Jesus reveals that the true heart of an evangelist is one of service and humility. The scribes and the Pharisees burden people and don't lift a finger to help. This implicitly contrasts with the attitude we should have. When we mention to someone that there is a better way to live it should be with the desire to help. It should in fact be with the desire to live that life for them if we could. This is in fact the very desire that led Jesus to come to earth.
"The greatest among you must be your servant."
He himself doesn't call us to this indifferently to our abilities. He has in fact perfectly lived it already. If he hadn't we would not be able to do so. It is his life being manifested in us that allows us to have a servant's heart. This should be our desire as well but we are more like the scribes and Pharisees.
"All their works are performed to be seen."
Jesus helps us to be freed from this. His greatest work, the work of the cross, was not performed because it made him popular. The scribes and Pharisees (and we ourselves) love places of honor to which the cross is antithetical. We shy away from the ignominy of the cross. But the heart is Jesus is not just to call us to lay our lives down but to first lay his own life down and then give that life to us so that we can follow him. We are given the awesome responsibility of calling mankind to lay down its life (so that they may gain them for eternal life) and this is the heart with which we ought to do it. This is the heart which first gives itself that others might live. This is the heart of Jesus.
"Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool."
We may think that we can't ever be fully mended from the selfishness in which we've lived. Jesus assures us that he is waiting to do just that. Scarlet and crimson seem like stains impossible to remove but Jesus has the power to make them pure white once more. He is merciful and for that reason he will not leave us to our sinful misery:
"I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes."
Not to condemn us but to set us free. Not to bludgeon us with knowledge of our wrongs but to show us that there is more and to call us to it. "Come now, let us set things right". He is eager to do it and sets it before us in such a compassionate and parental tone. Hear him when he says "let us" and hear the servant's heart willing to do all he can to enable our renewal. If we let him we can escape being consumed by the sword and instead find blessing.
"If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;"
you shall eat the good things of the land;"
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