Day 54: March 21

March 21st, 2024
by Randy Eliason
0
SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 23:1-39

SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:
Vs 3 “Therefore, do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.” 

Vs 11-12 “The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Vs. 28 “In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Vs 37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! She who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing!”
 
OBSERVATIONS:
The chapter is a lengthy rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees by Jesus. Jesus rebuked them for several specific corrupt behaviors but the core problem was their hypocrisy. They did not practice what they preached. Here were the specific behaviors which received a reprimand.
·      They exercised a double standard. They did not do what they demanded from others.
·      Their religious practices were performative. They hungered to be honored by people.
·      They hindered others from Jesus (The door to the Kingdom) and rejected him as well.
·      They were zealous to make converts but since they were spiritually blind their converts were led astray from the truth.
·      They were strict in their practice of the Mosaic Law but they were devoid of the character qualities like mercy and justice that should have motivated their practice. They majored on minors, and minored on majors.
·      They worked to maintain an appearance of righteousness rather than living righteously.
·      They expressed honor to the prophets but their hearts and actions were just as evil as those who persecuted and killed the prophets.
Jesus ended his rebuke with a cry of sadness and grief that the leaders of Israel (i.e. Jerusalem) had spurned Jesus' attempts to redeem them and restore them to the Father.
 
 
APPLICATION:
It is possible to be orthodox in our beliefs about God and be diligently engaged in religious practices, spiritual disciplines, and moral behaviors without being a true Christian. Our “Christian lifestyle” can be something that is merely performative, rather than an authentic expression of a heart captivated by Jesus.
 
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to never fall into the trap of going through the motions spiritually. Convict me if I have become a “professional Christian” in any part of my life.  Please keep my heart soft before you so that everything I say and do will flow from a genuine appreciation for what you have done for me and an authentic desire to glorify you with my life. May I live every day full of the Holy Spirit!!
Posted in Book of Matthew
Posted in Pharisees and Sadducees, Law of Moses, Redemption, Hypocrisy

Randy Eliason

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 2025
 March
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 2024
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Drawing CLOSER Day 1: January 28Day 2: January 29Day 3: January 30Day 4: January 31
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Day 5: February 1Day 6: February 2Day 7: February 3Day 8: February 4Day 9: February 5Day 10: February 6Day 11: February 7Day 12: February 8Day 13: February 9Day 14: February 10Day 15: February 11Day 16: February 12Day 17: February 13Day 18: February 14Day 19: February 15Day 20: February 16Day 21: February 17Day 22: February 18Day 23: February 19Day 24: February 20Day 25: February 21Day 26: February 22Day 27: February 23Day 28: February 24Day 29: February 25Day 30: February 26Day 31: February 27Day 32: February 28Day 33: February 29
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Day 34: March 1Day 35: March 2Day 36: March 3Day 37: March 4Day 38: March 5Day 39: March 6Day 40: March 7Day 41: March 8Day 43: March 10Day 44: March 11Day 45: March 12Day 46: March 13Day 47: March 14Day 48: March 15Day 49: March 16Day 50: March 17Day 51: March 18Day 52: March 19Day 53: March 20Day 54: March 21Day 55: March 22Day 57: March 24Day 58: March 25Day 59: March 26Day 60: March 27Day 61: March 28Day 62: March 29Day 63: March 30Day 64: March 31
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