Day 19
Jesus’
Message: hypocrisy
Read: Luke 11:37-53
The
Pharisees of Jesus time were a popular middle-class party. They held high moral values, strong commitment
to the Torah (Old Testament), believed in the supernatural ability of God,
angels, and operated a practical view in dealing with the Romans. In their
political aspirations they sometimes leaned towards co-operation, other times
toward separatism. Put into a modern NZ context today MMP is just made for
them. But, big but, they not only clashed with Jesus, they opposed him, sought
to trap him, accused him, were paranoid about him, and actively sought kill
him.
Jesus
rebukes the Pharisees for being more concerned over external behaviours rather
than issues of the heart. Justice for
the poor was ignored and their tendency for pride-of-position over servanthood. They may have looked good, causing people to
build expectations of spiritual help from them, but were treacherous! They were
not what they appeared to be; they were “two-faced.”
There’s
two “old and contemporary words” for describing their behaviour and character – hypocrisy (knowingly failing to practice the virtues that one preaches and
requires of others); and hypocrites
(one who engages in the same behaviors
they condemn in others).
Jesus
gave Pharisees one-liner description; “you
are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it” (11:44).
Deadly man . . . Jesus’ message was strong because he saw those who claimed to
be God-followers were hindering others from encountering Him. Don’t ignore the simple remedy; practice your
preaching.
Ponder Point (reflect)
- Jesus
is still against hypocrisy by God-followers
Consider (respond)
- How
could I refresh my “connections of belief and practice”?
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