There are so many things going on this time of year, it’s hard to find time for everything. In fact, it’s possible to become so focused on some good things that we actually lose our joy for the others. Maybe that’s what happened here…
The Pharisees seem to have wandered off topic in their religious practices. They are more concerned with praise and being treated well than they are with giving praise and honor to God. I suppose it could happen to anyone, really. And unless I miss my guess, I think that if it isn’t corrected, we begin to lose our joy, then we become cynical, our prayer life is affected, our love for others becomes shallow, we lack patience, compassion….and all the time other things begin to grow in our lives…like weeds in a garden. Anger, selfishness, greed, pride. While the fruit of the Spirit dies on the vine, the evidence of satan’s influence grows stronger.
Jesus cuts right to the heart of the matter in His pronouncement of “woe” on the Pharisees. I know there are seven woes here, but I could only find 6! That’s because in the NLT the 14th verse is omitted, which pronounces “woe” as well. I guess the earliest manuscripts don’t have that verse.
Some say there are 6 woes in the parallel passage in Luke 11, and 8 in this passage in Matthew. The exact number isn’t nearly as important as the fact that the religious leaders have wandered so far away from the truth that they don’t recognize the God they are supposed to be serving when He is standing right in front of them.
Sometimes our religious practices make it harder for people to encounter Jesus. Doesn’t that sound wrong? It should. Without thinking too much about it, we discourage those who have addictions from becoming involved. The person who smokes is often frowned upon, the ones who wear clothing too revealing are either whispered about or asked to change. The coarse language brings a shocked expression or a frown of disapproval. At the same time those who say the right things and dress in the right way are accepted, sometimes even before we know the extent of their relationship with Jesus. I have often said “it’s possible to fool me. You won’t have much trouble making it look like you are a devout follower around me once a week…but you can’t fool God. He knows the truth.”
I think sometimes we even fool ourselves. We get so distracted by some things that we miss the more important ones. For instance, I really want to think about what signs and wonders will accompany the end of the age, and when will the rapture be, and how long will it be from now until then? But the more important question… the one that I dare not forget to contemplate while I muse about these other things, is “how am I relating to God and His people?” Am I teaching truth to my flock and my family? Am I making it difficult to accept and foster a relationship with Christ? Am I focusing on the Church more than the Lord? (sometimes the building and the programs “demand” a great deal of time….it’s possible to become distracted).
Are we keeping the relationship with Jesus as the “main thing” that identifies us? If so, all the other things like programs and the like will fall into place, or will fall off the side. Either way, they aren’t important anyway. In fact, if they become a temptation to distraction they are actually dangerous rather than helpful.
I am thankful today that I have wonderful group of people around me that help me stay focused, and who work hard to remain focused themselves. I celebrate their humility and sacrifice, and eagerly desire to become just like them. They are encouragers, servants and warriors. I am fortunate to serve alongside so many of them.
Faithfully,
PR