Hands to Serve, Hearts to Love

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.” Matthew 23:13, 14, 15

According to William Barclay, the Scottish author of a popular set of Bible commentaries on the New Testament, the Talmud enumerates seven different types of Pharisees; six of the seven are bad.

· The Shoulder Pharisee, who wore all his good deeds and righteousness on his shoulder for everyone to see.

· The Wait-a-Little Pharisee, who always intended to do good deeds, but could always find a reason for doing them later, not now.

· The Bruised or Bleeding Pharisee, who was so holy that he would turn his head away from any woman seen in public – and was therefore constantly bumping into things and tripping, thus injuring himself.

· The Hump-Backed Pharisee, who was so humble that he walked bent over and barely lifting his feet – so everyone could see just how humble he was.

· The Always-Counting Pharisee, who was always counting up his good deeds and believed that he put God in debt to him for all the good he had done.

· The Fearful Pharisee, who did good because he was terrified that God would strike him with judgment if he did not.

· The God-Fearing Pharisee, who really loved God and did good deeds to please the God he loved.

These are the men Jesus is speaking to. Although He instructed the Jews to follow what they say, He admonished them NOT to follow what these leaders do. We too are advised not to advertise our righteous deeds, and not to exalt ourselves or seek to sit in the most important places. Instead we are to be humble, and seek to serve others. Mother Teresa said, “Give your hands to serve, and your hearts to love.”