Comments on: March 9, 2010 http://newlife-glastonbury.org/bibleplan/2010/03/09/march-9-2008/ Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:02:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Eric Stillman http://newlife-glastonbury.org/bibleplan/2010/03/09/march-9-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-270 Eric Stillman Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:12:47 +0000 http://newlife-glastonbury.org/bibleplan/2008/03/09/march-9-2008/#comment-270 Matthew 23:4 - 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. It is one thing to preach the gospel and challenge people to live lives of righeousness for the sake of Jesus' reputation. It is another thing to actually support people as they try to follow God. Apparently the Pharisees were happy to put the burdens on people, but did nothing to help them actually follow God. This is a great reminder for me as a pastor, that I am not called to challenge people to righteousness alone, but to actually help people in their pursuit of God. Once again, as Jesus reminds them in v. 11, it's all about being a servant, humbling yourself to help others, not promoting yourself as some sort of super-spiritual person. Matthew 23:4 – 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.

It is one thing to preach the gospel and challenge people to live lives of righeousness for the sake of Jesus’ reputation. It is another thing to actually support people as they try to follow God. Apparently the Pharisees were happy to put the burdens on people, but did nothing to help them actually follow God. This is a great reminder for me as a pastor, that I am not called to challenge people to righteousness alone, but to actually help people in their pursuit of God. Once again, as Jesus reminds them in v. 11, it’s all about being a servant, humbling yourself to help others, not promoting yourself as some sort of super-spiritual person.

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