2026 Reading Plan Reflections - Day 36

“For they tie together heavy packs that are impossible to carry. They put them on the shoulders of others, but are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭CEB‬‬

This verse weighs on my soul as a pastor...

Jesus isn’t speaking in exaggeration here. He’s naming a real spiritual danger: the slow drift from faithful teaching into burdensome religion. Not because leaders stop caring, but because fear quietly replaces trust.

Fear that grace will be misunderstood.
Fear that people won’t take holiness seriously.
Fear that without rules, everything will fall apart.

So we add layers. Expectations. Standards that are never quite written down but are always felt. Over time, what began as guidance becomes weight—and the people carrying it are often the most sincere.

The Problem Isn’t Holiness—It’s How We Get There
Jesus is not anti-holiness. He is anti-hypocrisy and anti-burden. Legalism says, “Here’s what God expects—now carry it.” Jesus says, “Come, walk with me.” That’s why His invitation in Matthew 11 matters so much:

“Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 CEB

A yoke still implies direction, obedience, discipline, and work. But Jesus’ yoke is shared. He doesn’t hand us a rulebook and step back. He shoulders the weight with us. Legalism loads people down and watches from a distance. Jesus draws near and carries what we cannot.

Grace Is the Power Source of Holiness
This is the truth we can'tlose sight of: Holiness is empowered by grace, not enforced by rules. Rules can restrain behavior for a season. Grace transforms desire over a lifetime. Rules modify the outside. Grace remakes the heart. When holiness is divorced from grace, people either: perform and pretend, or give up in quiet despair.

But when holiness flows from grace, something different happens. Obedience becomes a response, not a requirement for belonging. Growth becomes possible. Failure becomes a place of learning instead of shame.

A Necessary Pastoral Question
Jesus’ words in Matthew 23 force a hard but faithful question:
Are we helping people carry what we teach—or are we just adding weight to their load? Do our words invite people to depend on the Spirit, or to constantly measure themselves? Do we point people toward Christ’s presence, or toward endless self-correction? Jesus reserved His strongest warnings not for struggling sinners, but for leaders who made God feel heavy.

Take inventory of your load. Ask honestly: What spiritual expectations am I carrying that Jesus never asked me to carry? Name them. Lay them before God.
Notice where faith feels heavy. Where does following Jesus feel like pressure instead of peace? That may be a sign that rules have replaced relationship.
Practice shared obedience. This week, don’t just ask, “What should I do?” Ask, “How can I do this with Jesus, not for Jesus?”
Extend grace before correction. If you lead others, pause before offering instruction. Ask: Am I lifting a burden—or adding one?
Pray This Simple Prayer Daily. “Jesus, yoke me to You. Carry what I cannot. Teach me how to walk in Your grace.”