Corruption
We all know what we have been told, but do we do it?
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. - Matthew 23:1–12
When the people in authority don't follow the law, it is hard to get the general public to want to follow it as well.
Jesus points out a problem with authority. It is corruption.
The Scribes say one thing, but do another, and that leads people astray. Why bother to follow the law if the teachers of the law can't do it themselves?
Where this leads, of course, is chaos. At some point the teachers won't even bother teaching the law. Instead, they will justify their actions as the law and tell others to do as they do.
Even way back in Jesus' day, there was corruption at the highest levels of government, in Rome, and in local authority, even in the Temple itself.
So, what hope is there that the law will be followed?
It used to be that most followed the law because they respected authority. But it was not the authority of the leaders so much as the purpose of the law itself.
If we believe in the goal, we work together to achieve it.
But when we abandon a common goal, lose respect for the purpose behind our laws, then chaos reigns/
Once that happens, how do we bring back what we have lost?
More to come...