Matthew 23: Warnings and Woes (3)
Pray Psalm 19.12-14.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
Sing Psalm 19.12-14.
St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Who, LORD, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
be pleasing to You, gracious LORD, acceptable and right!
Read Matthew 23.1-22; meditate on verses 16-22.
What does Jesus mean by “swears by”?
Prepare.
1. Why did Jesus say that the religious leaders of His day were “blind guides”?
2. Where were these guides leading the people? Where should they have been leading them?
Meditate.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had the wrong focus. Because they had the wrong focus, they led the people away from God and His Kingdom, rather than into it (v. 13). The scribes, Pharisees, and other religious leaders practiced a “this-worldly” faith. They valued the gold of the temple more than the God of the temple; the gifts given to God rather than the God Who received them; and the place of God’s dwelling more than the God Who dwelled in that place.
Their focus and priorities were on the adornments of faith, rather than faith’s true object. If we translate this situation into our terms, we’d say these leaders were concerned about having the right building, the best worship band, the most programs, a reliable revenue stream, and a good reputation in the community as much as they were of God and His glory. We aim at making church members to share in these adornments, rather than disciples to win their world for the Lord. What the leaders of Jesus’ day invested their efforts in and encouraged the people to focus on, fell short of God and His glory. And to fall short of these, no matter how high and spiritual our aspirations may be, is to fall into sin (Rom. 3.23).
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were “blind guides”, not because they could not see, but because they were aiming at the wrong goals and leading the people to do the same.
We must make sure we’re aiming at God and His glory, and at making disciples of Jesus, and not lesser things.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Blind guides…fools and blind” (Matt. 23.16, 17, 19).
What exactly is a guide’s job and goal?
A guide is one who shows the way by leading, directing, or advising.
They serve as a model for others to follow.
Or, they are persons employed to conduct others, as through a museum or property,
while pointing out items of interest along the way.
So, if a guide is blind, they would be quite ineffectual in reaching this goal.
It is an oxymoronic pairing, by which Jesus hammers another nail on the head!
Woe, blind guides and fools!
“Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” (Lk. 6.39).
Happily, we do not have to fall under this “sightless” category ourselves,
nor will we run the risk of being blind guides to anyone else. If.
We know where to turn for vision.
God gives us the way to see clearly:
“For the LORD gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
He guides the paths of justice,
and preserves the way of His saints…
When wisdom enters your heart,
and knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
discretion will preserve you;
understanding will keep you,
to deliver you from the way of evil…” (Prov. 2.6-8, 10-12).
And in turn, to lead others away from evil also.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5.8).
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5.16).
To see God for themselves:
“Sir, we wish to see Jesus” (Jn. 12.21).
“…we see Jesus…” (Heb. 2.9).
“For with You is the fountain of life;
in Your light we see light” (Ps. 36.9).
“Your eyes will see the King in His beauty…” (Is. 33.17).
We, and those in our Personal Mission Field, will have the joy of seeing Jesus—
in the beauty of His holiness—when we are led, advised, and directed by the Holy Spirit.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou are mighty; Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more, Feed me till I want no more.
(William Williams, 1745)Sighted and wise.
Reflect.
1. What do we mean by saying that we can “see” Jesus? Why should we want to see Him?
2. What guides do you have to lead you more fully into the vision of Jesus? Whom are you guiding?
3. How can you improve your ability to guide others to Jesus?
One who seeks to be religious should anchor himself rightly in the truth. They were stupid and blind who venerated gifts that were sanctified while they allowed sanctity itself to pass by. Hilary of Poitiers (315-367), On Matthew 24.6
Pray Psalm 19.1-11.
The world and Word of God reveal His glory. Aim to see Him in these, and to live for His glory in all you do today.
Sing Psalm 19.1-11.
St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus
The heav’ns declare God’s glory, the skies His work proclaim!
From day to day and night by night they shout His glorious Name!
No speech, no words, no voice is heard, yet all across the earth
the lines of His all-present Word make known His holy worth.
Behold, the sun arises, a bridegroom strong and bright,
rejoicing as he runs his course from morning unto night.
From east to west across the skies his circuit he completes,
and none can hide his sinful eyes or shelter from his heat.
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.
The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast begins a new series of readings about St. Patrick from our book, Patrick: A Devotional History. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column, begins a new study of “Everyday Christianity” on Wednesday. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter
