Woe to you, blind guides… you blind fools!
There are several things that I would like to hear Jesus say to me. One is “well done, good and faithful servant.” Another thing that I would like to hear Jesus say is “you are my friend.” No where on my list of things I want to hear will you find, “woe to you blind guide… you blind fool!”
We can understand the frustration of Jesus with the Pharisees when we look at the context. At the time of Jesus, the swearing of oaths amongst the Jews was common. Jesus clearly instructed the disciples in Matthew 5:33-37 not to swear by anything, but to be truthful always so as not to need to swear.*
Knowing this, we see the Pharisees not only supporting the cultural norm of swearing, but teaching God’s people how to swear so as to avoid swearing on God yet maintain a binding, legitimate oath that could stand. They taught the people which things to swear on to “make it count.”* This was extremely foolish as an oath by nature involves evoking a deity as a witness.* Jesus makes the point that to really make an oath on anything was to implicate God.*
The Pharisees were fools and could not see it.
How often have you been guilty of attempting to find ways to work around what God has said in order to get something accomplished or to fit in? How many times have you taught others to do the same? I know that I have tried to explain away God’s Words to me both in Scripture and those words that He spoke to my heart. Sadly, I couldn’t see it and it was foolish.
Christ would like our yes to mean yes and our no to mean no. More than that, He wants us to realize that He is what makes life sacred and good. Anything worth it’s weight in this life is connected to Him as every good and perfect gift comes from the Father (James 1:17). Living with this perspective separates us from cultural norms in a way that inspires others toward Christ.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to stop swearing and start using yes and no with conviction and meaning. Perhaps God wants you to stop working around His Words. Maybe there is someone in your life that you could have been a better example to and God wants you to reach out to them with your new perspective. Maybe today God wants you to hear Him tell you that He loves you.
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.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 580-582, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 23:16–22).) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).