Wednesday - Read today:
Pages 152-155 - The Way
- 40 Days of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
- 40 Days of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
A Recovering Pharisee?
“Then Jesus spoke to
the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sat
on Moses’ seat. All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe
and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. But all their works
they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the
fringes of their garments, But he who is greatest among you will be your
servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself
will be exalted.’”(Matthew 23:1-3,5,11-12)
the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sat
on Moses’ seat. All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe
and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. But all their works
they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the
fringes of their garments, But he who is greatest among you will be your
servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself
will be exalted.’”(Matthew 23:1-3,5,11-12)
Each day of the final week
of his life, Jesus was more blunt in his criticism of the religious leaders.
His parables were just thinly veiled indictments of their hypocrisy. In Matthew
23, Jesus spoke in the Temple courts to a crowd of hundreds, perhaps thousands.
He began with a warning to do as the Scribes and Pharisees said, but not as
they did. One has the impression that there were religious leaders standing in
the crowd, wearing flowing robes and frowns.
of his life, Jesus was more blunt in his criticism of the religious leaders.
His parables were just thinly veiled indictments of their hypocrisy. In Matthew
23, Jesus spoke in the Temple courts to a crowd of hundreds, perhaps thousands.
He began with a warning to do as the Scribes and Pharisees said, but not as
they did. One has the impression that there were religious leaders standing in
the crowd, wearing flowing robes and frowns.
Jesus eventually turned
to speak directly to them: “Woe to you, Scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites!” His
words may seem unduly harsh and designed to provoke, until we remember that he
knew already that these leaders would put him to death. He saw these leaders as
betraying the very God they claimed to serve.
to speak directly to them: “Woe to you, Scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites!” His
words may seem unduly harsh and designed to provoke, until we remember that he
knew already that these leaders would put him to death. He saw these leaders as
betraying the very God they claimed to serve.
What were the religious
leaders doing wrong? They were filled with pride. They performed acts of piety
in order to be noticed by others. They loved affirmation and being seen as
important. They demanded that the people practice one thing, while they
themselves privately lived by another standard. They developed binding rules that
contradicted the spirit and intent of the Law they claimed to uphold. They
tithed on every herb in their garden, but failed to practice justice, mercy,
and faithfulness.
leaders doing wrong? They were filled with pride. They performed acts of piety
in order to be noticed by others. They loved affirmation and being seen as
important. They demanded that the people practice one thing, while they
themselves privately lived by another standard. They developed binding rules that
contradicted the spirit and intent of the Law they claimed to uphold. They
tithed on every herb in their garden, but failed to practice justice, mercy,
and faithfulness.
In the most graphic of
images, Jesus noted that the religious leaders were like “whitewashed tombs”—beautiful
outside but full of decay inside (Matthew 23:27). The leaders appeared
righteous but were full of hypocrisy and wickedness. They were like blind
guides. They strained gnats but swallowed camels. You get the idea. It wasn’t a
flattering picture. Having said that, I now have a confession to make: I am a
recovering Pharisee, and sometimes I “fall off the wagon;” I find that nearly
every part of Jesus’ indictment of the Pharisees has, at one time or another,
applied to me. How easy it is to pose as something you are not, to love being
called “Pastor” or “Reverend,” to stand in front of a congregation asking
people to do something that you yourself are not doing.
images, Jesus noted that the religious leaders were like “whitewashed tombs”—beautiful
outside but full of decay inside (Matthew 23:27). The leaders appeared
righteous but were full of hypocrisy and wickedness. They were like blind
guides. They strained gnats but swallowed camels. You get the idea. It wasn’t a
flattering picture. Having said that, I now have a confession to make: I am a
recovering Pharisee, and sometimes I “fall off the wagon;” I find that nearly
every part of Jesus’ indictment of the Pharisees has, at one time or another,
applied to me. How easy it is to pose as something you are not, to love being
called “Pastor” or “Reverend,” to stand in front of a congregation asking
people to do something that you yourself are not doing.
The Greek word for hypocrite meant an actor on stage. Are
you play-acting your faith, or does it permeate your entire life? Are you like
a whitewashed tomb filled with unclean things? Jesus indictment of the
Pharisees is an invitation of self-examination and repentance.
you play-acting your faith, or does it permeate your entire life? Are you like
a whitewashed tomb filled with unclean things? Jesus indictment of the
Pharisees is an invitation of self-examination and repentance.
Looking back at today’s
reading from Matthew, I am reminded of the call to practice what I preach, to
live my life “for an audience of One,” and to humble myself before God and
others.
reading from Matthew, I am reminded of the call to practice what I preach, to
live my life “for an audience of One,” and to humble myself before God and
others.
Lord, forgive me for those moments when I have
become a Pharisee. Help me to live what I claim to believe. I long for my
motives to be pure—Please forgive me when they are not. And help me to humble
myself before you, while seeking always to serve you. Amen.
become a Pharisee. Help me to live what I claim to believe. I long for my
motives to be pure—Please forgive me when they are not. And help me to humble
myself before you, while seeking always to serve you. Amen.
