the wonder of their ignorance. Israel had the Law, the prophets, and even God in the body of Jesus Christ; and were not able to see that they have not kept the Law. Self-righteousness is what has blinded these men. The father’s received the special revelation by the direction of angels and were considered to be a special people above all the other nations but have not kept it. They had all the privileges and have robbed God of His glory. Stephen has a right to scold them. They are without excuse having the Scriptures that leads to life. Because they were chosen as a special people, they are also under a stricter judgment.

Is that you? Do you have the privilege of having a Bible containing both Testaments of God’s story? Stephen is also talking to YOU! Stephen has singled YOU out! Stephen has not only made his case with Israel but has now made his case with YOU! Don’t look to your neighbor’s sin. Have you seen yourself in GOD’S mirror? Be honest, you have not kept God’s law. You have been laid low and have faced the dust from which you were made. But God has also breathed His love upon YOU! Have you been enabled to receive it? Did you hear how you have broken His heart with sin? Jesus has become sin and taken your judgment. This is the Father’s offering to you! The Father has so loved the world that He gave His Son to be crushed by our sin. It has pleased the Father for your sake and for His infinite glory!

Isaiah 53:10 (NKJV)

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When you make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

Is Christ your offering to God? Until Christ is your offering the Father will not see YOU as His seed and prolong your days on the earth. Do you want to honor the Father and live long in the land? Turn to whom you have pierced and honor His sacrifice; and the Father shall see you in Him and will be pleased!