HEART CHECKS - Scripture: Matthew 23:1-39
Jesus reproves the scribes and Pharisees. (1-12)
Crimes of the Pharisees. (13-33)
The guilt of Jerusalem. (34-39)
O - Observation:
Verses 1-12: The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat (v.2) to explain the law of Moses. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. They wanted to be thought more zealous for the law than others. They were proud. God knew their hearts and called them out in the discourse of Jesus in this chapter. We find not Christ, in all his preaching, so severe upon any sort of people as upon these scribes and Pharisees as especially seen here in this passage.
Verses 13-33: The scribes and Pharisees were enemies to the gospel of Christ, and therefore to the salvation of the souls of men. It is bad to keep away from Christ ourselves, but worse also to keep others from him.
They were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the law, but careless and loose in weightier matters. We are really, what we are inwardly. If the heart and spirit be made new, there will be newness of life; here we must begin with ourselves.
Verses 34-39: A hen gathering her chickens under her wings, is an apt emblem of the Saviour's tender love to those who trust in him, and his faithful care of them. He calls sinners to take refuge under his tender protection, keeps them safe, and nourishes them to eternal life. The Saviour stands ready to receive all who come to him. There is nothing between sinners and eternal happiness, but their proud and unbelieving unwillingness.
A - Application for me today:
To check my heart in with Christ. Am I like the Pharisees who did everything for show and to gain approval of others? Or is my heart changing to the calls and convictions of Christ?
This passage makes me uncomfortable to read because we like to think of Jesus, Yeshua, in the light of "let the little children come unto me" ... but by nature and with the character of God coursing through His veins He is also a righteous Judge and He was telling it like it was. He left nothing out, He saw things for how they were and He called out the Pharisees and scribes.
As I read this passage I thought, it is no wonder why they demanded His life. They were publically disgraced and humiliated. They had two choices here. Repentance or revenge. We likewise have two choices when Jesus calls us out in our hearts and reminds us when we are being hypocritical, saying one thing and doing another ... let us take the road of repentance every time ... not just for our sakes but for the sakes of those watching us to see what we will do, how we will react. As I said before, it is bad to keep away from Christ ourselves, but worse also to keep others from him.
P - Prayer in response:
Father, I know I have had hypocrisy in my life before, saying one thing and not having the right heart or in doing another. I do want to have a right testimony before you. I do not want to just "appear good" before others, I want to "be good" in my heart. Forgive me for times I have destroyed Your testimony through words or actions I have done ~ things that I have pushed, smaller matter that I wouldn't let drop without remembering the weightier matters, things that have kept others from wanting to know you more. That's not the kind of life I desire.
Let me take refuge under Your wing. Baruch haba B'shem Adonai. Blessed is He who comes in the name of Adonai.
Amen & Amen.
THE LOVE DARE CHALLENGE
Day 8: Love is not jealous
Love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire.—Song of Solomon 8:6 NIV
TODAY’S DARE
Determine to become your spouse’s biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help you set your heart on your spouse and focus on their achievements, take yesterday’s list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.
No comments:
Post a Comment