The religious were blind

The religious were blind. Matthew 3.1-12; Luke 7.24-35

Hi.

When John saw the sanctimonious Pharisees and Sadducees1 coming out to the desert, he blasted them, calling them out for their outward piety, while their hearts were unrepentant. Their garb identified them and their position but it also helped them maintain their religious pride rather than seeing their sin. It seems that religion blinded in first century Palestine, and it still blinds today.

In short order, this is what Jesus would speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

This is he of whom it is written:

‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:

‘We played the flute for you,

And you did not dance;

We mourned to you,

And you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.” Luke 7.24-35

Those upon who the religious looked down their pious noses were able to hear the message, look at themselves, realize their need for change and true meaning in life. Somehow they were not blinded by whatever dignity their religion caused. They were able to be more honest with themselves, and recognize their need. John called them to repentance and preparation, and Jesus offered them new life and a relationship.

There are so many people today who have been hurt by religion, stung by the church, disillusioned with what is done in God’s name, that they shun God. God is not religion, nor does he require membership in a church to have a relationship with him. That’s why he sent us Jesus. When Jesus was on the cross, the curtain/the veil in the Temple ripped from top to bottom, giving all access to a holy God through what his son was enduring on the cross. But God would not have Jesus go to the cross if religion would satisfy, don’t you see?

In our so-called tolerant culture, we want to say that there is more than one way to God; if there is, then I guess I am not interested in that God. You see, I don’t want to affiliate with a cruel, ruthless God; if there are other ways to find righteousness and grace in God, other than through Jesus, then God is some kind of monster to let Jesus go to the cross, suffer and die. Jesus is God’s way of grace to you and to me. Before Jesus, the only way to righteousness was keeping the Law, and a constant striving—but as Paul explains, ‘when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.’2 God isn’t interested in religious people, he desires sons and daughters. Think about it.



Christine

PastorWoman.com



1 - The majority of Jews belonged to three major sects:

Pharisees - a group of influential Jews active in Palestine from 2nd century BC through 1st century AD; they advocated and adhered to strict observance of the Sabbath rest, purity rituals, tithing, and food restrictions based on the Hebrew Scriptures and on later traditions

Sadducees - another prominent group of Jews for same time period; they were probably smaller "elite" group, but even more influential than the Pharisees; they followed the laws of the Hebrew Bible (the Torah), but rejected newer traditions.

Essenes - a smaller group or "sect" that lived a communal "monastic" lifestyle at Qumram (near the Dead Sea); the "Dead Sea Scrolls" found in this location in 1947 are usually associated with them. - Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

2 – Galatians 4.4-5