Today's passage is Matthew 23:1-12. Jesus tells the people to obey the Pharisees but don't do what they do because they don't practice what they preach. Everything the Pharisees do is for show. Jesus says those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Today's passage is the introduction to a chapter of Jesus' righteous anger at the religious leaders of Israel. He says their teachings are accurate and should be followed but their actions should not be imitated because they are contrary to the message they preach, God's message.
Today I am fasting and praying because I am a Pharisee.
I preach a good message but I don't follow it.
I like to sit at the head of the table, be called Principal, and drive the principal's car.
In my job I do a lot of judging because it's part of the job.
I have to make decisions.
To make them I need to have good discernment to judge. I make lots of mistakes because I judge without discernment.
A good example occurred earlier this week.
I was looking after a class while the teacher was away.
In the class was a girl who is failing computer class because she doesn't pay attention and won't do her assignments.
She is quite capable of passing. Her attitude and behaviour frustrate the computer teacher in the extreme.
Without thinking, I scolded the girl and ordered her to do her latest overdue assignment and stop making excuses.
I thought that what I'd done was a good thing, It was a strong reminder from the principal to do her work.
I learned later that my words, instead of galvanizing the girl to action, had in fact upset and embarrassed her.
I had chastized her about her computer class in front of other students in a class that wasn't computer class.
When I realized what I had done, I went the next day to that same class and apologized to the class for my lack of empathy and discernment.
I explained that though I was the principal and I lectured them on the proper attitude and actions in life, I was also in need of those same lectures and reminders.
Lord, give me your spirit of discernment and restraint. Forgive me my judgmentalism, which seems to be my default setting. Change me, Lord, into the servant you are calling me to be.
