“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said…Let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
To set the scene, Jesus’ disciples had been criticized for not washing their hands before eating. This was more ceremonial practice than a matter of hygiene. The ceremony was also more traditional than scriptural. Jesus had the unmitigated gall to call into question His detractors’ practices that served to circumvent the Law and call it hypocrisy. He then pointed out that true defilement came from within.
In answer to the question “Is Christianity hard or easy?”, C. S. Lewis once wrote that it is both hard and easy. The answer all depended on what you were trying to do. He pointed out that most people approach Christianity the same way an honest man goes about paying his taxes. That is, he does as little as possible to pay what he considers his due while keeping as much as he can for himself.
The Law said to honor your mother and father. But that was a costly proposal before Social Security. So, the Pharisees “dedicated” all their resources to God. It seemed a very godly thing to do. Except all it really accomplished was to shelter their money from being used to support Mom and Dad. It was legal, even celebrated, but the thought and intent were contrary to God’s decree.
The point I wish to make from all this is that Jesus was right on spiritual and scriptural grounds to call them on it. He offered no apology for doing so. Then, He told His disciples that once the message was delivered, leave the hearer to his own devices. Of course, they later killed the messenger.
Christians aren’t appointed to save the world. We are commanded by Christ to deliver the message that salvation is available. That we are afraid, shy, don’t know what to say, or that it will offend people are not acceptable reasons to tacitly deny Christ.
Maranatha
