Hypocrites!

For Sunday, November 23, 2024:

Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus speaking: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

This kind of talk – directly criticizing the Pharisees in public – got Jesus in a lot of trouble which eventually led to his death. But looking back on the situation, Jesus was the one who was right! The Synagogues were consumed with religious ceremonies and traditions. Their goal had become catching someone violating a commandment and pronouncing them guilty, rather than offering love, forgiveness and an encouraging push in the right direction. They did not show love for the Lord or their fellows.

And yet they wore fancy robes and put on an elaborate show. The leaders looked good on the outside but were spiritually empty on the inside. Jesus compared them to whitewashed tombs, trying to look good on the outside but with only dead men’s bones on the inside. Hypocrites!

Jesus’ teaching is a warning for us nowadays. Only trust spiritual leaders who teach the Bible and model their actions after the Christ. Steer clear of dead men’s bones!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Hypocrites!

For Tuesday, February 27, 2024:

Mark 14:1b-2 NLT: “The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. ‘But not during the Passover celebration,’ they agreed, ‘or the people may riot.’”

Jesus didn’t get along with the Jewish hierarchy. They suffered from, what I call, “Selective Obedience.” Now killing someone, in this case Jesus, would be a violation of God’s commandments. And yet they choose to honor the Passover.

So which is it, Rabbi? Are we supposed to follow God or not, and are there exceptions? The short answer is that we are to always follow God’s instructions. He is always right; he always wants what’s best for us! There are no exceptions!

Jesus didn’t like people who preached one thing, but then did another, and I believe God didn’t like it either. God and Jesus are always on the same page! The two-faced teachers and priests were secretly plotting Jesus’ demise, while publicly leading the celebration of Passover. Hypocrites!

Signing up for the Holy Family requires total commitment. The wishy-washy won’t make it. Disingenuous souls won’t make it. When following Jesus, you’re either all in, or not in at all. And those who are all in get to see heaven from the inside. Eternally!

Today is the best day to seal your commitment to Jesus!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Hypocrites - Not!

For Saturday, November 11, 2023:

Matthew 23:27-28 NLT, Jesus speaking: “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Jesus had no time for hypocrites. In Greek, it’s “hypokritai,” describing an actor, someone pretending to be something they are not. But Jesus said to let your “yes” mean yes, and your “no” to mean no. In other words, honesty is always best. And don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought!

I believe the Pharisees didn’t understand the call of their mission. Rigid enforcement of “the law” had become their goal, rather than offering forgiveness, restoration and reconciliation like Jesus did. They purported to do the Lord’s work, but had lost sight of the target. Jesus likened them to “a whitewashed tomb, which outwardly appears beautiful, but within is full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.”

Read your Bibles – Jesus always gave sinners a chance to straighten things out, no matter the error. He’s known for offering second chances and do-overs to the repentant. And that’s still true nowadays!

There’s a time in each of our lives “before” Jesus, and a time after Jesus. Jesus told us to take a “Mulligan” on the first part. Go through the radical transformation Jesus offers on that dividing line in our lives. We may make more mistakes and need more forgiveness, but now we have a heavenly solution!

Blessings!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Our Father...

For Friday, March 4, 2022

Matthew 6:9 CJB, Jesus speaking: “You, therefore, pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven! May your Name be kept holy.’”

In Jesus’ day, hypocrites lined the streets of Jerusalem, praying out loud. Like thespians in a play, rather than actually praying to God, they were putting on a show to let everyone know just how righteous they were. Their prayers were long and complicated, as if God appreciated verbiage. But he’s not a fan!

Jesus recommends praying simply, getting right to the point. God understands our everyday words because God knows what’s in our hearts. Don’t picture God as so far away. He designed us and created us, so we should have a close relationship with him. Think of him as your Father. Believers, after all, have been adopted into the Holy Family, which fills us with never-ending hope!

Our prayers should be one-on-one time with our Father!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Sincere Prayer

For Friday, August 20, 2021

Matthew 6:5 NLT, Jesus speaking: “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”

Jesus is in favor of prayer; He prayed himself, all the time. And praying in public is fine, like we do at church. Jesus did that himself, as did his disciples.

But Jesus could not tolerate the “prayer show.” People would stand on street corners, praying as loudly as they could, attracting as much attention as they could, so all the passers-by could see just how holy they were! In fact, they weren’t. It was all a show; it wasn’t real. They were pretending to be righteous, like actors in a theater. Such prayer is not real prayer, but empty words meant only for the ears of other people. Their motive – to be seen by others – was the problem. They were hypocrites!

Pray sincerely from the heart. Let your spirit communicate with the spirit of the Lord.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406