Platforms vs. Pillarsنموونە

What is your biggest frustration–the thing that really gets under your skin?

For Jesus, it was the Pharisees. His harshest criticisms were aimed at them because they:

1. Overburdened people

To make people keep the law, they created rules and expectations impossible for anyone to live up to.

They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. – Matthew 23:4

In contrast, Jesus said of Himself, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:30

2. Craved attention

"Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others." – Matthew 23:5-7

Jesus taught His disciples the opposite:

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." – Matthew 20:25-28

3. Made others feel unworthy

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” – Matthew 23:13

The Pharisees had a long list of people they deemed unworthy of their presence: tax collectors, Samaritans, drunks, prostitutes, etc. Jesus, however, came for sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) and commanded us to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15).

It all comes down to this: instead of being the pillars of society their position allowed them to be, the Pharisees used their platform for power and self-interest. Jesus called them out for it.

Having a platform isn’t wrong–but it can be, depending on your true motivation.

Take a moment today to ask the Holy Spirit:

Please, reveal to me my deepest motives. Do I truly desire to be a pillar and a blessing to those around me? Or am I listening to the inner seduction of going after the platform?

Hey! You are a Chamatkar

Cameron Mendes