Poltiticians and Pharisees (3) - Heavy Load

Some Christian politicians will claim that they are just explaining God’s law and applying it to modern situations. The problem with this is that they are using the same method as the Pharisees. They would also have said that their regulations updated God’s law to the situation of their time. Unfortunately, Jesus was opposed to this method.

They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them (Matt 23:4).

The Pharisees approach does not help people obey the law, it actually makes it harder. The heavy burden makes them hostile to the law. God prefers that people think about what the law means and work out for themselves how to live under it. This is more effective than a whole lot of confusing and burdensome regulations.

Jesus critique of the Pharisees applies to all people claiming to sit on Moses seat. His critique is particularly relevant to modern members of parliament and congress.