This post was last updated on October 11, 2025

Day 258, Year 1

Understanding Those Who Lay Heavy Burdens on You

“They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.” (Matthew 23:4 NASB)

Believers who have heard the teachings of the Bible may, at the initial stage of spiritual growth, often find themselves in situations where they can only recite but cannot put into practice. So, we seek to understand first before considering how to do it, then, alongside praying for God’s help, truly put it into practice. However, the hypocrites in today’s verse shift the responsibility outwardly. They are irresponsible and crooked because they have the ability to understand how to practice God’s Word, but they choose to shirk their responsibility onto others. Matthew chapter 23 highlights the various problems of the hypocrites and the underlying reasons.

In the past, the hypocrites skillfully disguised their failure to do God’s Word by constantly reminding others of the burdens that had been lying on them. They manipulated the people by speaking about their problems, blaming them for not adhering to the law correctly, thus masking and avoiding their own shortcomings in obeying God’s Word. The hypocrites distorted His words and used them against others instead of viewing the law as a source of help, causing fear, resentment, and even disdain for God’s Word. In fact, foolish people may be misled into thinking that His words are not practical and even not feasible at all due to the teachings of these hypocrites. Jesus says that woe to those who make the little ones fall away from the Word of God. My prayer to God is to ask Him to quickly eradicate all the people and things that cause the little ones to stumble with His words nowadays.

Believers often need to think about an issue from multiple perspectives. When we are asked to do or not to do something, pay attention to the words and actions of the person who asked for it, and whether they are consistent. For instance, if some teachers ask you to do something, have they done it as well? If they do not do what they say, we should first remind them of their problem. Additionally, we should consider whether there are unspoken truths behind or beneath the things that some people often say. Usually, what the hypocrites leave unsaid is what matters. Finally, we can reflect on our own: Apart from being stirred or commanded by God, do the things you ask others to do burden them? Do you bring burdens to others in your relationships with them, or do you really help them? If you have any of the above problems, repent quickly according to His Word and stay far away from Jesus’ curse on the hypocrites!

Reflection questions:

1) What stage are you at in practicing God’s Word now? Do you need the help of mature believers to successfully practice His Word?

2) Do you often place burdens on others in your daily life? If so, how would you resolve it?