Meditate on these words of Jesus today:
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his
disciples, "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the
official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they
tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they
teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a
finger to ease the burden. Everything they do is for show. On their arms they
wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes
with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and
in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful
greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi.' Don't let
anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are
equal as brothers and sisters. And don't address anyone here on earth as
'Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don't let anyone
call you 'Teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest
among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Matthew 23:1-12
 |
| Praying at Samuel's Tomb. |
Jesus gave us so much wisdom—just out there
for us to grasp. Listen and obey. Listen to the teachers of the religious
law…but don’t follow their example. Don’t get burdened down with religious
demands. If we simply follow Jesus’ teaching…Love God and Love Your Neighbor as
Yourself…then there shouldn’t be any weighty burden. At least that burden
wouldn’t be imposed by others, but only by ourselves as we try to live into
Jesus’ command.
If you visit Israel, or some Orthodox
Jewish communities even here in the United States, you might observe Jewish men
wearing prayer boxes, tefillah, on their forehead or arm. Times have not
changed. Should we wear scripture on our heads or arms? And what about tassels
on prayer shawls, known as tallits? Extra large size? Jesus was saying that is
all for show. Religious demands. Does doing that, wearing the Scripture box or
tassels, make us love God or our neighbor any more or less?
I see the important part of this Scripture
passage as …The greatest among you must be a servant. Jesus showed us what it
was to be a servant when he washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-20). Service
to others is service God Himself. Jesus tells us here…once again, to be a
servant. Humble yourself. Serve others. Love your neighbor as yourself. Can you do that?
Prayer
~ Lord…as you taught through Paul… I owe nothing to anyone—except for my obligation to
love one another. If I love my neighbor, I will fulfill the requirements of
God's law. Romans 13:8.
©
2020 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers,
Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Follow And Like "Banquet With
The King" on Facebook. 👍
No comments:
Post a Comment