Matthew 23: Warnings and Woes (3)

Pray Psalm 19.12-14.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Sing Psalm 19.12-14.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
Who, Lord, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
Be pleasing to You, gracious Lord, acceptable and right!

Read Matthew 23.1-22; meditate on verses 16-22.

Prepare.
1. Why did Jesus say that the religious leaders of His day were “blind guides”?

2. Where were these guides leading the people? Where should they have been leading them?

Meditate.
Make sure you know where the guides you follow are leading.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had the wrong focus. Because they had the wrong focus, they led the people away from God and His Kingdom, rather than into it (v. 13). The scribes, Pharisees, and other religious leaders practiced a “this-worldly” faith. They valued the gold of the temple more than the God of the temple; the gifts given to God rather than the God Who received them; and the place of God’s dwelling instead of the God Who dwelled in that place.

Their focus and priorities were on the means of faith, rather than faith’s true object. If we translate this situation into our terms, we’d say these leaders were more concerned about having the right building, the best worship band, the most programs, and a reliable revenue stream, rather than God and His glory. What the leaders of Jesus’ day invested their efforts in, and encouraged the people to focus on, fell short of God and His glory. And to fall short of these, no matter how noble our aspirations may be, is to fall into sin (Rom. 3.23).

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were “blind guides”, not because they could not see, but because they were aiming at the wrong goals and leading the people to do the same.

Make sure you’re aiming at God and His glory, and not lesser things.

Reflect.
1. How can you know when you have begun to lose the true focus of your faith?

2. What should you do when that happens?

3. What can you do to keep your focus on Christ and His Kingdom and glory?

One who seeks to be religious should anchor himself rightly in the truth. They were stupid and blind who venerated gifts that were sanctified while they allowed sanctity itself to pass by. Hilary of Poitiers (315-367), On Matthew 24.6

Lord, help me to set You always before me, so that I…

Pray Psalm 19.1-11.
The world and Word of God reveal His glory. Aim to see Him in these, and to live for His glory in all you do today.

Sing Psalm 19.1-11.
Psalm 19.1-11 (St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The heav’ns declare God’s glory, the skies His work proclaim!
From day to day and night by night they shout His glorious Name!
No speech, no words, no voice is heard, yet all across the earth,
the lines of His all-present Word make known His holy worth.

Behold, the sun arises, a bridegroom strong and bright,
rejoicing as he runs his course from morning unto night.
From east to west across the skies his circuit he completes,
and none can hide their sinful eyes or shelter from his heat.

The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.

The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).