“And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” Luke 13:16.

People claim to know God, but when given the chance to describe Him, they misunderstand who God is. The synagogue leader was criticizing Jesus for healing a woman on the Sabbath. Highlighting the religious leader's strict interpretation of the Sabbath, he believed Jesus disregarded the law and preferred mercy and healing over it. Interestingly, people still misunderstand the true nature of God today. Some of the misunderstandings are.

1. That God cares about the Law than Love and Compassion

The synagogue leader expected Jesus to prioritize the law over love and compassion, but he was disappointed. In no way am I saying that God’s standards or commands can be compromised to fashion. God and His standards do not change. But you cannot use them as excuse for not showing love and compassion. You cannot use religious rules to keep people from doing what is right. Matthew 12:7 “ But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless ” .

2. That God administers neither consequences nor executes judgment for sin.

There are preachers who say that God will never condemn anyone or judge anyone because of sin. What a big misunderstanding! God is perfect and Holy and will not let the guilty go unpunished. To be free from His eternal condemnation, as written in John 3:18, you’re given a chance for a turning from sin by repentance and faith to Jesus Christ.

3. That Jesus Christ promised the coming of another prophet after Him.

This viewpoint is a predominant belief from a popular religion. They misunderstood the savior’s statement in John 14:15-17 by attributing it to the coming of another prophet. It is disheartening, because they did not follow through to vs 17 where Jesus said ‘‘ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you .’’ This verse talks about the Holy Spirit. Besides, their prophet does not dwell in them and do not have the characters of the Holy Spirit. God’s intention for the Holy Spirit dwelling in us is to show the meaning of Jesus to each new generation, keep the memory of Jesus' teachings, life and action, etc. Their prophet does not perform these functions. They misunderstood God.