Practicing What We Preach

Day 226: Matthew 23

Wow. Matthew 23 was very eye-opening for me. I mentioned in a previous post that Jesus really gets on to the religious leaders because of their hypocritical ways, but in this chapter, wow, he is harsh. He tells the people and his disciples that they should follow the teachings of the religious leaders and the Pharisees but that they shouldn't follow their example because they don't practice what they preach. They are hypocritical--appearing to follow the laws but in reality being hateful and despicable. Jesus argues that the Pharisees and the religious leaders are clean and pretty on the outside, but their hearts are filthy and dirty.

And what will their punishment be? According to Jesus, sorrow awaits them. He says this phrase over and over again. He even says that these religious people will be held responsible for the deaths of all godly people OF ALL TIME (v. 35), including Abel who was killed by Cain. Wow. Jesus is serious about one thing: he wants us to practice what we preach.

Of course it's easy to think, "Those Pharisees. Those hypocrites." and not to see ourselves in them at all. But it is the religious people Jesus is addressing here and it would do people who consider themselves religious to consider how we might be like these people Jesus condemns. Are we hypocritical? Do we want others to see our good deeds, even though our hearts are evil and hateful inside? Do we have unpure motives? How are we like the Pharisees? What might Jesus be saying to us?

For me, he's reminding me that purity begins in the heart. Outward deeds that are good do not mean that they come from a pure heart, and a pure, clean heart is really what God wants from us. He doesn't expect perfection by any means, but he does expect us to practice what we preach--not to deceive and be hypocritical. This lesson is one we've heard over and over in our lives, but it's obviously a very important one to implement. The kingdom is at stake when we don't practice what we preach, and for unbelieving people, hypocrites are what they simply find unbelievable.

More about Jesus

Day 217: Matthew 11

Jesus is a true teacher: he gives instructions to his "pupils" (apostles) and then he goes out to teach and preach. He instructs and directs and then he goes back to his business of teaching and preaching to the masses. Jesus views both parts as important--teaching his apostles and preaching and teaching to the whole group. Food for thought.
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The following passage  is a winner in my book (11:28-20, NLT):

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus wants to give us rest. He wants to take all our burdens away from us and bring peace, rest, and contentment to our lives. His words provide evidence of what an amazing man Jesus was/is. Even though his yoke wasn't going to be easy, he still is unselfishly concerned about others. He is here for us, ready to provide our souls with rest. How comforting is that!

Jesus: The Preacher and Teacher

Day 211: Matthew 5

Matthew 5 contains the first recorded "sermon" of Jesus, and probably his most famous one--the Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes are recorded here, and so are teachings on anger, adultery, vows, revenge, and love for enemies. This sermon is striking on so many levels, but mostly because Jesus takes the Book of Law that all the people to which he's speaking about knows and understands and abolishes it. But he doesn't just abolish it and say, "Never mind all that stuff." Rather, he takes the laws that these these people know and believe and obey and extends them. He takes them further. He doesn't just talk about the action; he gets to the heart of the matter, literally, by showing us how our actions are really borne out of our heart, and it is our heart that we need to get right and then our actions will follow.

What amazing, inspiring, and radical things to say. Here is Jesus--his first sermon ever--and here he is already making radical claims that would upset and rile up an audience. But he speaks the truth. He teaches. He takes what these people know about the law--abolishes it--and then rebuilds it on a new foundation--a heart foundation. It really is all about our hearts and minds--what we think and feel. Jesus is already an amazing, provocative teacher. I'm glad he continues to teach us all these years later.