January 14, 2026

SETTING AN EXAMPLE

2 Maccabees 6:24-28 (not in the Protestant Bible)

“For to pretend such things,” he said, “is not worthy of our time of life, lest many of the young should suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year has gone over to a foreign religion, and because of my pretense for the sake of living a brief moment longer, they should be led astray through me, while I earn only pollution and defilement in my old age. For even if for the present I should avoid the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die, I shall not escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore by manfully giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age, and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and bravely for the venerable and holy laws.”

After he said this, he went straight to the rack,

Personal Challenge

The example that we set for those in our lives is the most profound statement that we may ever make. Eleazar was a scribe in the temple of his day. He was ninety years old. King Antiochus was forcing the Jews to be Helenistic, which included worshiping the Greek gods and participating in their rituals. Part of the ritual was eating food sacrificed to these gods. Those who refused were tortured and put to death. Eleazar was being threatened by an Athenian Senator who had been sent to Jerusalem to convert or persecute the Jews. When it was clear to Eleazar’s friends that he would not submit, they came up with a plan to substitute the profaned food with Kosher food so that Eleazar world survive. They told him that no one would know. This passage is his response. He chose to die rather than appear to submit and fake it. He knew that he would set the wrong example for those whom he loved and cared for. We must choose this same approach with our lives to truly be followers of Christ. Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy!