Woe to you Teachers and Pharisees

Matthew 23:23-24

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!"

Hypocrite:
One who puts on a mask and feigns himself to be what he is; a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives.

I think when it comes down to it we have all done this. Here Jesus is trying to get across a message: your actions don’t account if your heart isn’t right. The Pharisees did all these ‘religious’ things for display but when it came down to it none of it mattered because the only ting that counts in the and is your relationship with God and having the right heart in the actions you take--big or small! We can do all the big noticeable things like help out a church, volunteer at homeless shelter or even become great speakers and ministers, but if we don’t also do the small invisible things like love god and others; give to the needy, or have a daily relationship with God none of this will count in the end, and our lives will have been wasted being a ‘display’.

Reflection

1. What are a couple practical ways you can give of what God has given you?
2. Are there any areas that you have been hypocritical? How can you change that?
3. The scripture above talks about justice, mercy and faithfulness. What are a couple ways you can incorporate these into your life?

Take the Next Step

This fifth woe is against ritualism without any real substance. The Pharisees were so legalistic about the small stuff that when it came down to the big commands of God they were nothing more that hypocrites. Take this day to evaluate you actions and motives. Think about what God has called you to do and then do it humbly and honestly leaving out any legalism and acting purely out of love for God.