Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also

 

 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.  Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.'  Fools and blind!  for which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?  And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.'  Fools and blind!  For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?  And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.'  Fools and blind!  For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?  Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it.  He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it.  And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.  

 

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law:  justice and mercy and faith.  These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.  Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also."

 

- Matthew 23:13–26 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying:  "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.  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. 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.  But all of their works they do to be seen by men.  They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.  They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'  But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.  Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.  And do not be called teacher; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.  But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

  "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.  Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.'  Fools and blind!  for which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?  And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.'  Fools and blind!  For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?  And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.'  Fools and blind!  For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?  Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it.  He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it.  And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it."  My study Bible comments on this passage that because the example of a leader can be so influential, leaders who do not love God can hinder others from finding God as well.  So, therefore, leaders are held to a higher standard (James 3:1).

 

 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law:  justice and mercy and faith.  These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.  Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also."  My study Bible comments that the warnings in this passage (and several verses that will follow in tomorrow's reading) are especially important to Orthodox Christians. Certainly they apply to many other Christian denominations as well.  It notes that the Church has maintained the ancient practice of tithing ("these you ought to have done"); sacred vessels ("you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish"); holy rites; and following the tradition handed down from fathers of the Church.  These practices, it says, can be expressions of deep faith, lead a person to deeper commitment to God, and safeguard our life in Christ, or they can be observed without ever taking them to heart and lead to condemnation.  Regarding "strain out of gnat and swallow a camel," my study Bible explains that the Pharisees would attach strainers to the mouths of decanters in order to avoid accidentally consuming a ritually unclean substance.  

 

The scrupulosity of the Pharisees is well-illustrated in Christ's scathing criticism that they "strain out a gnat and swallow a camel."   It shows for us a clear emphasis on the details of observed piety, while the inner life and the fruits of the love of God are neglected.  In another memorable phrasing, Jesus says, "For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law:  justice and mercy and faith."  As my study Bible comments, we always run the risk of placing all our emphasis on externals and forget the power of faith, that inner life of the love of God.  Once again, we return to our reading from Tuesday, in which Jesus, in response to the Pharisees' questioning, set out the first two great commandments, upon which "hang all the Law and the Prophets."  The first commanded a total love of God, with all the heart, and soul, and mind.  The second was like it, to love neighbor as oneself.  The second flows from the first.  With their emphasis on external piety and position, on their appearance and place and rank with others, they have forgotten to first "cleanse the inside of the cup" so that the outside may be clean also.  This is once again a reference to the inner life, and the pure hearts Jesus asks us to work for, as our first work of faith (Matthew 5:8).  That is, heart and soul and mind dedicated to love of God.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly emphasizes the inner life, and our care for it, so that the love of God can produce its fruits and grow in us throughout our lives.  But a hypocritical focus on externals is what He condemns here in the practice of the Pharisees.  As my study Bible points out, all of these things and the traditions of the Church are meant as expressions of our faith, working to help us to shore up that faith within us, and to practice our faith and make it strong, to help us to express that love of God.  But it is a hypocritical focus only on the externals that is the source of the problem here, that is emphasized in Jesus' pronouncement of "woe" to these leaders.  Jesus calls them "blind guides" for they can't see what's in front of their eyes, nor can they sense what they lack in terms of their own faith and the fruits of the love of God.  Again, as my study Bible says, these warnings are not just for Christ's particular place and time, but they are always words in effect for all of us, so that we focus on our lives and the practice of our faith.  In modern times, our lives are seemingly governed by image and images, which are fantastically expanded and distorted through social media.  We need more than ever an understanding of what it is to cultivate a purity in heart and an internal, wholistic love of God which bears fruit in the growth of the soul and in love -- and not simply a reliance on slogans, movements, fashion, or to be seen by others.  As the celebration of Christ's Nativity approaches, let's remember where all the meaning comes from, and focus on cleansing the inside of the cup as He asks.    

 

 

 

 

And as you go, preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"

 

 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying:  "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.  Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.  

 

"Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.  And when you go into a household, greet it.  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"

 

- Matthew 10:5-15 

 

On Saturday, we read that Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:  first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. 

 

  These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying:  "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.  Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food."  My study Bible explains that the disciples' mission is like Christ's:  to preach and to heal.  It asks us to note that Jesus sends them only to the Jews.  It says that Christ's earthly ministry was focused on the Jews (Matthew 15:24) so that, after the Resurrection, the Jews could not blame the disciples for going "to uncircumcised men" (Acts 11:3).  Jesus is preparing them to be single-minded in their mission to preach and to heal.  First He emphasizes for them that His power is free; that is, it is a gift from God.  And second, He teaches them to carry no money, so that they cannot be accused of greed -- and so that they would learn dependence upon God. 

