Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. 4 And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. 5 And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, 7 and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people. 8 But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 But the greatest of you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:
Religions and cults are all about human efforts, in human strength, using human thinking, and it really is all about bringing the glory and the focus on oneself. Even in the feigned "humility" of anguished actions of adoration and self-sacrifice, it begs for all the attention, like saying, "Look at me and how much compassion I have, and how much I am suffering, and how much I am doing for this god (or for this person, or for this cause, etc.)."
Here, we see that the Pharisees were fully invested in themselves, seeking titles and prominence of positions, including the public's awe and respect through empty piousness and hypocritical legalism. Even the enhancements to the phylacteries and tassels were meant to call more attention to themselves. And all these details are significant to the point that Jesus is making.
Starting with how the Pharisees lengthened their tassels, all Jewish men were to have these. This makes sense, since the Lord has determined that a man is to be the spiritual head of their family, teaching with humility and leading by example. So, these tassels on all four corners of their garment were to remind them of God's commandments, and that they are to follow these commandments and be holy. They were also to remind them that it is the Lord who is God, and it is the Lord who saves us, which enables us to be obedient to the commandments.
(Deuteronomy 22:12) “You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself."
(Numbers 15:38-41) “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. 39 It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, 40 so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. 41 I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God.”
(Numbers 15:38-41) “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. 39 It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, 40 so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. 41 I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God.”
By lengthening the tassels, the Pharisees actually physically and symbolically demonstrated their disobedience, since they were constantly adding to God's laws. I've run into this sort of thing years ago at a church we attended. The elders at some point all got caught up in following a man named Bill Gothard, whose "advice" to families became "laws of God". They were suddenly judging us and telling us things like, (just for example) it is a sin to not homeschool our children, based on Deuteronomy 6:7. Well, the Bible is actually telling parents to teach their children about God... it is not talking about teaching the three R's. Obviously, it is not wrong to homeschool, but neither is sending our children to public school!
Now, the phylacteries were based on this verse...
(Deuteronomy 6:8) ("These words...") You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
By interpreting this verse literally, a practice was developed, and the rules concerning this became even stricter under the rabbis. During morning and evening prayers, men were supposed to use leather straps to affix phylacteries (small boxes) to their heads and left hand. Scripture passages were then inserted into these boxes, which were to be recited as part of the prayers. As for the Pharisees, they made their bands wider and the boxes bigger, in order to stand out and be seen as being more spiritual.
By interpreting this verse literally, a practice was developed, and the rules concerning this became even stricter under the rabbis. During morning and evening prayers, men were supposed to use leather straps to affix phylacteries (small boxes) to their heads and left hand. Scripture passages were then inserted into these boxes, which were to be recited as part of the prayers. As for the Pharisees, they made their bands wider and the boxes bigger, in order to stand out and be seen as being more spiritual.
"Seating themselves in the chair of Moses" is another way to say that the Pharisees assumed that their additional laws were just as important as the laws that came from Moses. Of course, we know that those laws came from God, and that Moses was only the messenger. Sadly, the Pharisees not only misunderstand God and His will, but they mislead the people.
Christianity is not about adhering to a bunch of do's and don'ts. It is all about having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. And because it is Jesus who saves us, it all begins with a humble heart. And it continues with a humble heart, because it is Jesus who sustains us and wants to continue guiding and helping us. When we humbly put the Lord God and His relationship with us as top priority in our lives, He fights our battles for us, He is able to use us in mighty ways to serve, and He blesses us in so many ways.
Having God's words available to study, and having God's Holy Spirit within us, is how we have God's words written on our foreheads, which equates to the renewing of our minds. And having God's words on our hands, equates to our actions that are a result of God working for us, in us and through us, all to His glory. Our humble service pleases the Lord, and He exalts this obedience, but more importantly, we have the privilege of exalting our heavenly Father!
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