Tell Us What You Really Think, Jesus

Injustice does not change for the effort of niceties.

This lengthy passage is likely not how you want to begin your Monday.

But give it a shot. Remember, Jesus is speaking to the hypocrisy of powerful religious leaders. No one puts this stuff on coffee mugs or wall hangings, but what he is saying here is crucial for the integrity of the heart, the Church, and the Kingdom.

Much of what Jesus is saying here challenges the things of appearances only, the effort that the teachers of the law make to look good. It’s the good outward appearance yet with toxicity hidden inside. For instance, Jesus notes that the Pharisees tithe from their resources, but forget about the more important matters of the law: justice, peace, and faith.

It is yet again another way that Jesus calls us out in the alignment of words, actions, and the heart.

We should always caution ourselves in thinking that just because Jesus did something, we can, too. (This is why WWJD isn’t the best question. Rather, WWJ have me D?) Even so, it might be notable that when it comes to the unjust actions of those in leadership, Jesus does not take the time to make his words nice. Injustice does not change for the effort of niceties.

Matthew 23:13-39

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You shut people out of the kingdom of heaven. You don’t enter yourselves, and you won’t allow those who want to enter to do so.

“How terrible it will be for you, legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You travel over sea and land to make one convert. But when they’ve been converted, they become twice the child of hell you are.

“How terrible it will be for you blind guides who say, ‘If people swear by the temple, it’s nothing. But if people swear by the gold in the temple, they are obligated to do what they swore.’ You foolish and blind people! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy? You say, ‘If people swear by the altar, it’s nothing. But if they swear by the gift on the altar, they are obligated to do what they swore.’ You blind people! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? Therefore, those who swear by the altar swear by it and by everything that’s on it. Those who swear by the temple swear by it and by everything that’s part of it. Those who swear by heaven swear by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You give to God a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, but you forget about the more important matters of the Law: justice, peace, and faith. You ought to give a tenth but without forgetting about those more important matters. You blind guides! You filter out an ant but swallow a camel.

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside they are full of violence and pleasure seeking. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup so that the outside of the cup will be clean too.

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs. They look beautiful on the outside. But inside they are full of dead bones and all kinds of filth. In the same way you look righteous to people. But inside you are full of pretense and rebellion.

“How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. You say, ‘If we had lived in our ancestors’ days, we wouldn’t have joined them in killing the prophets.’ You testify against yourselves that you are children of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, complete what your ancestors did. You snakes! You children of snakes! How will you be able to escape the judgment of hell? Therefore, look, I’m sending you prophets, wise people, and legal experts. Some of them you will kill and crucify. And some you will beat in your synagogues and chase from city to city. Therefore, upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been poured out on the earth, from the blood of that righteous man Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. I assure you that all these things will come upon this generation.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you. How often I wanted to gather your people together, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. Look, your house is left to you deserted. I tell you, you won’t see me until you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.”

Prayer

God,

Thank you for this new day, a Monday. Help me as I turn and face what’s ahead. Help me exercise the joy, acknowledge the work, and be faithful through effort. Give me eyes for people and an x-ray vision to see the heart. Move me to action beyond planning, but help me to think through things well.

Lord, keep my family today. Hold them close as they do their thing.

Make my life integrous to your kingdom, valuable to the things that result because of your spirit at work. I confess that I want my actions to matter, so help me out when they seemingly don’t. Remind me just how long the soil sits and germinates before things grow.

In the mean time and all the while, I love you, Lord. Help me to even know what that means.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.