Unable to attend church, I enjoyed being online Sunday morning and afterwards I enjoyed watching another service from a different church.
In his sermon, Pastor Bill Butterworth, “The Reality of Commitment” on Stonebriar Community Church YouTube page, tells a story about visiting a Holly Wood set.
Pastor Butterworth told of a moment when his driver encouraged him to go inside one of the buildings, and he quickly saw that once inside there’s nothing, just dry land.
The host of his tour, had spoken to Pastor Butterworth after re-emerging from the facade.
“Nice fronts, no insides.”
Pastor Butterworth said those words are ones he will never forget and they stuck to me as well.
It actually brought to mind two men in the Bible we studied in Sunday school.
And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:18-22 NKJV
These two men, in their own time, would have looked startling different, yet sadly, they are very similar.
First, we see a scribe, someone other Jews would pay attention to.
He speaks boldly.
Matthew 8:19b NKJV — ‘Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”’
This scribe sounds like a devoted follower, but Jesus’s response tells us something more.
Matthew 8:20 NKJV — And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
The disciples were there, so was a large crowd, Jesus had just commanded them to prepare to leave across the water, when up steps this scribe proclaiming he will follow.
But what is missing here is Jesus’s calling.
Jesus doesn’t respond to the scribe with a hardy welcome and an invitation to join, instead he gives a parable.
The missing piece comes when we look at how the scribe identifies Jesus, he called him “Teacher”.
He recognized Him as a person who taught, but not as the Son of God, therefore this scribe’s boast was hollow.
He may have looked extremely holy to those around him, but Jesus knew there was nothing on the inside.
The second man is a disciple, but for some reason doesn’t want to get in the boat and cross over with the Lord.
Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
Matthew 8:21 NKJV
Again, Jesus’s response tells us a great deal.
But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:22 NKJV
Luke records this slightly differently: “Jesus said unto him, ‘Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.'” Luke 9:59-60
Other passages in scripture clearly show Jesus being deeply moved by the death of someone.
In both cases He raises them from the dead. (Luke 7:12-15, John 11:1-44)
This seemingly callous response from our Lord Jesus leads us to see there was something lacking from this man.
Jesus’s response tells us invitation was given, but for some reason, this man was wanting to put off the call till a different time.
Neither gospel records more on either the scribe or the disciple.
One was a religious person who had the honor of copying God’s Word, not a small thing, and the other had the honor of being called by Jesus, but neither seem to have been anything more than nice fronts.
Which is sad.
Nothing on this Earth will last save the souls of people and the only soul which is allowed to enjoy eternal life is the one who puts their trust in Jesus Christ, surrendering themselves to His lordship.
Let us take the warning from these two men in the Bible.
We must do far more than look good to others.
Rather, we need to be thriving inwardly in relationship and obedience to Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 119:10-12 NKJV — With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for this warning about hypocrisy. Lord, I don’t want to be a facade, I want to be as true inside as outside. I want to live a life of devotion. Please help me to walk with integrity, even when I’m alone. To be honest and humble within, admitting my sins and repenting before You. Lord, please restore those areas which I have allowed to slide, that I might not grow indifferent to Your commandments, but rather that I be faithful in all. Lord, thank You so much for Your Word, Your way, and most of all, Your salvation. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
patientlyhopeful 