Nehemiah learns of the destruction in Jerusalem, the country has been basically destroyed physically and spiritually, specifically the wall around Jerusalem had been burnt and torn down. Upon hearing this news Nehemiah is heartbroken. The destruction of his people drives him to weep and fast, confessing the sins of his nation and declaring the power of God (1:4-11).
Nehemiah's future success can be attributed to him seeking the counsel of God before acting on his own will (see examples of people who did not).
Nehemiah then goes and counts the cost of the job God has called him to do in repairing the wall. *importance of Luke 14:25-35*
After praying and receiving the command from God and observing the task ahead Nehemiah organizes the people and assigns them to sections of the wall and they begin working to accomplish the will of God. They face various trials along the way (I"ll spare the specifics but will touch on them later).
After some time the people begin running out of food. Because of the demands of the task of rebuilding this wall the men have been absent from the farms and the crops have suffered greatly as a result. Instead of joining in the work and helping accomplish God's will, the leaders and nobles weigh the people down with burdens further. Rather than having mercy they force the people to mortgage future crops in order to get food. For some, this isn't enough and many have to put their own children into slavery as a worker in order to have food. These nobles had been blessed with their position of authority by God, but rather than help they were so consumed by greed that they burdened these people with slavery and debt.
As chapter five begins the people complain to Nehemiah about what the leaders have done and he is furious. He goes to confront these people and tells them how they are not only not helping but they are actually pushing against the work of God. After showing them their faults he makes them promise to remove this bondage they have placed on their own nation (5:6-13).
Before I talk about what happens in Matthew 23, I want to set the stage for what's been going on. In chapter 21 Jesus makes what is known as His triumphal entry. He came in and "went ham." In fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 62:11 and Zech. 9:9 Jesus is, for the first time, offering Himself as the awaited Messiah and establishing His Kingdom (though it won't be done the way His followers hope). He cleanses the temple and curses the fig tree for not producing fruit (I would write a book about this act) and establishes His authority to the religious leaders by saying He doesn't need anyone's approval. He is asked a number of questions by people trying to make Him say something that they could use to arrest Him. He tells parables of the importance of a soul (21:28-32) and again states what judgement is going to look like (21:33-46). He then states the great commandment. He tells us to love God with everything and to love people. It's that simple. He isn't concerned with checklists, tithing, organizations, programs, whatever. Those things are all great, and all have a purpose, but God is ultimately concerned with one thing. Our soul. He wants our souls to be satisfied in Him.
Here comes the smackdown. The Pharisees had been entrusted with the Word and work of God. They were there to study and teach the Word of God to men. They were to be anchors in the world. They were to exhort and encourage people. They had been blessed with a wonderful opportunity, but rather than build walls around people to protect them, they weighed them down and forced them into the slavery of self-righteousness. Christ sees the spiritual poverty of His people and is broken for them (23:37-29).
Holiness is so very important.
We should be concerned with sin.
We should be on guard against it.
But rather than weigh others or ourselves down with impossible obstacles and rules,
lets join forces and rebuild the wall around us and provide the protection we all need.
It won't be easy.
It wasn't for Nehemiah.
They were hungry because of it, but on top of that Nehemiah was mocked (2:19; 4:1-3), attacked (4:7-12) and more trickery and blackmail (6:1-9).
So yes, it will be hard and trying, but just as for Nehemiah, it is crucial for us as a body that we build.
