Lightin' the Fuse

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus. Matthew 15:1

Stopping right here with just this verse, it almost sounds hopeful. Coming to Jesus is of course the moment we all await when that great rapture takes place and we are called to Him. The scribes and Pharisees though? That in the gospels does not usually introduce a moment of levity. One at a time, such as Nicodemus, and we receive some beautiful truth from the Master, but when the group comes as a gang, well...

Indeed that was the case this time, as some scribe or Pharisee asked, "Why don't you guys wash your hands before eating?" (There may be a bit of paraphrasing there.) They lit the fuse on the ol' powder keg again.

Jesus takes a moment to chastise these teachers and recorders of the Law over a tradition they had adopted, not the one about hand washing before meals, that conflicted with the commandment to honor their father and mother. Then, just to make His point go deep, the Master spoke to all of those gathered there and to us in this age: “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (15:10-11)

We have plenty to worry about in regards to eating, just take a quick look at the mass media at any time, but the Master instructs us to worry about what we say. The words that come from an idle tongue will defile us. The opinions based on little or no fact, the rumors passed from one wagging tongue to another, the snap judgments arising from a desire to appear smart, these will get us defiled right quick, and they may light a fuse too when the person spoken about hears them repeated. But worst of all is to light the fuse of the Master and be called 'Hypocrites!'

A prayer to my Lord to guard my tongue and to make it a loving one when I must speak,

Bucky