In Matthew 23, Christ severely reprimands that Pharisees for their attitudes and their priorities. Rather than walking humbly with God, they exalted each other loving the greetings in the public including the titles they gave each other. Instead of focusing on the priorities of the law such as justice, mercy, and faith, they reveled in their compliance with tithing of mint and wearing of phalacteries. This rebuke resonates with the exhortation of Micah. Micah said, “He has shown you O man what is good and what the Lord requires of you. But to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
It’s easy to agree with the rebuke of the Pharisees in the gospels by Christ. However, I wonder how we would stack up against such an evaluation. Are we focused on the priorities of the word or do we focus on the minutia? It’s easy to focus on the things we can comply with and hold others accountable for their failure. Do we ignore mercy in favor of judgment and condemnation? Lord help us to pull the beam out of our eyes before we try to help our brothers pull a piece of dust from their eyes! (Matthew 7:1-5)
Your thoughts?
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Indeed, PK, it is sad but true. Certainly we can read Matthew 23 and think, “Wow, I’m sure not like those Pharisees!” Yet in that very attitude we can take on some of their less than savory characteristics, for sure.
I would have to get right in line with Paul and say that I am the chief of sinners when it comes to doing these very same things. I can so easily say, “Well, I read my chapters for today”, or, “I put in my offering for this week, so I’m all right”, or whatever. It is so tempting for us to compare and measure ourselves by those around us. But we know what Paul says - those who do so are not wise (2 Cor. 10:12).
One additional thought…as Jesus comes to the end of these rebukes, it seems that He holds out the invitation to repent one last time. He says, “Therefore, I send you prophets, wise men and scribes” (Matt. 23:34).
Jesus still reaches out to them. However, he sadly knows that some of these self-righteous ones are blinded to their sin and will never repent - “some of them you will kill and crucify (no doubt Him)”, that (to paraphrase) on these Pharisees may come the long-delayed but deserved judgments (vs. 35).
How blessed we are to be granted repentance…
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