Jesus' Word to the 8x10 Glossy Personality

There are multiple mornings, as I sit with my warm coffee talking with God, when I have felt sad that I am no longer in active ministry.  But this morning I am feeling grateful!  Relief really!  I am feeling this way because all of the readings in the lectionary for November 5 refuse to be ignored. First we have Micah who excoriates false prophets for their less than honest integrity.  This morning we hear Jesus’ censure of the religious leaders and their hypocritical life style. 

I have always tried to avoid political issues in my preaching.  Mostly because I am a coward!  I don’t like to ruffle feathers!  So often I have been in congregation, of the white collar sector, who have their strong political feelings one way our another; and I wanted to stick to the Gospel in deference to taking sides. However, I have never felt quite so strongly about politician as I have in the last year.  And, as you witnessed yesterday, my idealism has been assaulted by the recent news about the FBI's finding on political activity with Russia.

As I read this Gospel, which I have studied and peached on for years, I was all to aware of my failure to stand with Jesus.  But this morning I paid attention to something I have known all along. Jesus always — always — condemned hypocritical behavior!  All through the Gospels, especially in Matthew, he called the religious leaders on their artificial example. What I called yesterday their "eight by ten glossy" presence! 

I could not stand in a pulpit, on this Sunday, and not honor Jesus’ words to the most powerful and influential leaders of the Jewish community nation:

"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 

Rabbi is a title of respect and honor!  What the Pharisees and Scribes were doing deserved no respect let alone honor!  

What some of our most influential leaders are doing is appalling!  Much less than simply hypocritical or dishonest!  They are putting the greatest nation in the world in immediate danger.  

As followers of Jesus we have one instrument of great power!  Prayer!  I invite you to pray daily -- maybe minute by minute -- that God will invade the hearts and minds of the FBI investigator with insight and wisdom.  That they will be diligent, and uncompromising, as they move through this delicately dangerous investigation.  We could also ask that God invade the hearts and mins of all of our leader with a since of true justice -- Gods definition of justice -- and humility.  That they could keep ever before them the ones who trusted them to do what is good for the whole nation.  Not just the minor majority!

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. 13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven.(Matt. 23:1-13a)