By: Obed Pineda
Someone was wrote, “The same people who are candy to our eyes, can be poison to our hearts. Study their ingredients before feeding them to your soul.” There is no question that influence (which this quote warns about) is one of life’s tangled enigmas. Its complexity is illuminated by pondering what makes one person more influential than the other, or how exactly does a person become influential? Additionally, the true delicacy of this persuasive power is highlighted when the spotlight focuses on the intentions of the one who wields it. This crucial fact reveals that influence can either be good or evil, heavily contingent on the one influencing. Hence, the sage advice to be alert of peoples motives when attempting to convince us of adopting their philosophies. Yet, this becomes very challenging when it applies to a loved one or a cherished friend. The majority of times, this is what complicates a person’s ability to separate fact from fiction. The emotions of love, respect, and admiration will clash with the logic of facts and truth. One key strategy implemented by all master manipulator’s is to captive the hearts of the masses to accumulate a mighty force behind them. This lethal tactic is evinced by Holy Writ in the events that led to the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Scripture explains that “the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus” (Matthew 27:20, emphasis added). Remember that these men were highly regarded by Jewish society in Palestine during the period that our Lord walked this earth. They were respected as “doctors of the Law” and for this reason often sought for the interpretation of it. Yet, it was the Lord who exposed their thirst for power and honor which they exhibited because “all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at the feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’” (Matthew 23:5-7, emphasis added). The sadness of this situation is that the Pharisees did have a good understanding of the Law of Moses. Although their notoriety was their strict, legalistic adherence to the traditions of the elders, Christ instructed His followers “whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Matthew 23:3, emphasis added). Behold the threat of perverting the blessing of being influential. It was previously noted that there are those who have a stronger influence among the people. During the Master’s lifetime, the Pharisees held a stronger influence over the people than their rivals, the Sadducees. A primary reason they did so is because the Sadducees were mostly composed of the Jewish aristocracy; the wealthy members of their society. Like in any civilization, the majority of the Jewish citizens were poor and did not belong to this elite, wealthy class. Thus, the people could identify easier with the Pharisees because they, too, were not born into wealth. Exploiting this vital truth, along with their apparent strict devotion to the Law, is how they managed to solidify their sect’s influence throughout Palestine. Nevertheless, this outstanding accomplishment ultimately became their self-destruction. The Pharisees abused their influence, using it for their personal gain and taking advantage of their own. The Lord publicly reprimanded them “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation” (Matthew 23:14, emphasis added). The Savior pronounced greater condemnation upon the scribes and Pharisees because “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17, emphasis added). Remember that our Lord had previously advised His followers to heed their instructions, but to dismiss their example “for they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:4, emphasis added). The Savior’s chastisement not only exposed the hypocrisy of these influential religious leaders, but it enlightened the travesty of a spoiled blessing. It has been repeated thrice in this composition that it is difficult to become a persuasive power, and once achieved it will either be good or wicked depending on the one wielding said power. The Pharisees lamentably molded this fantastic instrument intended for building, into a weapon of destruction. Their irresponsible utilization of their influence among the people is what Jesus pointed to as the source of their great condemnation. The deplorable perversion of this wonderful blessing is rejected by Jesus as He continued, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15, emphasis added). Irrefutably, the synopsis of our earlier quote cautioning that one must be aware of a person’s true motive before ingesting their ideas, proves to be judicious. In fact, it echoes the Lord’s own warning to His disciples “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1, emphasis added). The association between food and man’s influence urges a person to be careful what he approves or disproves. It aims to alert society that certain foods can be laced with invisible toxins that can provoke havoc. However, it must be noted that there is a warning spoken to he who has the ability to influence as well. If this gift of persuasion is not used with holiness, two lives are destroyed eternally; the one who is influenced and the one influencing. Paul was fully aware of the dangers of abusing this privilege, for he himself had once done so in his campaign against those of the Way (Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-2, 13-14). For this reason, he was able to identify the venom devouring Peter at Antioch, out of fear to the Judaizers, and “withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed.” (Galatians 2:11b, emphasis added). Peter’s irresponsible reaction toward the Gentiles in Antioch was so influential among the brethren, “that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:13b emphasis added). It is curious that even though the son of consolation was guilty of hypocrisy also, that Paul placed the brunt of the blame on Peter’s shoulders. There is no doubt that the reason for this is because Peter’s influence over Barnabas, and all who followed his lead, came from the respect and admiration they had for him as the one who opened the gates to the Kingdom of God (Acts 2:14-39). Peter’s grave mistake was in ignoring the pull of his influence upon his brethren, therefore unwillingly leading them astray. His sin came to be because he allowed himself to be persuaded into error, instead of being the one influencing them to righteousness. Therefore, let us learn from Peter’s stumble of the great responsibility bound to the influence we may have in people’s lives.