Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger…”
Though Jesus previously took time to sober the Pharisees, in this passage, Jesus intends less to tear down the scribes and Pharisees and more to warn Christians of common pitfalls to the Christian life.*
It’s easy as Christians to see and label others as not good enough. The Pharisees carried the burden of teaching the things of Moses, and, as Jesus pointed out, failed to apply this teaching to their own lives.*
I fear that my ability to see the lack in other’s lives cries out in testimony against my inability to see the lack in my own life. I must admit that the words I teach those around me supply a standard that I also fail to achieve.
In the leadership buzz of our generation, good leaders are described as people who go first, not asking those that follow them to do what they are not willing to do themselves. Jesus would support this idea in this situation. The Pharisees should have gone first in living out the life that they demanded that others live.
Christ invites each of us to live a life empowered by the Spirit. He lived this life first, and He invites us to follow Him. He does not burden us in the same way that the Pharisees did. Jesus invites us to, “come and follow Me.”
What if we invited those we see struggling to follow us as we follow Christ rather than demanding that they try harder? What if we invited them into conversation rather than sitting on the sideline in silent criticism?
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to live what you have been preaching. Perhaps God wants you to extend grace to others as He knows that you need grace extended to you. Maybe He would have you see the areas of your life that need improvement. Perhaps today He wants you to follow Him down the path of a new way.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 568–574, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 23:1–4).) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).