Do not follow their example

(Matthew 23) How important is it to live what you believe? After reading this chapter there should be no doubt. Jesus speaks with authority, like no other before or after Him, when He calls out the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They were using God's law to make their own lives comfortable while crushing the people with rules and regulations. They took something God meant for the good of the people and beat them over the head with it, separating and exempting themselves from the requirements they were broadcasting loudly. Jesus did not mix his words when he called them snakes, sons of vipers, and children of hell! He said that generation will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time - from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the alter (verse 35). The teachers of the law of Moses had been given a great responsibility to take care of the Master's estate while He was away but when the Master (Jesus) returned they were found abusing the people and drunk in luxuries they did not earn. (Matthew 24:44-51 NLT) "You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. "A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant is evil and thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."