Delivered October 30, 2011
Hate is a strong word to use in reference to Jesus. We don’t like to think of Jesus hating. Although it is probably inaccurate to say that Jesus hated anyone, I think it is accurate to say that there were some things that Jesus hated. I don’t think it is too strong a word to use to describe Jesus’ attitude toward certain behaviors. Jesus got angry on a number of occasions. He had harsh words to say to some people – especially the Pharisees. Many of this parables have end in very strong condemnation of people’s behaviors. The classic instance of Jesus’ anger is when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple courts. It is fair to say that Jesus hated that they were profaning his Father’s house. There were other things that Jesus hated. Usually Jesus anger was directed toward religious people – the Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees. He had only kind words to say toward the so-called “sinners,” but he often used harsh words when addressing religious people who considered themselves righteous. In our passage under consideration today Jesus mentions four things that he hates. Let’s look at them.
I. First, Jesus hates it when people do not practice what they preach. Verses 2-3 Jesus said, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.” The NIV translates it this way: “3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Jesus hates it when religious people profess one thing and do the opposite. Over and over again Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites for not practicing what they preached. As followers of Jesus we have to be so careful to live lives of integrity. If we call ourselves Christians, then people will measure us by the standard of Christ. This is especially true of pastors and religious leaders. People examine our behavior very carefully. If the leaders have moral failings then people paint the whole church and all of Christianity with that brush. We might not think that is fair, but that is the way it is. We can say that people should not judge the whole church by the behavior of some Christians, but people will. If we profess to follow Christ, then our outward behavior better reflect that commitment as much as possible.
There was a PBS documentary recently by Ken Burns. It hadthree parts: A Nation of Drunkards, a Nation of Scofflaws, and a Nation of Hypocrites. In this third section much times was devoted to the fact that many of those who promoted temperance (including religious people) did not practice what they preached. One quote stood out: Lutherans praise God privately and drink publicly. Methodists praise God publicly and drink privately. There is another saying: Jews don’t recognize Jesus as the Son of God. Protestants don’t recognize the pope as the head of the church. Baptists don’t recognize each other at the liquor store. Recently there was a relevant line in the TV medical drama “House.” Dr.Gregory House said to a colleague: “I will choose to listen to your actions rather than your words. They are more honest.”
II. Second, Jesus hates it when religion puts a burden on people. In verse 4, still talking the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus says, “4 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.” Jesus hates it when religion lays heavy burdens on people instead of lifting the burdens. A lot of religion is burdensome. It is filled with rules and laws and obligations. It is a bunch of “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots.” “Do this” and “don’t do that.” “Think this, don’t think that.” Religion in many cases is nothing more than legalism. And nothing is so burdensome as a bunch of religious rules you have to follow.
The gospel of Jesus is one of grace, not of law. It is lifting burdens off people’s backs, not adding to their burden. One big burden that people have is the burden of guilt and shame. A lot of people see Christianity as all about identifying sins. People grew up in churches feeling guilty for sinning and feeling like they were terrible people. Many times when people leave church and religion behind they see it as freedom from all this guiltmongering. (I don’t even know if that is a word!) People often associate churches and Christianity with feelings of sin and guilt.
It should be just the opposite. The message of the gospel is freedom from sin and guilt. That is the core message of the NT. In Jesus Christ sin has been done away with. The biblical understanding of the death of Jesus is that on the cross sin was dealt with once for all. Don’t ask me to explain it; I can’t. But it is testimony of scripture and it is my experience that all our sin – all my sin – has been extinguished, cleansed, forgiven by God through the atoning death of Jesus. All sin is gone. All fear of punishment for sin is gone. All guilt for past sins is gone. All fear of the consequences of future sin is gone. All that burden is lifted.
One of the classic works of Christian spirituality is John Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress. It is a symbolic pilgrimage of man named Christian from the "City of Destruction" to the "Celestial City." Early in the book Christian carries a huge burden on his back and his trip was very difficult because of that heavy burden. Letme read you one passage. The book says he “came at a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below in the bottom, a Sepulchre. So I saw in my Dream, that just as Christian came up with the Cross, his Burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do, till it came to the mouth of the Sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more. Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death. Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the Cross should thus ease him of his Burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks.” This is a picture of the joy of freedom from the burden of sin that is ours through the cross.
