Luke 16:14-18 - Cherry Picking the Word of God

Playing basketball in eighth grade PE there was always that one kid who would stay down on the offensive end of the court positioned under his own goal just waiting for the ball so he could easily score. We had a name for that guy. He was a cherry picker. He wouldn’t do the hard work of hustling back on defense, yet he’d get all the fun of scoring baskets. 

Cherry picking is choosing and taking only that which is most beneficial or profitable. It’s usually done for personal gain. You might take the biggest slice of pizza, the one with the most pepperoni and cheese. Or, you might cherry pick facts to bolster your argument, ignoring opposing data. 

As we continue reading in our salvation story, Jesus calls out the Pharisees for cherry picking God’s word. They chose to obey certain parts of the Law, especially the parts that made themselves look good before others, while ignoring other, more important parts. In the issue of divorce, they even perverted God’s word for their own convenience. However, all of God’s word, every single part, matters. Don’t cherry pick God’s word. Allow all of it to challenge and change you.