Good Morning Friends,
The words from Malachi are not light or trifling but weighty and substantial. The prophet recognizes that what he is about to communicate to people is not fluffy stuff that will just tickle the ears but will ultimately trouble their souls. … While the Word of the Lord is heavy, notice that it is written not “against” Israel, but “to” them. God wasn’t out to blast them. He wanted to bring them back. The problem was as with the Pharisees in today’s passage from Matthew. They were giving God the leftovers when God deserved the very best. They were creating stumbling blocks for others that made it difficult for them to turn to God. They were giving the image of sacrifice when God wanted their heart. So, Is Your Love Better Than That Of A Pharisee?
Scripture: Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Matthew 23:1-12 (NRSV)
though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.
1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13 (NRSV)
Cursed be the cheat who has a male in the flock and vows to give it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished; for I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is reverenced among the nations. And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction. Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?
Malachi 1:14b—2:2b, 8-10 (NRSV)
Message: There is a paradox that is so opposed to common sense and yet it is so true in the passage from Matthew and the message from the prophet Malachi. It is seemingly contradictory and opposed to common sense and yet is still true. Jesus stated this paradox in Matthew 23:12 when He said, “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” In fact, it is seen throughout the Bible in the stories of Joseph, Moses, David, and Jesus. When God exalted Joseph, He gave Him a reputation as a wise ruler. When God exalted David, He gave him a reputation as a good king. But all these people went through a valley before that happened. Some were considered or outcastes or criminals first, before being exalted to a place of leadership. So too in the stories of Moses and of Ruth. I suspect you will experience it as well. The valley is essential preparation for the mountaintop. The reality though is that people in the world may perform humble acts without, in fact, humbling themselves. A politician may bend down and speak to a child or kiss a baby with the motive of appearing humble so that he can win the election and ultimately be exalted. But typically, it is just one part of a strategy for self-exaltation. Politicians do tend to be narcissistic. So, superficial acts of humility are not guarantees of the real deal. Sometimes people want to take credit for the work others have done. For sure we all stand on the work of others, unfortunately in most situations people are motivated more by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. We are inundated with a mindset that is the opposite of Jesus’ statement. Few are all in. Most are hypocrites at best. The message of the world tells us that whoever exalts himself will be exalted. We just need to use the right methods and techniques to get it done. You see pride drives most activities in the world. It is the utmost evil and the central moral issue we must face. Friends, being humble is not just a nice platitude. It is essential for salvation. You see, God chooses who and when or if we are exalted. In fact, His plan of salvation is designed to bring us into an eternal state of exaltation and glory. His part is to do the exalting; our part is to be humble. If we are not, we are no better than the Pharisees.
And So, some of the Pharisees were, no doubt, sincere in their religion…but for the most part they were inflexible. They majored in minors. They strained gnats instead of being humble. They were hypocrites that created a stumbling block for others. And it is easy for us to fall to that same fate of condemning others for the speck in their eyes when we have yet to take the lumber out of our own eyes. We are all sinners, and we all fall short of God’s glory. None of us can stand up under the burden of the strict letter of the Law and to try would drive us crazy. All the Law and the Prophets hang on the commandments to love God and neighbor. It is that simple. Either you love and are humbly blessed by what love does or you end up having the pointless heart of a Pharisee.
Pray that the humble attitude and purpose and mind of Christ be in us. Pray we get the connection between our humility and our reputation and real success. Pray we smile and take it when God has ordered our steps into humbling circumstances. Pray we realize how limiting pride is in our life. Pray we not be so concerned about looking good but doing the will of God. Pray God forgive us of our arrogance and turn our hearts from self-reliance to a genuine reliance upon the redeeming, creating, sustaining Spirit of the divine. Pray we do not choose the world and forfeit our very souls. Pray we not give God our leftover time and stray minutes, here and there but our undivided attention. Pray we not give God our leftover cash and what change we can spare, but our first fruits as a tithe. Pray we not give God the remnant of our life but its fullness out of love. Pray we embrace the network of God and the dream of God reflected in the Word of God in acts of love that honor God. Pray we evaluate our collective selves in terms of Christ’s judgements and commands.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 