Devos 365

Matthew 23:23-24 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! The “woes” aimed at the Pharisees are piling up. Jesus pointedly blasts them for a determined show of tithing while neglecting the characteristics of mercy and justice. Turning a blind eye to the struggles of the poor, the needs of the widow, and the plight of those facing injustice is reprehensible to God. These words of judgment fall not only on the Pharisees but on us as well. We too can be guilty of the same neglects. When reading this passage, the Bible student is reminded of Micah 6:6-9. 6 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year ol...

Matthew 23:16-22 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’   17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?   18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’   19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?   20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.   21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it.   22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. As Jesus continues to expose the Pharisees wrong thinking, He pulls no punches. As the story tracks along, we are inside of Passion Week. Jesus has only a few more days left on earth ...

Matthew 23:13-15 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. [ 14 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will be punished more severely.] 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. It is always my intention to write something uplifting, instructional, and encouraging. Some days that is really difficult. Like today. We now dive into what has been titled “The Seven Woes” by those who compiled the Scriptures. Jesus speaks specifically about the treacheries of the Pharisees in vividly colorful terms. His warnings are to the point and prickly. Had I been standing near a P...

Matthew 23:1-12 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoev...