1677. A False Profession of Piety
A False Profession of Piety
"But ail their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments" (Mat_23:5).
One would have thought the Pharisees most religious; they carried with them every outward mark of a superb piety; they walked among the people with an air of holiness that was most convincing; their phylacteries were made broad; the borders of their garments were made larger all in boast of a supposed righteousness.
These Pharisees knew how to pray long prayers, impressive prayers, in public places. They knew how to bring in their tithes with a sweep of sanctity that was staged to be seen of men.
How different was all of this to the unaffected piety of Paul! Paul boasted nothing in his flesh. He said:
"I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing" (Rom_7:18).
Paul boasted of no glory in his ministry. He said very plainly: "We are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day" (1Co_4:13).
Paul did not walk upon a high pedestal, with a holier-than-thou air.
The servant of the Lord should never glory in his own piety, nor magnify his own service. He is but the voice of one crying in the wilderness.
If God works some mighty miracle of grace through him; and if the people with wonder and amazement run out to do him honor, then let him say:
"Why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man to walk?" (Act_3:12, \1911 Bible).
The Pharisee boastfully said: "I am not like other men * * even as this publican, I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I gain" (Luk_18:11-12, \1911 Bible). Yet the Pharisee was not justified by God.
God save us from a false profession of piety, and from an unseemly parading of works.
Holiness in walk should be possessed.
Sanctification should be seen in the life.
The sun does not boast its shining, it merely shines.
We should let our light so shine that men, seeing our good work, will glorify God.
A piety that is woven in the robes we wear, and not wrought out in the deeds we do, is vain.
A religiousness that consists in rites of worship and denies righteousness of walk is vain.
Let us be chary of professing anything. God has written, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie." If, on the other hand, "we walk in the light * * we have fellowship," and our "light" will say all that is needed to be said.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR