Thoughts for the Day

Woe to you teachers of the law and pharisees, you hypocrites!      Matthew 23:23

We might be a bit surprised at Jesus’ forthrightness here, but it’s not one of those “Did God really say?” moments.  I don’t think I’ve ever come across anyone who got upset at the Pharisees getting a dressing down!  Perhaps we might be a bit more shocked if it simply referred to teachers.  That suddenly brings into focus that Jesus was taking them to task in their capacity as people purporting to lead, teach and set an example to others.  Surely that could apply in some degree to anyone who influences anyone else … which puts us all in the frame.

As we read the details of Jesus’ admonitions, their faults seem so evident that it is hard to imagine that they were generally viewed at the time as being the good guys, the devout ones.  I’m sure they thought they were too and would not have imagined themselves to be hypocrites.  I love Jesus’ description, “You strain out a gnat and swallow a camel”.  How easy it is for us to get so focussed on – or I might say distracted by – the minutia that we lose sight of the bigger picture.   Jesus contrasts their diligence in tithing their mint and dill (picture that!) with their neglect of more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness.  It is both appalling and yet strangely familiar.  Justice, for example, is such an overwhelming topic.  Injustices abound.  How can I start to do anything about it?  How much easier to stick to smaller things where I believe I can make a difference!

Of course, we will each be called to specific areas of ministry.  But Jesus’ teaching is not set out as a market stall, inviting us to choose some items to follow and others to neglect.  Ouch!