MATTHEW 23

1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

MOVE YOUR FINGERS

Jesus spoke harshly and exposed the religious leaders of His day.  Many times Jesus warned His disciples about the Pharisee’s hypocrisy;  And He sternly charged His disciples to not follow their example of self-righteousness and pretentious worship.  Which raises the following question: Where did the Pharisees go wrong?  Well, here are three things amongst many:

   PRIDE: The Pharisees sat in the seat of Moses.  Not only did Moses lead Israel out of Egypt…he also judged them.. The seat of Moses is a place of prominence and influence.           

   It is a place where everyone can see and applaud you. This high place caused them to be lifted up in pride.  Proverbs reminds us, “Pride comes before a fall…”

HYPOCRISY: The Pharisees placed burdensome rules upon the people that they themselves were not willing to follow.

CORRUPT: The Pharisees abused their authority by setting expectations on the people to keep them in bondage.

We are not to be like them, in these three ways:

Firstly, we are not to sit in judgement over people. I wonder do we like to sit in the place of judgement and decision making. (See Matthew 7:1-3). Are you craving the best seat in the house?   Do you seek your own glory?

Secondly, we are to do what we say. The greatest form of hypocrisy is to tell people to live a life that we are not willing to live ourselves. For example, if I say to someone, that they must share the gospel and never share it myself, I am acting like a Pharisee. Romans 2:19-25

Thirdly, we are here to liberate people by the gospel of Christ. The Galatian church had a rule book longer than my arm.  Their useless rules were like a ball and chain around their leg, stopping them going forward.  The gospel is not about rules, it is about relationship.  It is about grace.  It is about mercy.

Jesus said that the Pharisees didn’t move even one of their fingers to ease the burden of the people.  And moving your finger is the smallest movement you can make.  We need not only to move our fingers…but we are to move our hearts to serve and to love and to liberate those in bondage by sharing the gospel of Christ.

God bless you

Keith