The Two Shall Be One
In His denunciation against the Jewish leaders, Christ said: “They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:4). How does God consider those who place burdens on someone’s shoulder, while they themselves will not move them? Hypocrites.
This was and still is the main sin of the Pharisees in the time of Christ and as well as those modern Pharisees. False Christians are very severe with others while they are compassionate with themselves. They even create human rules to control other people even though they themselves do not obey those same rules. By the way, does the Christian need human rules in addition to the duties prescribed in the Word of God?
Why are we inclined to create religious rules, when we have so many inspired commandments in the Holy Scriptures?
“The effort to earn salvation by one’s own works inevitably leads men to pile up human exactions as a barrier against sin. For, seeing that they fail to keep the law, they will devise rules and regulations of their own to force themselves to obey. All this turns the mind away from God to self. His love dies out of the heart, and with it perishes love for his fellow men. A system of human invention, with its multitudinous exactions, will lead its advocates to judge all who come short of the prescribed human standard. The atmosphere of selfish and narrow criticism stifles the noble and generous emotions and causes men to become self-centered judges and petty spies.”1
This Spirit of Prophecy quotation is very deep and broad. It shows the root of all attempts to control oneself and others by human rules: salvation by works. And who is the author of the doctrine of salvation by works? Satan.
“The principle that man can save himself by his own works lay at the foundation of every heathen religion; it had now become the principle of the Jewish religion. Satan had implanted this principle. Wherever it is held, men have no barrier against sin.”2
What is the result of this false religious principle: Selfishness, Self-centered attention, and despising and controlling the conscience of others. People who follow this principle become “self-centered judges, and petty spies.”
Instead of submitting to the leadership of Christ, the Jewish leaders tried to control the Lord and judged Jesus according to their own system.
“The remnant church is called to go through an experience similar to that of the Jews; and the True Witness, who walks up and down in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, has a solemn message to bear to His people (Revelation 2:2–5 quoted).
“A legal religion has been thought quite the correct religion for this time. But it is a mistake. The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees is applicable to those who have lost from the heart their first love. A cold, legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless religion. When fastings and prayers are practiced in a self-justifying spirit, they are abominable to God. The solemn assembly for worship, the round of religious ceremonies, the external humiliation, the imposed sacrifice—all proclaim to the world the testimony that the doer of these things considers himself righteous. These things call attention to the observer of rigorous duties, saying, This man is entitled to heaven. But it is all a deception. Works will not buy for us an entrance into heaven. The one great Offering that has been made is ample for all who will believe. The love of Christ will animate the believer with new life. He who drinks from the water of the fountain of life, will be filled with the new wine of the kingdom. Faith in Christ will be the means whereby the right spirit and motive will actuate the believer, and all goodness and heavenly-mindedness will proceed from him who looks unto Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith. Look up to God, look not to men. God is your heavenly Father who is willing patiently to bear with your infirmities, and to forgive and heal them. This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent’ (John 17:3). By beholding Christ, you will become changed, until you will hate your former pride, your former vanity and self-esteem, your self-righteousness and unbelief. You will cast these sins aside as a worthless burden, and walk humbly, meekly, trustfully, before God. You will practice love, patience, gentleness, goodness, mercy, and every grace that dwells in the child of God, and will at last find a place among the sanctified and holy.”3