Burden of Proof
Read This Week: Matthew 23
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. – Matthew 23:1-4 & 11-12 NIV
Hypocrisy is often used as one of the biggest reverse apologetics for the movement of Christianity. For centuries, skeptics and those who reject the Christian faith point to hypocrisies in the lives and actions of those who call themselves followers of Jesus as evidence that the message is not authentic. The unbelieving culture sees the incongruencies between the teachings of Scripture and its devout followers as proof that salvation in Christ is nothing more than a construct of people.
These arguments and assertions lack two logical realities. One, the hypocrisies of fallible, finite, and imperfect human beings does not and cannot logically negate the existence and truth of an eternal and immutable God. Secondly, just because someone believes something does not mean they embody it. Paul David Tripp once wrote that “just because you believe a thing does not mean you are that thing.” Therefore, devotion to God or lack thereof does not disprove that He exists or that the Church is not the Body of Christ sent to preach good news to the world. Hypocrisy is about flaws in the heart of man and not about the character of God.
Jesus addresses hypocrisy (specifically religious hypocrisy) in Matthew 23. Jesus says the Scribes and Pharisees are hypocrites seven times. The word in Greek described actors who placed a mask over their faces as they played their part. It means someone who pretends to be something they are not, pretending to be someone better than they are. Someone who appears to be virtuous and of a good reputation but in private is corrupt and immoral. Jesus said this is what the Pharisees and others like them are. He said their hypocrisy creates and puts a burden on other people. The end of verses 3 through 4 says:
But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
The scribes and Pharisees were hypocrites and poor examples because they expected more of others than they did of themselves. They set heavy burdens on others yet did not even live up to those standards. They also created a burden and barrier for people to see and worship God.
But Jesus does not say that their actions and hypocrisies negate the existence and preeminence of God, nor will it prevent the kingdom from advancing. Instead, he rebukes, warns, and speaks to their hearts so they will turn from their sin and behavior. He wants them to stop causing others to be burdened by something that should give them joy, peace, hope, and expansion. Jesus desires the same thing from us.
The same directive and correction given to the Scribes and Pharisees are there for the follower of Jesus today. Our failures, shortcomings, and inabilities to live up to a Christ-like standard are not a reason for disobedience from other Christians or denial from the world. The truth does not derive from the righteous life of the Christian but from the authority of God himself.
The proof of integrity and right living among believers is simply an encouragement to follow Jesus and obey God without the extra burden of duplicity. Consistent, Scripturally-based, and Holy Spirit-fueled living of Christians dispels the notion that following Christ is a burden or unnecessary. Instead, it attracts people to the immediate and eternal benefits of a life with God.
There is a song by Tenth Avenue North called “North”. I love the part where it says:
Oh, You want me
Somehow You want me
The King of Heaven wants me
So this world has lost its grip on me
What I see is The Pharisees were doing everything for approval and for people to see how great they were. They did not follow God with a pure heart, They were supposed to know God and help others to know Him, but fame was what they wanted more, they were shutting the door to salvation.
Father God wants to have a relationship with everyone, when you realize that, and how much He loves you, you just know in your heart, and know that Jesus is all about family then it gets easier to get what you need from Him, we can love people for God and not let fame get a grip on us, and not get in a place of being a people pleasers but desire to put God first.
Be a God pleaser and want what His will is, ask Him to help us to have a heart like His, then we don’t get in a place of looking for attention in the wrong way and lead people in the right direction, and be excited we get to help God by being a servant of the Lord, it’s good to be a helper for Father God, Jesus and be lead by the Holy Spirit.
Father, I hope more people would just jump in and want to be like Jesus more every day. To desire to be a servant and lead people to You.
I love this post, Heidi. It was inspiring and convicting all at the same time. Thank you for also sharing those lyrics. They are impactful and use such great imagery to describe God’s desire for us. This section stood out to me:
Be a God pleaser and want what His will is, ask Him to help us to have a heart like His, then we don’t get in a place of looking for attention in the wrong way and lead people in the right direction, and be excited we get to help God by being a servant of the Lord.
As someone who has struggled with people-pleasing in my life, it is so good to be reminded that we should live for an audience of One and to be obedient to and please Him. It sets our purpose, focus, and expectations in this life and on our mission as His servants.
This week, God gave me a song from Matthew 23 called “Being Humble”:
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Let’s humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord
Humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord.
Being a great servant, having faith in our Lord
Trusting and believing
We are doing great things through faith as we stand with our Lord.
Glory, glory, glory, we honor and adore you
We are blessed with your love and we are humbled by you
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Being humble with our Lord. Amen.
It’s always a blessing to be humble especially with our Lord. We honor and adore you, our Father God.
This is so wonderful, Alma. This part sounds like a worship anthem for all of God’s children:
Glory, glory, glory, we honor and adore you
We are blessed with your love and we are humbled by you
Thank you for blessing us with these beautiful words to God and for pointing us back to the purpose of the Christian life and that is to worship, honor, and praise the Lord.
Thank you, Jason, you are such an encourager. It’s such an honor to do ministry with you and all the people that are out there reading the good news. God is an awesome Father.
Thank you, Alma! I feel the same way about you and everyone at Reach. It is an honor to be here with you all and minister to others. You are a true blessing to me. God is indeed awesome. I appreciate you so much.
In reading Matthew 23 this week, this is what God was saying to me. My son Jesus is a burden taker, I don’t want you to be a burden bringer. I don’t want my children to expect more of others than they do for themselves. Do not do your works for Me, to be seen, and do not live for the praise of others. It again goes back to having the right motives for everything you do. Do not make human traditions and human religious rules more important than My word.
Your prayers don’t have to be long and loud. Your prayers should be you talking to Me simply and from the heart. It may just be that you just say, Jesus. The altar is the meeting place between Me and you, and your altar is Jesus and His work on the cross. You should be most concerned about what is on the inside of yourself.
Through Jesus, you can be cleaned up. What is on the inside reflects what is on the outside. I see what you actually are, not what you appear to be to others. When you sin, I genuinely sorrow for you, because sin and rebellion will destroy your life. I am willing to love, rescue, and protect you, but you have to open your heart to Me.
What this says to me is God knows everything about me, my sins, my thoughts, and my heart. He wants me to run into His loving arms, and repent and turn away from the things that keep me from Him.
This is a practical but deeply profound truth about our intimacy with Christ and the power that rests in His presence and in His name: Your prayers don’t have to be long and loud. Your prayers should be you talking to Me simply and from the heart. It may just be that you just say, Jesus.
Thank you for this reminder, Kathy. I think we can get so far down in the weeds of life and the nuances of the Christian experience and forget about the nourishment, peace, and power that rests simply in calling on the name of Jesus in our worship and in our prayers.