Woe to you Teachers of the Law and Pharisees

Matthew 23:15

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

In this passage the Pharisees were doing a good works by spreading the gospel but were they doing it with the wrong intentions? The answer is yes, because although the Pharisees’ actions may have reflected obedience, their hearts did not. In return the converted person was just as confused about the meaning of God’s love as the Pharisees were. The Pharisees were given the responsibility to spread God’s love but instead lead them to believe in a system of do’s and don’ts. This is the very reason why God hates hypocrisy and directly calls the Pharisees it.

Reflection

1. Have there been times in your life where you did something purely out of the reward you would get in the end instead of doing it out of love?
2. Are there situations you can make available to share God’s love with others?
3. How can you show Christ’s love when initially sharing the gospel with them?

Take the Next Step

Converting people isn’t about getting them signed up for a list of do’s and don’ts but it is about converting them into lovers of God and those around them. Really share God’s message to those in need by reevaluating you intentions and making sure that it is out of love for God and others that is driving your actions. Remember that God is love and you can demonstrate this by showing unconditional love to others in Christ’s name.