One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

–Parallel Verses:
Galatians 6:1-3
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

Before trying to understand Jesus’ critique here, I think it is helpful to consider this question: What are the different types of burdens people carry?

I pray about this almost every Sunday as I pray over our congregation at church. Sometimes I am distracted and cannot visualize these burdens. Other times God helps me see them clearly. Here are some of the burdens we see in life:

1) Fear of abuse or violence.
2) Heartache from broken relationships.
3) Loss of a family member to an illness.
4) Demon possession.
5) Pressure to perform.
6) Uncertain income.
7) Worrying about other people’s opinion of you.
8) Loneliness and the need for attention, friendship, or companionship.

Jesus said that the experts in the law did not carry the burdens of others. Not only so, but they added to their burdens. This is done in many ways, but most of the time it is done in judgment.

For the fearful person, we might say that they just need to get their head on straight and start trusting people. For the person experiencing broken relationships, we could easily blame them for not making good decisions about who they hang out with and how quickly they let the relationship go. For those who are dealing with an illness, we might matter of factly say “that is just life, we all die sometime”. For strife or abuse in the home, we might blame them for putting up with it for so long. For pressure to perform or uncertain income, we might say they just need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. For those who worry about another’s opinion of them, we could simply tell them not to worry and judge them if they continue to do so. For those who wrestle with loneliness or companionship, we could say they just need to trust God more and get to know him.

The problem with all of the above positions, is not that they are entirely incorrect. It is that THEY ARE NOT LOVING. It requires no personal effort on one’s part to judge another. It is the easy way out. But we must consider how we can share the love of Jesus with a dying world. To do this we must consider how Jesus acted and what he said to those who were hurting.

1) To the lost sheep, he was the good shepherd who went and found it and brought it into the fold, at much personal risk to himself. (John 10:11)
2) To the ten lepers, he prayed and healed them. (17:11-19)
3) To the lame and the blind, he touched them and healed them. (John 5:3)
4) To those possessed by evil spirits, he battled them in prayer and cast them out. (Luke 5:1-20)
5) To the woman caught in adultery, when the crowd was ready to stone her, he called out the crowd and their sin, forgave her, and told her to sin no more. (John 8:2-11)
6) To the prostitute who anointed his feet with oil, he honored her above those who judged her. He sided with her. (Mark 14:1-11)

Jesus was a burden carrier not a burden loader.

In life we can all choose which we are to be. Will we be burden carriers or burden loaders? Judging others only loads down their already heavy burdens. But we are told to “carry each other’s burdens and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.”

When we engage in burden carrying, we can engage with the help of Jesus Christ. And he says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:28-29) Now, when we come to Jesus with our burdens, some of these are our own and some of these are ones we have chosen to carry for others. And he yokes us up with him and he helps us carry them all.

So the real question is: Do I want to carry my burdens solo, or do I want to help carry the burdens of others along with mine, and be yoked to Jesus … in which case they will be light?

Lord, thank you for leading us in carrying the burdens of others. You are right by the side of your followers. We are never alone in the lifting of burdens. Teach me to help carry burdens more and to judge others less.