Matthew 23 is nothing short of a brutal indictment of the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus calls them hypocrites and fools. He says they do what they do to be seen by others. He says they put heavy burdens on others that they themselves do not follow.

Jesus says, they look good on the outside but are like whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones.

Wow. Can you imagine feeling the weight of these hard, true words, spoken by God in flesh, aimed at you?

Did any of those who heard His words that day repent, or did their pride keep them away?

Oh, I can shake my head thinking about those people…

You know, it’s so easy to read passages like this and believe the words are for others, but the truth is, my heart and my mind are still a war zone.

And if I’m honest, I see some of my own flesh in the description of the Pharisees and scribes. I can think I know more, would do better, and have it all figured out about how others should live. And on top of that, I can sometimes find my heart distracted and enticed by the praise of others.

And just like every time I start to read a passage and start pointing my finger at others, I have to realize there are always four more of my fingers pointed back at myself.

And so, once again, I ask the Lord to let the Word read my own heart. I ask God to turn anything upside down in my life that is displeasing to Him.

And I keep reading. And you know what I come to? The Lord’s mercy!

For after His verbal indictment of the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus says,” How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” (Matt 23:27)

What a Savior! Yes, He is full of truth but also mercy. For what He tells us is always for our good. He clearly says some things are wrong, but His arms are always open as He beckons for us to run to Him and to His better ways!

readMatthew

kimjaggers.com