Last week – Jesus compared to the great Rabbis of Jewish tradition
Went off on a different tack – comparing himself to the Messiah, comparing the Messiah to David, comparing David to God
This week we move from that public moment, to a more private moment went Jesus is teaching his disciples.
“Listen to what those guys have to say, but don’t live the way they do. They don’t practice what they preach.”
It’s hard to imagine a more scathing assessment of the religious leaders of the day
Pointing people not to their leaders, but directly to God.
Micah – historical context
Around the time of the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel
A country prophet, if we’re in Jerusalem, he lived in Albury
Around the same time as Isaiah, Amos and Hosea.
Things were not going well for Israel’s worship of YHWH
Micah is a contraction fo the Hebrew “Who is Like Yahweh?” Pointing people back to God.
It’s the same story. Hypocrites and false prophets.
It was the same at the time of the reformation. There was one church, but it was led by people like Leo X (Medici) and Johannes Tetzel – the one with that happy jingle
Is anything all that much different now?
A warning for leaders in the church
A reminder that Jesus, alone is Lord
No wonder we can never seem to get things right!
Return of Jesus
Festivals of the church year
We’re left with a foot in both camps
Theodicy
Presence of God
How then, shall we live?
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Turn your face towards Christ the King, because he alone is your Rabbi. He alone is your teacher, your instructor, your leader. God is our one true Father and through his Spirit he is with us always.
“[Life Through the Spirit] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” — Romans 8:1-2. Powered by BibleGateway.com.
