Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues.” Matthew 23:1-6

Several years ago, I was on the way home from a conference in Dallas. It had been a long week and I was looking forward to boarding the plane and taking a nap after takeoff. As soon as I sat down the man beside me wanted to strike up a conversation. He quicky asked the question that pastors dread: “What do you do?” We dread it not because we are ashamed of our profession—far from it. It’s just that so often when we answer the whole dynamic changes. In some cases, it leads to an abrupt end to the conversation or an apology for the bad language that they had just used. On this flight, the man said, “Well my dog just died, and I am wondering if dogs go to heaven?”

While I was looking for anonymity on my flight, it seems that the Pharisees craved attention for their position as religious leaders. They wore phylacteries on their heads and arms. These were boxes that contained pieces of scripture. They wanted to be seen and honored. The problem was that their actions did not really reflect the words contained in those little boxes. As Jesus said, they did not practice what they preached. This kind of hypocrisy did not draw people toward the kingdom, but instead pushed them farther away. As followers of Christ, we must always try to live a life where our outer actions align with our stated beliefs. In the words of Lesslie Newbigin: “The only hermeneutic of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who believe it and live by it.”

By the way, I told the man that scripture doesn’t really discuss the eternal destiny of dogs. However, it tells us that the new heaven and earth will be glorious and filled with many good things which I assume will include God’s creatures, especially Labrador retrievers.

For Reflection

What is an example of a phylactery in your life, something that identifies you as a Christian?
What motivates your good deeds? Loving your neighbor or being seen by others?

Prayer

Lord, help us to live a life of love for others not to receive recognition, but to reflect you. Help us to realize that all our actions stem not from our goodness, but from your grace and the work of your Spirit. So, on this day may we follow you motivated by your love for us. Amen.