Matthew 9:14-15 Mark 2:18-20 Luke 5:33-35
Comparison and the fear of man usually walk hand in
hand. We have a tendency to like to
compare ourselves with others because we usually look for those who we deem to
be doing worse than we are which allows us to feel proud of ourselves. When we long for the approval of others we
try to call attention to those things that we feel we are doing better at and
then expect to be praised for those things.
Jesus created a lot of controversy with His teachings and actions. The things that He did and said were direct
contradictions to the traditions that had spread throughout Judaism. The religious leaders constantly voiced their
displeasure to Him because He made them feel bad about themselves and worse
yet, He did not seem to care about their approval. They were constantly comparing themselves to
the sinners because it made them seem better and their hearts were filled with
pride. However, when Jesus failed to
fear them and then criticized them their longing for the approval of others
came flowing to the surface. They were
focused on themselves so their hearts were full of pride and fear. When we focus on the Lord Jesus our hearts
will be full of humility and joy.
JESUS REJECTED RITUALISTIC RELIGION: The disciples of John
the Baptist and the disciples of the Pharisees were in the habit of
fasting. The practice had become yet
another religious ritual that was performed as a means of earning the approval
of God. The purpose of fasting was to
demonstrate sorrow over sin, humility before God and a desire to spend time
with God. Instead it had become a ritual
that became sinful because it promoted pride and was focused on man and not God
at all. We, by our very natures, like to
think that we can earn everything that we need.
We don’t like the idea of being given things by grace or being dependent
on others. It seems debasing to us when
we have to ask for help or admit to our own weakness. This is why works based religion is so
attractive to us. We like to have rules
and regulations to keep and rituals to perform because in doing so we feel like
we are being worthy of our salvation. We
don’t like the idea of being given handouts that we have not earned in some
way. Fasting had become a symbol of
self-righteous religion that promoted pride instead of sorrowful repentance
that flowed from humility. It was a
means through which the people felt like they were earning their
salvation. The problem was not with the
fasting in and of itself; the problem was with what they considered to be the merits
of their fasting. There is no way that
we can earn our salvation through fasting, obedience to rules and regulations
or any other religious rituals. In order
to come before God, we must come in humility, repentance and completely
dependent on His grace.
JESUS RECEIVED REJOICING RELATIONSHIPS: Jesus responded to
the question about fasting by stating that it was in appropriate for the
friends of the groom to fast during a wedding reception. Jesus is referring to Himself as the groom
and stating that as long as He was with them it was a time of great rejoicing
because they were in a relationship with Him.
Weddings are supposed to be happy occasions. If we see a bride or groom or members of the
wedding party that are crying from sadness we know that something is
desperately wrong. The only tears we
expect to see at a wedding are tears of joy.
However, Jesus made it clear that there would be a time when His
disciples would fast because they were facing days of suffering in the absence
of the Groom. Jesus is in heaven
preparing a place for us His bride.
During this time when we are separated from the Groom it is completely
appropriate and expected for us to fast in the right way. We don’t fast in order to impress God or
others or to promote our own pride. We
fast in order to be reminded of our weakness and dependence on God. We fast in order to have time to spend with
God in prayer. We fast to discipline our
minds and bodies for eternal instead of temporal pursuits. However, the focus of our lives is a
relationship with the God through the forgiveness we have received by grace
through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This relationship is a source of great
rejoicing that springs from our eternal hope in the promises of God that supersedes
any suffering we might face in the present while we wait for the return of the
Groom. God wants us to rejoice in our
relationship with Him not try to impress Him with our efforts, rituals and
self-righteousness. We are the bride of
Christ. He is preparing a wonderful
place where we can dwell with Him for all of eternity. As we wait our hearts should be filled with
love, hope, expectation and joy. This is
the result of our relationship with Him which is founded on faith in His
identity as the Son of God and the shedding of His blood on the cross as
payment for our sin. His resurrection gives
us hope for our own resurrection and the glorious day when we will be fully reconciled
to the Father for all of eternity.
APPLICATION: Beware of the tendency in our hearts to follow
the pride producing religious rituals that flow from self-righteousness. We must be intentional about fighting off the
religion of works that is so easily planted in our hearts. Rejoice in our relationship with Jesus and
the love and grace that He has lavished on us.
Trust Him alone for forgiveness of sin.
Fast out of a desire to spend time with Him, depend upon Him and
recognize our own weakness.
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