WHAT WE SAY AND DO July 2, 2020

It always amazes me how real life is a direct manifestation of what was written thousands of years ago.  We see on the news every day, how the words spoken by so and so are tested by the things they do after, or how certain testimonies and accusations are proven by camera recordings and doubted by the absence of a few minutes of video footage.  It seems many of us never read properly, never listen well, and never learn our lesson to be careful of what we say and do.

The Word today in the gospel of Matthew chapter 12 is rich and full of Jesus’ timeless teachings for all people.  These were radical during the time of the Pharisees, and still so even until the present times. 

The chapter starts with Jesus’ disciples plucking the ears of corn on Sabbath day because they were hungry, which is a big violation of Sabbath ordinances.  He concluded His rebuke on the Pharisees’ indignation by reminding them back to what the Prophet Samuel told the first Israelite king, King Saul, “…I desire mercy, and not sacrifice…” (verse 7).  The rest of the chapter shows Jesus’ heart in doing what is good and just, instead of merely complying with legalities, where he healed a man with withered hand in the synagogue, then he cast out an evil spirit from a person, after which He struck down their accusation that He was able to exorcise by the power of Beelzebub (a demon) by saying, “… a house divided against itself shall not stand.” (verse 25)  The chapter went on to talk about how the people who do not believe Him and instead call Him wrong and evil names will be condemned at the last days by the people whom they call sinners but who actually changed their ways and believed in Him, like the people of Nineveh during Jonah’s time, or the Queen of Sheba during King Solomon’s time.  The chapter ended with Him saying that, “His mother and brothers and sisters are those who do the will of His Father in heaven.” (verse 50)

He uttered some of His memorable words, in verse 35: “a good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things”; verse 34: “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”; then, verses 36-37: “but I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”

We learn here that words are very powerful.  One cannot speak them in authority and dominion over others without making sure that he who speaks must also be the first one to show obedience.  One loses credibility if he or she only criticizes other people, or tells them to do something, and yet himself not “walk the talk”.

These passages which we believe would give us hope, wisdom in our daily struggles, and guidance for right living are not only meant to be read, but like what GOD said to Joshua in the book named after him, in chapter 1 verse 8, we have “to meditate on them day and night, so we may be careful to do everything written on it”.  Maybe only then will we be able to have the wisdom and courage to be consistent with both what we say and do.