Not As They Do
Not As They Do
41 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Matthew 23:1-3
Something was wrong with the church. The leaders were in the seat of Moses and taught but did not follow their own words. We must always remember that the church is made of sinful and fallen people. Leaders will make mistakes and anyone who puts their salvation or hope on any man, even a religious leader, is doomed to be disappointed. Our faith must be on Christ alone.
4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
Matthew 23:4-5
It’s easy to make laws, traditions and beliefs. It’s easy to tell others how to live. It’s harder to live by those same rules, but know this, you will be judged by the rules and laws you put on others. Even with verses like these, it’s easy to point a finger up to the leaders but don’t forget your own sins. The sinless fallen nature is in all, leaders and not.
Here Jesus points towards a very specific sin, that of doing or working not for the true good but to be seen. Pride is the original sin and one that pervades the world and the church. It can take something good and poison it. It is like taking something precious, like a pearl, and throwing it to the swine. This is especially true now in our world where everything is recorded and selfied. If you won’t do something unless there’s an eye or a camera on you, be very careful. A once perfect angel fell from heaven with the same mind.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto