Q: In Matthew 23:3-5, Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees because they do their works to be seen of men. But in the Sermon on the Mount (in Matthew 5:16), Jesus told the multitude to Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Isnt this a contradiction?
A: No; the public service that Jesus advocates is of a sort which results in glory being given unto God; the public service which Jesus condemns here in Matthew 23 (and a little further along in the Sermon on the Mount, in chapter 6) is of a sort which results in glory being given to the human performers, or which is done insincerely. Jesus is quite specific about what He means: they made large phylacteries (the Scripture-containers which they wore so as to semi-literally carry out the commandment to write the Law upon your hearts and minds), and enlarged the borders of their garments (which were supposed to serve as reminders of the covenant of the Law and its component-commandments, as described in Numbers 15:37-40) -- external shows of piety, resulting in higher social status for themselves (as described in 23:6-7) rather than the giving of glory unto God.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: No; the public service that Jesus advocates is of a sort which results in glory being given unto God; the public service which Jesus condemns here in Matthew 23 (and a little further along in the Sermon on the Mount, in chapter 6) is of a sort which results in glory being given to the human performers, or which is done insincerely. Jesus is quite specific about what He means: they made large phylacteries (the Scripture-containers which they wore so as to semi-literally carry out the commandment to write the Law upon your hearts and minds), and enlarged the borders of their garments (which were supposed to serve as reminders of the covenant of the Law and its component-commandments, as described in Numbers 15:37-40) -- external shows of piety, resulting in higher social status for themselves (as described in 23:6-7) rather than the giving of glory unto God.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
