Matthew 23
September 09, 2015
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 23
OBSERVATION
Jesus just does not like hypocrites.
UNDERSTANDING
Jesus goes off on the Scribes and Pharisees who represent the religious people of the day. The ones who "knew everything about God."
Is it that He doesn't like it when people know a lot about God and His Word?
Is it that He does not care for those who follow His law?
I don't think so...I think the greater issue is whether they are simply outward actions or actions that come from a desire to live for God and please Him. Are we looking to please God or impress people?
It is no different today. Many people know a lot about God and claim maturity in Him and do some of the outward actions that make them look like they are really dialed in to God, but when the real tests come the heart is made clear. How many people come to church faithfully, and do good things in the name of God (all of which makes others impressed with how spiritual they are) but when they are faced with forgiving others, or telling the truth or a lie, or going the extra mile for someone else, we catch a glimpse of the true heart attitude. Jesus will have nothing to do with that kind of behavior. He hates how these religious people get so self-righteous they exclude people from God's kingdom because they didn't jump through the hoops. Or how they talk bad about others and cut people down. He hated their perversion of truth, twisting God's Word to fit their rationalizations. He certainly did not like their pretention. The sad part is that many of them were too blind to see that they were being hypocrites, they thought that they were doing good and everyone else was wrong, and what is even worse is that when they were confronted with it, by God Himself, they denied it.
LIFE APPLICATION
Lord, may we not be as religiously blind as the Pharisees and Scribes who did not repent when confronted with their sin. Open our eyes so that we recognize where we are being religious instead of allowing truth to flow from the inside out. Holy Spirit convict us of sin and may our hearts be broken and brought to repentance.