Friday 21 September, 2012

45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

In this passage Jesus delivers two warnings: one to the teachers of the law, and one to his disciples. He challenges the behaviour of the teachers of the law; he shows them to be religious imposters, not serving God but serving themselves. At the same time Jesus warns his disciples not to follow the example of the teachers, for it will lead to punishment. There are two clear applications of this for my life: does my example led people toward God or away from Him? Am I being careful about whose example I am following? Are the people that I’m watching, listening to, reading about, drawing my inspiration from – spending my time on – living and modelling the kind of life that I want to live?

 

Written by Beth Waugh