Religious sinners
“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.”
Matthew 23:2-4 (NRSV)
Matthew 23 records one of Jesus’ characteristic, fiery, critiques of the Pharisees, taking aim at their religious pride in being seen in sacred clothing and given prominent places in society. He continues for eight more verses. It’s tame compared with some other diatribes but throughout Jesus’ ministry, his strongest words were for those who claimed to be religious leaders. He is direct and blunt with them. Why is this?
Perhaps it was because these religious leaders were so familiar with theology and sacred practice that they ignored Jesus’ message. Jesus, in some sense, turns up the volume to get their attention.
Note that the Pharisees, by any measure we could come up with, were devout. Really disciplined people. They were morally pure, ethically flawless; they tithed meticulously and helped the poor. They knew their scriptures (the Old Testament) better than any of us ever will.
Jesus’ message for them—and for all of us—is that we all need the re-creating Spirit in us. The Law can’t do it, even when followed to the letter. The heart needs to be replaced and reborn. Even these ‘good guys’ had their sins—hypocrisy, pride, judgmentalism. They needed healing just as much as the non-religious people that they looked down on. We find that Jesus comforted and wept with the obvious sinners; it was the refined, educated, religious sinners that made him angry.
Have you ever asked, what is it that might make Jesus scream out today? I suggest it’s when we put religion over relationship: when we start to think that what we know is more important than who we know—and who knows us. When we believe we have it right and others have it wrong. When we stop thinking we need healing.
Prayer
Merciful Father, you transform lives through Jesus. And that fills us with hope because, just as you healed and transformed in the past, so you heal and transform us today. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen
Study presented by Greg Williams
Taken from ‘Speaking of Life,’ (https://www.gci.org/videos/media-speaking-of-life/), a public resource video on the USA website of Grace Communion International.
Greg Williams is President of Grace Communion International and lives in North Carolina, USA.
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