As Christians our job is to free people from burdens, not add to their burdens. This is especially true of the burden of sin and guilt, but also true of other burdens. The apostle Paul urges us to carry one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Jesus says, “28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus hates it when people put burdens on people instead of taking burdens off people.
III. Third, Jesus hates it when people do good works to be seen by others. He says in verse 5, still speaking of the Pharisees “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.” The phylacteries that he is referring to are tefillin, the black boxes that orthodox Jews wear on their foreheads during daily prayers, and the borders of their garments refers to the prayer shawls that are worn. Jesus was not anti-Semitic, singling out Jewish religion; he was himself a Jew. He is not condemning Jewish religious practices in particular. He is condemning the practice of doing religious acts and charitable deeds to be seen by others.
Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, 5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” He says in the same passage: “1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”
Jesus is talking about the difference between religion and morality as an outward performance versus an inward discipline. I don’t think Christians go to church to be seen to be religious much these days. That might have been the case in earlier times, perhaps even as recently as the 1940’s ,50, and 60’s when church going was socially expected. But now going to church is counter-cultural. It is those who don’t go who are conforming to society. But I still think that a lot of people’s spirituality is public. The only time many Christians pick up a Bible is Sunday morning, or pray (more than grace at a table) is Sunday morning, or hear or sing Christian songs is Sunday morning. Our Christianity needs to go beyond that which is seen by people to that which is seen only by God.
IV. Fourth, Jesus hates the misuse of religious power and authority. He hates religious professionals who seek honor for themselves instead of honoring God. Jesus says in verses 6-10 about the Pharisees, “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.”
This is directed toward people like me – clergy types, religious leaders. As an ordained minister I get to see clergy in a whole different light than most of you folks. When we ministers sit down and talk shop I see what is behind the professional exterior. I must say that most ministers are sincere Christians who have dedicated their lives to serving God and others –often at great cost to themselves and their families. But some are exactly the way Jesus describes the Pharisees here. Some are really into the status that they think that being a minister gives them. They like the places of honor and the recognition. Some are really into ecclesiastical titles, and academic degrees, and climbing the denominational ladder, getting the big churches and the prestigious positions. This is what Jesus hates. Jesus tells us in our passage to forget the titles – we are all brothers and sisters. There is really only one Teacher and that is Jesus. One authority – that is God.
We are not going to do away with ecclesiastical hierarchy, titles and positions. But let’s remember that Christ is the only authority that really matters. We clergy have to get over ourselves, and not take ourselves too seriously. It is not just clergy that have to be get over themselves. Lay people can get really into positions of power in local congregations too. For some people being in a position of authority and responsibility in a church really goes to their head. Some people have so little power elsewhere in their lives – at their jobs and in their homes - and they feel so powerless in other parts of their lives, that when they get a little authority in a church it goes to their heads and they abuse it. People in churches can abuse clergy as much as clergy can abuse churches and persons in churches.
Jesus ends his list of what he hates with a couple of verses about what he loves. He says in verse 11 “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Jesus loves it when we serve. Those who serve are the greatest in his opinion and in his kingdom. Jesus said of himself that he did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. He is favorite word to describe a Christian is servant. The apostle Paul did not flaunt his apostolic title of authority; his favorite title for himself, which he used often to start his letters, was simply “Paul a servant of Jesus Christ.” There is no greater title or job that we can have than servant.
Lastly Jesus loves those who humble themselves. He says in verse 12 “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This saying is attached to the end of many of Jesus parables. Sometimes it is not at all clear why it is included. It has led many Biblical scholars think the verse was added later to various parables and sayings of Jesus. But I think it sounds authentically like Jesus. It is the principle by which Jesus lived his life, and which he calls us to live by. It does not surprise me that he would repeat it as often as he did. Proverbs 6:16 says, “There are six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him” The first one listed is “a proud look.” Jesus shares that sentiment. There are certain attitudes he hates, and certain ones he loves. And what he loves the most is a humble servant heart.
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