Scripture:
Matthew 23:27-36 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, (A) which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn't have taken part with them in shedding the prophets' blood.' [a] 31 You therefore testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' sins! (B) [b]
33 "Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell? (C) [c] 34 This is why I am sending you prophets, (D) sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues (E) and hound from town to town. 35 So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, [d] from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, (F) son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. (G) 36 I assure you: All these things will come on this generation! (H)
Footnotes:
Matthew 23:30 Lit have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets
Matthew 23:32 Lit the measure of your fathers
Matthew 23:33 Lit escape from the judgment of gehenna
Matthew 23:35 Lit will come on you
Cross references:
Matthew 23:27 : Lk 11:44; Ac 23:3;
Matthew 23:32 : Gn 15:16; Ac 7:51; 1Th 2:15-16;
Matthew 23:33 : Mt 3:7; 5:22; 12:34;
Matthew 23:34 : Ac 13:1; 1Co 12:28;
Matthew 23:34 : 2Ch 36:15-16; Mt 10:17; Ac 22:19;
Matthew 23:35 : 2Ch 24:21; Zch 1:1;
Matthew 23:35 : Gn 4:8; Heb 11:4; 1Jn 3:12; Rv 18:24;
Matthew 23:36 : Mt 10:23; 16:28; 24:34;
Reflection:
How can you measure goodness and judge what is right? Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth (Isaiah 11:3-4). Jesus used strong language to warn the religious leaders about the vanity of appearance and pretense. Tombs were often placed by the sides of roads. They were painted white which made them glisten in the midday sun, especially around the time of the great feasts, so that people would not accidently touch them and incur ritual impurity. Jesus warns that what truly corrupts the soul is not ritual impurity but the impurity of sinful attitudes, such as pride, greed, sloth, envy, hatred, lust, and gluttony. The scribes and Pharisees were intensely religious in their outward observances, but their outward show didn't match the inner reality of the state of their hearts. They not only neglected the poor and the weak, but they were intolerant towards anyone who challenged their idea of religion. That is why so many of the prophets were persecuted in the past.
Jesus chastised the religious leaders for being double-minded and for demanding from others standards which they refused to satisfy. They professed admiration for the prophets by building their tombs while at the same time they opposed their message and closed their ears to the word of God. They shut themselves out from heaven and they hindered others from understanding God's word. They rejected the Messiah because their hearts were hardened to the voice of God. Only the humble of heart can receive wisdom and understanding from God. The Holy Spirit is ever ready to renew our minds and hearts and to fill us with the peace, joy, and righteousness of God's kingdom. Do you treasure God's word and submit to it with fear and reverence?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, incline my heart to your wisdom and teach me your ways. Fill me with your Spirit that I may love your ways and obey your word unreservedly.
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