 

 "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.  And when you go into a household, greet it.  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"  My study Bible notes that Christ commissions His servants to give a greeting of peace, the same peace that was proclaimed by the prophets (Isaiah 52:7), that Christ Himself will offer to the disciples (John 14:27; 20:19), and that would be revealed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  

 

Let us look at some elements of Christ's commissioning and instructions to the disciples on this first apostolic journey which may seem somehow contradictory to us.  Perhaps to modern ears, we're used to thinking of "good" and "bad" in terms of what loving behavior is, and what it is not.  But the truth of Christ is a kind of two-edged sword, if we can put it in such metaphorical terms, as did St. Paul (Hebrews 4:12).  We either embrace that truth or we don't.  We either embrace His gospel message, or we don't.  And as the Person who is truth (John 14:6), we receive Him or we don't.  That is, the fullness of His message, His person, His grace is the complete expression of truth into which we seek to grow as we enter into communion with Him.  So there is a type of double-edged quality to the mission and instructions with which He sends out these disciples now chosen to become apostles.  The apostles' character and demeanor must be one of peace and humility, just as Christ Triumphal Entry into the Holy City of Jerusalem was that begins what we know as Holy Week (Matthew 21:1-11), as conveyed in His being seated on the colt of a donkey.  They will carry no money, nor will they dress ostentatiously.  They will be dependent upon how they are received wherever they go.  They are not to "trade up" for better accommodations, but stay in the first place where they are welcomed ("stay there till you go out").  As my study Bible pointed out, these apostles are to greet every household where they go to preach, presumably with the common greeting of offering peace.  But Jesus tells them something that stands out in a modern world that doesn't often understand discernment.  He instructs the apostles, "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet."  As the disciples do not go out into the world in their own names, they go out in the name of Christ, and He has given them His power to take into the world to do its healing work on so many levels, including the offering of His peace.  If they are rejected, so it is Christ's power and mission and grace that is rejected; Christ's peace is rejected, so it will return to the apostles.  To shake the dust from their feet is a rebuke, but it's also symbolic.  We are reminded that Christ is also the judge, and He will judge at the end of the age.  Is our final end only to be that dust?  (See Genesis 3:19.)  His words affirm this power of judgment:  "Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"   In the world, the work of the Holy Spirit, the power of God, works as a kind of measure.  We accept the promptings and work of the Spirit, or we do not.  But this "measure" is something that bears fruit in the final judgment of Christ.  We all have a lifetime to work out what we love and what we don't, what we accept and that which we reject.  Only Christ can judge, and only God knows the true heart of people.  Let us take seriously these instructions given to the disciples, for the power they carry with them is not only the grace and power of Christ at work in ministry, to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons."  As they have freely received of Christ, so they are to freely give.  This includes as well the peace of Christ, and the power of His word.  Moreover, with them, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."  God's grace and love is freely given, but we are also free to reject it.  However, the reality of the power of God is the very reality of life and existence itself, even of all creation.  We should understand the power of Christ's healing word and grace, and what we reject for ourselves when we can't or don't receive it.  It carries the power of forgiveness for sins, a great healing grace indeed, and the love to heal us spiritually, to heal the soul.  Consider what is turned down, in turning away that grace, and what remains without it.    The lost sheep are those He seeks; without the Shepherd, we remain only lost.  But yet still, He offers us the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

I am willing; be cleansed

 

 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.  

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.  

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

 

- Mark 1:29–45 

 

On Saturday, we read that after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel."  And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.  When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.  And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.  Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit.  And he cried out, saying, "Let us alone!  What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did You come to destroy us?  I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!"  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"  And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.  Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this?  What new doctrine is this?  For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."  And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

 

 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.  So far in this first chapter of Mark's Gospel, we've been given one healing act by Christ, and that was an exorcism.  In Saturday's reading, above, He commanded an unclean spirit who recognized Him as the Holy One of God, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"  But here we have the first healing of an illness:  Simon's mother-in-law has a fever.  This is in the family home of Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew.  In Matthew's Gospel, we're told that Jesus "rebuked the fever" which implies, in the words of St. Cyril of Alexandria, that there "exist certain powers that inflict harm on the human body."  But here, Jesus acts through touch, in that He took her by the hand and lifted her up.  If we think about it, this seems to be quite a symbolic act of restoration to her place in the household, an image of the fullness of Christ's Incarnation, in which He will be lifted up in order to lift up others (John 3:13-15, 12:31-33).

