In a previous study we looked into what the Messiah once said about this aspect of the key of knowledge: "Woe to you learned in the Torah, because you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered" (Luke 11:52). The scribes were "experts" in teaching people the Torah, stripped of the vital aspects of true understanding, fear and love of Yahweh. We saw that one of the "keys" that they most clearly withheld from the people of Yisrael, was the key knowledge of the importance of the Name of Yahweh.

It is most interesting to note that it has always been an established pattern in most societies that people of power (especially: people in positions of religious power) act as final decision makers as to what is necessary and beneficial for ordinary people to know and to learn, and what is not. In the book, Secret Societies, Nesta Webster wrote the following: "Whilst religious leaders such as Buddha and Mohammed sought for divine knowledge in order that they might impart it to the world, they believed that sacred mysteries should not be revealed to the profane but should remain exclusively in their own keeping." Manley Hall’s book Secret Teaching Of All Ages states the following about Isis, the goddess of Egypt: "She reveals her wisdom only to the tried and the initiated few who have earned the right to enter her sacred presence…". Hall says the same kind of thing about the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church: "The gold and silver keys of the Almighty’s Vicar on Earth, the Pope, symbolises this secret doctrine which, when properly understood, unlocks the treasure chest of (knowledge)." Along the same lines, Alexander Hislop writes in his book The Two Babylons. "they (the priests) had the true tradition by which the writs and symbols of the public religion could be interpreted; and without blind and implicit submission to them [the priests], what was necessary for salvation could not be known."

Against this background, what Y'shua said about the scribes, should not come to us as a surprise. There is a very strong and consistent tradition – even noticeable in our day - whereby people of religious authority take it as their duty and responsibility to exercise control over what other people believe. It all boils down to a complete misinterpretation and abuse of the concept of the "key of knowledge" that Messiah referred to. In the very early stages of the Messianic movement this abuse can already be seen - among other examples, in the way the apostles like Yahuchanan and Kepha were treated when they witnessed in the Name of Y'shua. "But when they (the rulers, elders and scribes) commanded them to go aside out of the council, they consulted with one another, saying, What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that an outstanding miracle has been done through them is apparent to all those dwelling in Yerushalayim, and we are unable to deny it. But in order that it spreads no further among the people, let us strongly threaten them, to speak no more to anyone in this Name. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach in the Name of Y'shua. But Kepha and Yahuchanan answering them, said, Whether it is right in the sight of Elohim to listen to you more than to Elohim, you judge. For it is impossible for us not to speak of what we saw and heard." (Acts 4:15-20). Notice how the members of the council tried to manipulate even the way in which the apostles chose to share their belief with others. The response of the apostles ("It is impossible for us not to speak of what we saw and heard") is a clear indication that we, too, should not allow others to prevent us from true obedience to Yahweh’s Word.

An interesting aspect of the way in which Scriptures treat the subject of knowledge, is the fact that it is inseparably connected with the Name of Yahweh. The root of the word "knowledge" in Hebrew is "yadah" which means to know intimately – with understanding and by experience. This is virtually impossible if one rejects (or even just downplays) the Name of the One out of whose mouth come knowledge and understanding (Mishleh 2:6) – the same One who is perfect in knowledge (Job 37:16). Here are just a few passages to confirm this all important fact.