GOD'S STANDARD FOR MINISTRY LEADERS
4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’
Matthew 23:4-7 (NKJV)
In the continuation of what Jesus was saying about the scribes and the Pharisees, He started sharing and highlighting the hideous things they were doing secretly but presenting themselves as good and holy people:
I. For they bind heavy burdens [back-breaking burdens], hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers (Matthew 23:4 NKJV).
What does this mean: They make strict rules [tie up heavy loads/burdens that are hard to carry] and try to force people to obey them [put them on people’s shoulders], but they are unwilling to help those who struggle under the weight of their rules [lift a finger to move them; move them with their finger].
This type of life which Jesus accuses the scribes and the Pharisees of are found in other religions where those who are under Islamic regime or rules are being governed by things found in Hadith which are man-made rules that are not found in their religious book. The rules in the Hadith [those books which are collected, compiled and written by author or their students] are man-made rules, and they subject the people they are governing to be groaning under the burden of the rules—such is found where they have Islamic regime and the places where people are governed by communism.
The scribes and the Pharisees subjected the people to their man-made rules that were not found in the law of Moses, and they give credibility to these rules or laws than the Scripture, the law of Moses (Mark 7:13). When Jesus Christ came, He started condemning what they were doing. Because they made people do or observe their own man-made rules than what the Scripture says:
3 FOR THE PHARISEES AND ALL THE JEWS DO NOT EAT UNLESS THEY WASH THEIR HANDS IN A SPECIAL WAY, HOLDING THE TRADITION OF THE ELDERS. 4 WHEN THEY COME FROM THE MARKETPLACE, THEY DO NOT EAT UNLESS THEY WASH. AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS WHICH THEY HAVE RECEIVED AND HOLD, LIKE THE WASHING OF CUPS, PITCHERS, COPPER VESSELS, AND COUCHES. 8 FOR LAYING ASIDE THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, YOU HOLD THE TRADITION OF MEN—THE WASHING OF PITCHERS AND CUPS, AND MANY OTHER SUCH THINGS YOU DO.” 9 HE [Jesus] SAID TO THEM, “ALL TOO WELL YOU REJECT THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY KEEP YOUR TRADITION" (Mark 7:3,4,8,9 NKJV).
“WOE TO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YOU PAY TITHE OF MINT AND ANISE AND CUMMIN, AND HAVE NEGLECTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW: JUSTICE AND MERCY AND FAITH. THESE YOU OUGHT TO HAVE DONE, WITHOUT LEAVING THE OTHERS UNDONE" (Matthew 23:23 NKJV).
In other words, the scribes and the Pharisees put more emphasis on the part of the law which they would benefit from than other weightier matters of the law:
11 BUT YOU SAY, ‘IF A MAN SAYS TO HIS FATHER OR MOTHER, “WHATEVER PROFIT YOU MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED FROM ME IS CORBAN”—’ (that is, a gift to God ), 12 THEN YOU NO LONGER LET HIM DO ANYTHING FOR HIS FATHER OR HIS MOTHER, 13 MAKING THE WORD OF GOD OF NO EFFECT THROUGH YOUR TRADITION WHICH YOU HAVE HANDED DOWN. AND MANY SUCH THINGS YOU DO" " (Mark 7:11-13 NKJV).
They put more emphasis on washing of hands before eating, washing of cups and dishes, and the like than the weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:25; Mark 7:3-9,13).
Those man-made rules were the burdens they put on the people which they themselves were not adhered to or practicing or maintaining loyally (Matthew 23:4).
II. But all their works they do to be seen by men.
a. They make their phylacteries [small cases or boxes enclosing certain Scripture passages, worn during prayer on the left arm and forehead] broad and enlarge the borders of their garments [lengthen their tassels or fringes; Jewish males were to wear tassels on the four corners of their garment; Numbers 15:38; Deuteronomy 22:12]" (Matthew 23:5).
b. They love the best places—they love seats of honour—at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues (Matthew 23:6).
c. Greetings in the marketplaces—to be greeted with respect in public places—and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi' (Matthew 23:7).
In other words, the scribes and the Pharisees are flamboyant, like to attract attention, and they are given to vaingloriousness. They wanted to be praised and honoured!
These things being pointed out in the lives of the scribes and the Pharisees who were the custodians of the law were wrong, they should not be found in the life of a leader or minister of God. Jesus was not just condemning those things they were doing, He would not want whoever is following Him to do the same, what they were doing (Matthew 5:20; 23:3).
But It is a thing to be regretted that most of those attitudes in the lives of the scribes and the Pharisees are found in the lives of many believers and much more in the lives of many ministers today.
Whatever you are doing as a believer to receive the praise of men or be eulogized or to boost your egos are not pleasing to God. It was because of such things Jesus was declaring or proclaiming woes on the scribes and the Pharisees. They were not representing God well! If you as a believer or a minister of Christ Jesus is repeating the wrong doings of those people, what would you think your judgement would be? (Hebrews 10:26-29). If you are guilty of this, repent today, and right your wrongs. You will not fail in Jesus' name. Peace.
Note:
a. I want you to follow us for more edifying content.
b. Endeavour to share this message. God bless you.