Daily Journal: 31 October

Power, Prestige

and Prominence

What is it that we desire most in life?

Life is a mix of successes and failures. It’s ebb and flows of joys and celebrations are mixed liberally with grief and loss. We mark our lives with milestones and key events. We acquire wealth and we grow our families.

What are we following after that marks our life the way we desire? Is power, prestige and prominence important to us? Or is the commandment to love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and strength more important?

Teachers of the Law had an important role in Jewish society. Known as Pharisees for their strict adherence to the law, this sect were also scribes, responsible for copying and preserving scripture, besides serving as legal experts, advising on religious and civil law.

Teachers of the Law had a significant role in daily life and most seemed to exalt in their power, prestige and prominence. So it’s interesting to read that one of them came to Jesus and said he wanted to become a follower.

Matthew 8:18-20 (NLT)

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

Teacher’s of the law were notably wealthy. Their position meant commitment to the law and a life time of study, strenuous daily undertaking, and enforcers of the law, expecting others to follow them.

Was it the large crowds that followed Jesus that he was after? Not likely, because the Teachers of the Law challenged Jesus’ right to teach the scriptures. Was it that he recognised Jesus’ authority or believe Jesus was the Messiah?

For a teacher of the law to say he wanted to follow Jesus was a big thing. Did Jesus see the man’s heart when he said this? Jesus cautioned his need for earthly security and title, letting the man know that He Himself didn’t have a home to call his own.

On another occasion Jesus was having a debate with a different sect of religious leaders.

Mark 12:28-30 (NLT)

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

It’s easy to place our identity in things the world says are powerful. It’s easy to place our heart in wealth and the way it elevates prestige. It’s easy to place our heart in recognition from others and the prominence this gives us. But first, we must deal with how these things affect our ability to embrace the first and most important commandment.

Matthew 22:36-40 (NCV)

“Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?” Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands.”