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.  Once again, the text emphasizes Jesus as one who heals, or sets aright.  As Logos, or the Word (John 1:1-4), Jesus is the One through whom all things are called into order.  And here we observe that action, and the people's response to it, as the whole city was gathered together at the door of Simon and Andrew's home.  He healed many who were sick with various diseases, He cast out many demons.  Christ did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.  As in yesterday's reading, when in the synagogue He told the unclean spirit to "Be quiet!" so here He commands silence for the same reasons.  His identity must as yet remain secret, as the hostility of the religious leadership will grow, the people's expectations are for an entirely different type of Messiah who will be a worldly political leader, and His desire to evoke genuine faith which is not based only on the signs He performs.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.  My study Bible comments here that Jesus sets forth for us an example of spiritual life.  Though He is God incarnate, He prayed continually, frequently finding a solitary place in order to be free from distraction, despite the multitude's need of Him ("Everyone is looking for You").  Christ's ministry, my study Bible tells us, comes forth from His communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit and flows to people in their needs.  His praying in the morning teaches us that we must put as first priority our commitment to God, and only then will are we equipped to serve others.  

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.  Jesus tells the leper to "say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest" and offer the proper things "commanded by Moses, as a testimony to them."  Leprosy was a terrible scourge of the time, which brought people severe hardships.  My study Bible reminds us that the biblical law concerning leprosy is found in Leviticus 13, 14.  Deuteronomy 24:8 describes the purification of lepers and leprous houses, which was a duty entrusted to the priests.   My study Bible says that leprosy was considered to be a direct punishment for sins -- as lepers were unclean, they were not permitted to live in the community or to worship in synagogues or the temple.  To touch the unclean was forbidden (Leviticus 7:21), but Jesus touched the leper, showing His compassion, and also that He is not subject to the Law, but over it.  My study Bible comments that to the clean, nothing is unclean.

The issue of touch is significant in today's reading, as it appears twice during healing.  First there is Peter's mother-in-law, who is sick with a fever.  The fever itself does not render a touch by Christ strange, but then there is the issue of a Man like Christ with a respected woman of Peter's household.  Certainly there were public restrictions regarding male and female conduct and familiarity which were part of the contemporary society. (and that included regulations regarding touch).  But the emphasis here on Jesus' taking hold of her hand is on healing.  In some sense, this is a scene between Peter's mother-in-law and Jesus which is reminiscent of a doctor attending a patient at the bedside.  His touch is respectful; neither does He sit on her bed where she is laying with fever.  But most of all, His touch is healing and accompanies the healing.  She is at once restored to her place in the household, a very important place indeed.  Not only is she likely the eldest female, but it is her privilege (not a drudgery) to serve Christ and the disciples which have begun to gather in their home.  But then the Gospel magnifies indeed this understanding of a touch from Jesus Christ.  For in the healing of the leper we find Jesus acting contrary to the prohibition against touching what was unclean, but this is also in the service of compassion and healing.  Let us note immediately that Christ's respect as a devout Jew is also for the Law given by God, and He tells the leper to go and follow the Law as given to Moses in making the proper offering and presenting Himself to the priest.  And so, in the image of the healing of the leper is contained another summing up of Christ's ministry:  He is the Physician who heals from compassion, and His expression is for compassion as a way of true fulfillment of God's law.  He will show this over and over again when He heals on Sabbaths, and is finally persecuted for doing so by those overzealous for their own traditions over and against the Law and the true intent of the Law.  What we can take from Jesus is an understanding that compassion and healing are ways of upholding the prime commandments of God.  Jesus will sum up all the Law and the Prophets in two commandments:  the first and greatest is to love God with all one's heart, and soul, and mind, and strength; and the second is to love neighbor as oneself (see Mark 12:30-32).  We become more "like" what we love; therefore this set of commandments is a way to learn love from God, and to share that with neighbor, whom God has also made in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:26).  But, importantly, and to distinguish how this love works, it is not a love which is expressed in sentimentality or romanticism.  It is not a love that infantilizes others, nor does it smother them or disrupt their growth if they need to stand on their own.  It does not diminish others by discounting their own capacity or responsibility.  This is a love that works above all to heal.  And the compassion Jesus expresses is always to heal, to set aright, to cleanse, to restore (especially to proper order).  Let us remember that even a rebuke from the Lord is an act of love; Revelation 3:19 reads, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent."  Those whom Jesus loves are called "disciples" -- they are those who will learn from Him.  All of this is compassion with intent to heal, to set aright, to put in order.  Mark's Gospel is the one which will report to us that Jesus taught, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).  Let us continue on the journey of the good news of Jesus Christ, the One who saves and heals, and who teaches us about the compassion to do likewise.