Jesus warns His disciples against the godless influence of the
Pharisees. Their influence on people is classed along with the evil
influence of Herod (Matthew 8:15). The
Pharisees had become obsessed with the externals of religion but they
had lost the awareness of God’s glory. They conformed to the details
(the kind of thing we find in Exodus 37-38), but they had missed the
real meaning of worship - giving glory to God. To those who bound by an
evil legalism, God’s Word says, “Free yourself, like a gazelle from the
hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler” (Proverbs 6:5).
The freedom which Christ gives is not freedom without discipline.
Scripture says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be
wise!” (Proverbs 6:6).
What God did for His people, Israel, was very great. There is a striking contrast between their slavery in Egypt and their abundance in the promised land. God had multiplied His blessing upon them, just as Jesus did when He turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). If the blessing is to be maintained and increased, we must honour the Lord. We must cry to Him for blessing: "Hear my prayer, O God, listen to the words of my mouth." We must call upon Him with faith: "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me" (Psalm 54:2,4).
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