2 Maccabees 4:18-22: a reflection

18Now when certain games that came every fifth year were kept at Tyre, and the king was present, 19the vile Jason sent sacred envoys, as being Antiochians of Jerusalem, bearing three hundred drachmas of silver to the sacrifice of Hercules, which even the bearers thereof thought not right to use for any sacrifice, because it was not fit, but to spend it for another purpose. 20Although the sender intended that this money was for the sacrifice of Hercules, yet on account of present circumstances it went to the construction of trireme warships. 21Now when Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent into Egypt for the enthronement of Philometor as king, Antiochus, learning that Philometor had shown himself hostile toward the government, took precautions for the security of his realm. Therefore, going to Joppa, he travelled on to Jerusalem. 22Being magnificently received by Jason and the city, he was brought in with torches and shouting. Then he led his army down into Phoenicia.

This passage shows how far compromise had crept into the leadership of God's people. Jason, who had corruptly obtained the high priesthood, was so eager to embrace pagan customs that he sent money as an offering toward a pagan sacrifice. But notice a striking detail: even the men carrying the money thought it wrong to use it for such a sacrifice, and it was diverted to another purpose. The compromised high priest had less scruple about dishonoring God than the very messengers he sent.

Notice the sobering comparison: the high priest of God's people had less conscience about pagan worship than the ordinary men who carried his money. Jason, who should have guarded the holy things, was eager to honor a pagan god; while those beneath him, with no such office, still felt it was wrong. Compromise had so dulled the conscience of the one who should have been most careful that outsiders had more scruple than he did.

That is a warning about how far compromise can go, and how it dulls the conscience. When we begin to compromise with what dishonors God, adopting the world's ways, blurring the line between the holy and the profane, our conscience grows dull, until we may have less scruple than those who never claimed to follow God at all. It is a danger to find ourselves, who bear God's name, less troubled by what dishonors him than those outside the faith. Guard against the creeping compromise that dulls the conscience. Do not let your sense of what honors and dishonors God erode through compromise, until you are less careful than the world around you. Keep a tender conscience toward God, and beware the compromise that would dull it below even the scruple of outsiders.

Lord, this passage shows how far compromise had crept in: the corrupt high priest Jason was so eager to embrace pagan worship that he sent money for a pagan sacrifice, yet even the men carrying it thought it wrong; the one who should have guarded the holy things had less scruple than his own messengers. Warn me about how far compromise can go, and how it dulls the conscience. When I begin to compromise with what dishonors you, adopting the world's ways, blurring the line between the holy and the profane, my conscience grows dull, until I may have less scruple than those who never claimed to follow you. It is a danger to find myself, who bear your name, less troubled by what dishonors you than those outside the faith. Guard me against the creeping compromise that dulls the conscience. Do not let my sense of what honors and dishonors you erode through compromise, until I am less careful than the world around me. Keep my conscience tender toward you, and help me beware the compromise that would dull it.