FOR THEY BIND HEAVY BURDENS
SUNDAY 20
“For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men‘s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”
Matthew 23:4 (NKJV)
READ: Matthew 23:1–36
One of the oddities or abnormalities of the Scribes and the Pharisees was that they bind heavy burdens which are hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders; but they would not move the burdens with one of their fingers (Matthew 23:4).
What are the heavy burdens which are hard to bear that they lay on people’s shoulders?
The burdens are the traditions which they enforce people to do that are not found in the Scripture. Whereas, in
practising these traditions, they also will not do them but penalize whoever does not do them. Such is called hypocrisy!
In the contemporary time, we have heard of ministers who would announce that the whole congregation should
embark on fastings for a couple of days, whilst the minister who tells the people to fast does not observe the fasting,
instead, he is feasting.
As a leader of God’s people, what you cannot do, or what you are not doing, do not tell people to do it. How would you tell the congregation to fast, while you are eating? That is an example, there are many oddities found in the life of many so-called believers and ministers in this contemporary time.
It takes discipline to lead! A leader sets a standard for others to follow. A leader lives an exemplary life for others to emulate. When a leader says something, he would not renege in his words; even when he realizes that what he said would be hurtful, he still wants to do and fulfil what he had said (Psalm 15:4). This is the kind of leadership expected
in the kingdom. If you ask people to do something, you must be the first person to do it; in order to set a good example, and the standard for others to follow.
A godly leader would not set a standard to follow and still be the one not performing up to the standard set. However, this negative trait was found in the lives of the Scribes and the Pharisees in Jesus’ days. This also is common in other religions where they tell their followers to do, or observe, a particular thing, while the leaders who gave the instruction are not observing what they said others should do. Many people are objects of manipulations, even in the christendom. There are so-called prophets who prophesy lies; prophesying money from people’s pockets to their own personal pockets (Jeremiah 5:31; 14:14,15; ).
There are so-called ministers who twist the Bible to have their way, get their carnal desires satisfied (2 Peter 3:16).
Some ministers or prophets through prophecy commit illicit affairs with those who come to them for counseling, prayer and solutions to their problems and predicaments (Jeremiah 23:14).
Woe is on whoever is doing all odds we have mentioned here, and any numbers of others that are not mentioned.
Repent if you are guilty of any!
Peace.
Reflect:
• Are you laying heavy burdens on others that you yourself are not willing to carry?
• Do you preach holiness but excuse yourself from the same standard?
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