Hypocrites!

For Wednesday, May 15, 2024:

Matthew 23:23 NLT, Jesus speaking: “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”

God has shown us his truths. They’re not going to change: justice, mercy and faith top the list. These values should lead our agenda as we live each day. Putting our “things–to–do” list in the proper order requires knowing the Son of God and using our God given brains!

In today’s scripture, Jesus is addressing people who have this principle all wrong. Unfortunately, these are the religious teachers and leaders of the day. Jesus calls them all “Hypocrites,” someone pretending to be something they are not. Greek would use this same word for “actor,” someone playing a part unrelated to their actual life. The big downfall here is insincerity, using “made-up” values in the wrong order to teach religion to others! One translation calls these false teachers, “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

To fulfill their purpose, actors need an audience, and these hypocrite teachers of religion are no exception. They try to do good things, not for the “good” in it, but to impress others, so others can see just how good they are!

Worship the Lord because he is good, not to please others!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship