<Meditation>

• Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. He emphasized that not even the smallest detail of the Law would be done away with until its purpose is achieved. He warned that anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven (verse 17). He stressed the importance of not only following the law but also teaching it correctly (verse 19).

• Being a teacher is difficult. If one does not teach, perhaps they can avoid the judgment that teachers will face. At least they might avoid the sin of teaching others while not doing what is right themselves.

• However, knowing God’s will and just living by it alone seems like neglecting my duty. Therefore, I always find myself moving between these two points. It will be the same today and tomorrow. Living in this world is not easy for me. By nature, I am more suited to living quietly on my own, without many relationships with others. There are certainly people who criticize me for living alone, but I know that this lifestyle suits me best.

• Recently, the immoral actions of Christian leaders have caused a stir in the world. Since I am also in a position of teaching, I must remember today’s message and live by practicing God’s commandments.

• I used to think, “If a person only teaches what they can practice, there wouldn’t be much they could teach.” (This was my excuse.) But now, my thoughts have changed. Even if I only teach what I can do (even if it’s just one commandment), there is certainly something to teach. Sharing my experiences (failures, frustrations, successes) with other believers and discussing the Word becomes more impactful and enjoyable.

• Back when I was a college group leader, feeling guilty while teaching students, a senior gave me some advice. He said, “If one only teaches what they can practice, there wouldn’t be much they can teach.” This helped me through that difficult time. God worked through me, even when I was unfaithful. So, looking at these situations, it seems there isn’t always a clear answer.