tuesday

today we're reading Matthew 23. 

read today's text

If you liked yesterday's passage, you're going to love today's passage. This passage includes what is referred to by Christians as the Seven Woes which is basically Jesus calling out all of the religious leaders. We'll move through them as we read this passage, so don't feel like I'm throwing a whole chapter at you (because there's a lot more reading as the week goes on). 
I think so often we read this and begin to point fingers at other Christians. We tend to forget that we are in the same boat as them; just as sinful and just as in need of a Savior. It's so easy to try and distance yourself from the bounds of sin when we don't want to address our sins.  

Sometimes, we begin to act like Pharisees. 

Jesus first calls out Pharisees for gatekeeping the Kingdom. We sometimes start to think that certain people 'won't like Jesus' or 'aren't the Jesus kind of people'. I heard a pastor say a few years ago that to keep the goodness of God from anyone is to commit the worst offense as an evangelist. We don't get to determine if people won't like Jesus; our only job is to show people Jesus. 

(this is starting to feel a little close to home, right?)

I think we as Christians don't read this text often enough. LOL. anyways, back to the text. 

Jesus then calls them out for assuming the presence of God. Y'all, I unfortunately fall into this all the time. I think that if I do, say, or think bad things in church it "means more" than if I do them outside of church; as if the Creator of the universe isn't always present and watching me. Our intentions matter whether we're in church, bible study, class, or with our friends. We don't get to act like a Christian on Sundays and then act however we want on other days. Our lives as Christians never stop. Our lives following Jesus don't hit pause. 

ooo this next one hits different. 

Jesus starts calling us out for tithing. (wait what?) Jesus reminds us that if we're tithing to get into heaven, it won't work. The Message version says "Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that's wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?" We do these things like tithing in response to the Lord's gifts to us, not to look better in the eyes of God.

 Remember that.

All this to say: we can't keep pointing the finger at other Christians when we suffer from the same sins. We, most days, are the Pharisees of today; propping ourselves up to be the better people of society when in reality, we are broken people. Jesus tells them that they spend too much time trying to look righteous rather than trying to be righteous. 
Let's stop comparing ourselves to other believers and non-believers and just focus on Jesus.
Focus on repentance. Focus on loving others. Focus on being faithful followers of Jesus.
​That's how we show the world the goodness of God.