46 Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
The “experts” of the law had so burdened the people with “ceremonial observances rigorously exacted and increased by human traditions” (New Testament Lexical Aids Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible). Placing these heavy loads upon men’s shoulders sans their help brought ire to Jesus’ words. I think that there is a lesson here for us too. In Matthew we find these words showing us the very heart of the issue:2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' Matt 23:1-7 (NIV) I think that we have a serious case of the “Big Dog Syndrome” here! Barking out rules and regulations to others that they were unwilling to keep themselves, these “experts” loved being “experts”! Jesus states that their authority (Moses) should be recognized but their practices (hypocritical) should not be followed. In an excellent book on the passing of our faith called Handoff, Jeff Myers writes: “I teach what I know, but I reproduce who I am. I seek genuine influence, not as a burden to carry but as a gift to give away.” As believers, we come in the authority of Jesus offering the greatest gift to give away. Are our practices hypocritical or are they worthy of being reproduced. We are told in Matthew:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)
I love Amy Carmichael words: “We cannot ask another to do what we have never done or are not willing to do. The leaders must climb it first.” “Amy felt that the world had far too many run-of –the-mill Christians, cool, respectable, satisfied with the usual, the mediocre. Why bother to lay down one’s life to multiply the number of those?” A Chance to Die, Elisabeth Elliot (Ouch!) We are to be intentional about reproducing disciples of Christ (we were discipled to disciple!) and we are to be careful to live out our lives worthy of this high calling. Another wonderful quote from Amy Carmichael regarding our teaching and influencing by example follows: “Be the first wherever there is a sacrifice to be made, a self-denial to be practiced, or an impetus to be given.” Elisabeth Elliot goes on to say about Amy’s life: “It was no empty pedantry. Her own life made the truth visible to her children. The word became flesh and lived with them.” Jesus tells us that this is how others will know that we are disciples of His – if we have love for one another: 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 (NIV)
It is a worthy calling to reflect the life of our Master and it is the key to joy, satisfaction and meaning to this life. It is our purpose from God – we are to be like Jesus. “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” Robert Byrne “The future of civilization depends on our overcoming the meaninglessness and hopelessness that characterizes the thoughts of men today.” Albert Schweitzer