Indicting the Jewish Leaders (2)

Bible Passage: Mark 12:38-40, Luke 20:45-47

Yesterday, Biblereadingcompanion gave a succinct analysis of the purpose of Jesus’ indictment of the Jewish leaders and shared with us some takeaways from the account. Here is my short sharing for today.

Jesus’ admonition provides good reflection for those of us who are in leadership positions in church. Our role is to provide wise guidance to our lambs, and not be ‘blind’ guides to our charges in Jesus’ eyes. We ourselves, or others may think us capable, but without honestly reflecting and practising the truth which we know, we may be these ‘blind’ and ‘foolish’ guides who very deftly create factions among brethren and lead the flock in the wrong way (Matt 23:16-19)!

On the other hand, if our leaders are not good role models, we have been advised to still listen and act upon the truth which they expound. There is a lesson in God’s truth for everyone. Leaders and non-leaders alike will be found wanting if we do not live up to the truth.

We hear about people not coming back to church because they cannot accept the disparities between another’s actions and words. It saddens, and sometimes irks us to see these human failings, but we are all in the same boat, subject not to one another’s evaluation but to God’s evaluation. The only thing which is within our control is our own behaviour and speech; we can only look within ourselves and ensure that we are not the one harbouring hypocrisy and pride.

Humility is not a denial or suppression of our virtues and talent, rather, it is understanding that God has given each of us special graces in our service to Him and our fellow brethren. Our worry is whether we are able to bear fruit using these talents and enter His gates on the last day, not whether we look better-off as compared to our peers. Anyway, God looks at the on-goings in the deep recesses of our hearts where our real motives lie.

Hence rather than spending time sprucing up our outward display of faithfulness, kindness, our time and energy is better spent on repentance and re-learning the practical aspects of being faithful and kind on the inside, living out the truth and thus investing in a future in Heaven.

When we look in the mirror, what do we see? An immaculately refined persona with our own agenda or a child of God with an immaculate heart filled with His agenda?