Advent Reflections 2022

Week 2, Wednesday December 7

Matthew 23:1-12
 
Vs 12
whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

This sounds very similar to ‘pride comes before the fall’.

We see examples in scripture of personal exaltation gone wrong; Haman lost his life (Book of Esther) and Satan was thrown out of Heaven. We know the stories in our history books of those who fell from glory and we see daily examples everytime we turn on the television. Pride is a slippery slope with a deep, dangerous embankment.

In this passage, Jesus is imploring his disciples to maintain religious integrity and practice humility in the midst of others who do not or will not. He says, ‘do not do what they do’; they do not practice what they preach.

In ancient Israel, it was a noble ambition to want to be a religious teacher, however it was considered inappropriate to be honored as one. Spending time in the scriptures will easily reveal that the Pharisees possessed both ambition and a loud desire to be honored. This example was the opposite of the ethical discipling Jesus was growing in the Apostles. He wanted them to live with humility!

The Christian is to reflect the actions of the Christ, not the pharisees. This is still true for us today; we are to reflect Christ, not the world or anything else. When we aim to reflect Christ we are actively humbling ourselves and choosing him first. When we attempt to exalt ourselves above others, we are loving ourselves before others, and ultimately above God.

Those who humble themselves, those who turn their hearts and their faith to Christ, will be exalted because righteous exaltation belongs to God.

Week 2, Thursday December 8

Matthew 23:13-26
 
Vs 25-26
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Years ago there was a recall on a particular brand of applesauce that was packaged in squeeze pouches. These pouches were made so that the applesauce inside could not be seen and the opening to eat was the size of a straw.  As a result, a number of young children ingested rotten applesauce; the pouches had grown mold and rancid inside. Because this was not discernible from looking at the shiny-nice label of the package, it was only after eating the applesauce that anyone knew it was bad. No parent knowing the content would have given this to their child.

The Pharisees have gone moldy and rancid on the inside, yet it is not evident to the naked eye. Jesus can see their heart, their thoughts, their rotten intentions. Jesus says they are not truly ‘clean’, as their culture demands, until their private intentions are clean.

As Christians, we are filled with the living God in a transparent package. The Lord can see our hearts and our intentions as clearly as the Pharisees. The best news about all of this, is that is is Christ alone that cleanses our insides; our hearts, intentions and mind are made right by his grace.

Yes, we all have nooks and crannies of our hearts that need a good deep cleaning. The point is lean on Christ and trust that it is him alone that will make us and our hearts (the proverbial cup) clean.