Title: Faith Check and Determination
Contents
Faith Check and Determination
Matthew 23:1 - 12
Now is the time to make new plans. People make plans at this time of the year, no matter how hard it may be. There are several fields. The economic part, the domestic part, the hobby part, ....
However, these are not the only areas to make a new plan. You must also have a good plan in the area of faith. The more you check your faith, the better you can go. So I hope that you and I can check our own faith and make a new plan, more than anything else.
The standards for each of us to review our faith and make a new plan will be different for each person, but today we would like to check it through the voice of Jesus who rebukes the faith of the Pharisees. Chapter 23 of Matthew's Gospel consists entirely of rebuking the Pharisees. How problematic was the faith of the Pharisees when he rebuked them to occupy a chapter in the Bible? In particular, looking at verse 13 and below, the words that begin with ‘Woe to you’ appear seven times. Verse 14 is marked with ‘(none)’, and the content is found in the English Bible. Therefore, if verse 14 is included, the word ‘Woe to you’ occurs eight times. Usually the text is also called the 7th and 8th episodes of the Pharisees.
In any case, the beliefs of the Pharisees are subject to criticism to the extent that they openly say to the Pharisees, 'Woe to you!'
Today's text is a word of caution while looking at such a Pharisee. Through these words, we can see what kind of faith Jesus hates the most.
Therefore, we need to look back on whether our faith in the past year or all of our lives has not been like this. And I hope you can make a new resolution.
■ First, let's build the faith that words and actions become one.
Jesus did not hate the Pharisees because they were wrong. Other than that, when it comes to the law, they are right. But the problem is that they themselves didn't keep that word. Jesus did not deny that they sat in Moses' seat. The seat of Moses refers to the function of passing the law. It was the scribes and Pharisees who played the role of passing the law from one generation to the next. You've done a great job.
The descendants of the scribes are the Pharisees. Jesus also appreciated that aspect of them. So he did not dare deny that they were sitting in Moses' seat. Go further and say this. “Do what they say” (verse 3).
Yes, what they are saying is that the Word of God is nothing compared to it. It means that you can think of their words as the Word of God.
The problem is: Jesus went on to say, “Do not imitate what they do” (verse 3). Their conduct was problematic. Jesus said to these people, “They speak only, and do not act” (verse 3). Simply put, their fault was inconsistency.
In verse 4, their appearance is further explained. “He binds a heavy load and puts it on a man’s shoulder, but he would not move it with one finger.
They were not only law teachers, but law-makers. That is, in order to keep the law well, even detailed provisions were made.
An example found in Matthew 23 is “a tithe of mint, anise, and cumin” (verse 23). To keep the law on tithing well, they legalized the following principles: “Anything that can be eaten, that can be stored, and that which grows on the earth, must be paid a tithe.”
This is a legalization to thoroughly apply the tithing rule to even the smallest and most insignificant things.
It is good to set up these rules to keep the rules of tithing well. However, these regulations were so strict that it became a burden to those who were living difficult lives at the time. It's like making a donation by giving a name to someone who earns a day's income.
Giving a lot is a good thing. To do so, it would be good to distinguish between different types of offerings. But for those in need, it becomes a burden. In this way, the act of keeping the law well can become a burden. If he had set it as a personal goal for himself, he would have benefited his faith. But the problem is that it is legalized. It is something everyone must do.
But if the Pharisees themselves kept all these rules they made, everyone else would agree. Jesus would not have criticized. But it didn't. They made a rule and placed a burden on ordinary people, but they did not lift a finger to keep it. Jesus hated such hypocrisy.
But what about Jesus? Contrary to the Pharisees, He comforted those who were weary and in trouble with love, saying, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden” (Matthew 11:28). He also spoke about the ‘commandment of love’ (Matthew 22:34-40) that the law should be handled in accordance with the spirit of the law, not the text itself.
Also, in the tithing section mentioned earlier, we must act as the Pharisees did, but more importantly, we must not forsake righteousness, benevolence, and godliness.
Beloved, what Jesus wants is that our actions come true in conformity with the spirit of the law. And the true rest you get when you apply those words is what Jesus wants.
How are we? Aren't we just talkers? Isn't that saying not out of love, which is the spirit of the law, but a burden on others? At the same time, am I not taking any responsibility for those words myself and avoiding them?
This is the first thing we are going to check carefully today. It is whether or not you are burdening others with your faith in words, which is contrary to the spirit of the Bible.
We need to think of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:39-42). When Jesus came to their house, Martha was busy serving them. On the other hand, Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened. After working for a while, Mary comes to Jesus and complains. “Teacher, do you not think that my brother leaves me to work alone? Command me to help me.”
Martha thought it would be quicker and more comfortable with Maria's help than doing it alone. And I thought it was the right idea. So, he was speaking like a rebuke to Jesus.
But Jesus thought differently. “You worry about a lot of things to feed us deliciously. Not just a few, just one is enough. Maria chose what she likes, so let her go.”
That's right. Martha felt that she had to treat her with a lot, so she felt that Mary should help her. But Jesus can't eat much. Just a few. Jesus says that just one thing is enough. Therefore, Martha had to think about treating herself as much as she could, rather than thinking about many things and passing the burden on to Mary. Thinking of many things places a burden on Mary, and prevents her from doing what she currently values most.
Fortunately, in John 12, we see Jesus visiting this house again, but at this time Martha no longer seeks Mary for this. After realizing the words of Jesus, he did as much as he could.
Beloved, we must build the faith that word and action become one. I must not make my words a burden to others. It's just that we each have to do our own thing and do as much as we say.
The word is yes. All you have to do is do what the Bible says. Don't think of talking a lot as a passion. Rather, remember that words that are not responsible will only be a burden to others. Do only what the Bible says. And as I said, please take responsibility for your actions of faith. This is what the Lord wants.
■ Second, let us have faith that overcomes the temptation to exalt ourselves.
The Pharisee's faith was to exalt himself. In verse 5 and below, Jesus points out their actions in detail. It is said to ‘widen the gates’. Gyeongmun is a small box made of calfskin. In Exodus 13 and Deuteronomy 6 and 11, in each last verse, there is a saying to put this on your forehead or on your hand. This includes the Shema text we are familiar with. So, the box containing these four parts of the scriptures is the scriptures. I put this on my left arm and forehead when I prayed.
Jesus did not criticize them. In a way, it is an effort to keep the Word. But what Jesus criticizes is that they deliberately made it large to make it visible. I was trying to earn respect by showing that I am a person who keeps the Word so well that I put this large scripture.
It is said that ‘I made the tufts large’, but it is the same story. It is said that “I liked to sit on the chief of banquets and on the chief of synagogues.” He also said, “I liked being greeted at the market, and I liked being called a rabbi.”
Why did they do this?