Read today:
Pages 180-183 - The Way
- 40 Days of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
- 40 Days of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
On the Road to Emmaus
“Behold, two of them
were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from
Jerusalem. They talked with each other about all of these things which had
happened. While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near,
and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”(Luke
24:13-16)
were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from
Jerusalem. They talked with each other about all of these things which had
happened. While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near,
and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”(Luke
24:13-16)
It was Easter
afternoon. The disciples were still reeling, having learned that Jesus’ tomb
had apparently been desecrated and his body taken. There were women who had
reported he had been raised from the dead, but as yet the disciples did not
believe them. Two disciples, a man named Cleopas and another unnamed disciple,
left Jerusalem for Emmaus, about a two-hour walk from the Holy City. William
Barclay’s translation of Luke 24:17b notes that “their faces were twisted with
grief.”[From William Barclay, The
Gospel of Luke (The Daily Study Bible; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1956);
307] They were on a journey filled with sorrow.
afternoon. The disciples were still reeling, having learned that Jesus’ tomb
had apparently been desecrated and his body taken. There were women who had
reported he had been raised from the dead, but as yet the disciples did not
believe them. Two disciples, a man named Cleopas and another unnamed disciple,
left Jerusalem for Emmaus, about a two-hour walk from the Holy City. William
Barclay’s translation of Luke 24:17b notes that “their faces were twisted with
grief.”[From William Barclay, The
Gospel of Luke (The Daily Study Bible; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1956);
307] They were on a journey filled with sorrow.
We’re walked on the
road to Emmaus. Our road may have led to the unemployment line or the hospital,
to the courtroom or the cemetery. One way or another, we’re all walked on a
journey where our hopes and dreams have been crushed, and sorrow seems to be
our only friend.
road to Emmaus. Our road may have led to the unemployment line or the hospital,
to the courtroom or the cemetery. One way or another, we’re all walked on a
journey where our hopes and dreams have been crushed, and sorrow seems to be
our only friend.
Jesus came as a
stranger to Cleopas and his friend. He listened as they told him, not realizing
who he was, about the events surrounding the Crucifixion. When he began to
speak, he offered them a different perspective on the events that had occurred.
Then that evening, as he gave thanks for their meal and broke the bread, they
saw that his stranger was Jesus.
stranger to Cleopas and his friend. He listened as they told him, not realizing
who he was, about the events surrounding the Crucifixion. When he began to
speak, he offered them a different perspective on the events that had occurred.
Then that evening, as he gave thanks for their meal and broke the bread, they
saw that his stranger was Jesus.
Today, Jesus routinely
sends us to be his representatives, as strangers on someone else's road to
Emmaus. And sometimes he sends others to us on our road to Emmaus. Whatever our
role, the key is to pay attention!
sends us to be his representatives, as strangers on someone else's road to
Emmaus. And sometimes he sends others to us on our road to Emmaus. Whatever our
role, the key is to pay attention!
A man I know was
checking into a hotel when a woman entered the lobby, upset and clearly
struggling. She need a place to stay for the night but had no way of paying and
could only promise that she was being wired money the next day. She ran out to
her car to get proof for the manager that she would be to repay him the next
day. While she was gone, my friend for the woman’s room and quickly scratched
out a note to her: “I felt God wanted me to pay for your lodging tonight. I
believe he wants you to know that he hasn’t forgotten you.” My friend became
the stranger on the road to Emmaus.
checking into a hotel when a woman entered the lobby, upset and clearly
struggling. She need a place to stay for the night but had no way of paying and
could only promise that she was being wired money the next day. She ran out to
her car to get proof for the manager that she would be to repay him the next
day. While she was gone, my friend for the woman’s room and quickly scratched
out a note to her: “I felt God wanted me to pay for your lodging tonight. I
believe he wants you to know that he hasn’t forgotten you.” My friend became
the stranger on the road to Emmaus.
A woman I know stopped
in a church restroom during worship, only to find another woman there in tears.
The two of them had never met before, but the other woman’s face was “twisted with
grief.” My friend could tell that the woman needed someone to care for her, and
she paused to minister to the woman. This was the road to Emmaus, and she would
be the presence of Christ for this sorrowful woman.
in a church restroom during worship, only to find another woman there in tears.
The two of them had never met before, but the other woman’s face was “twisted with
grief.” My friend could tell that the woman needed someone to care for her, and
she paused to minister to the woman. This was the road to Emmaus, and she would
be the presence of Christ for this sorrowful woman.
As a follower of
Christ, you have the opportunity to represent him. Pay attention to the
strangers you meet. It may be that the Lord wants to use you to offer comfort
and hope to those in need as they travel along the road to Emmaus.
Lord, teach me to payChrist, you have the opportunity to represent him. Pay attention to the
strangers you meet. It may be that the Lord wants to use you to offer comfort
and hope to those in need as they travel along the road to Emmaus.
attention to the strangers around me. Use me to encourage, comfort, and care
for the stranger in need. Amen.
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