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The Scriptorium

Hypocrites! (2)

Just when they thought He'd said it all. Matthew 23.23-30

Matthew 23: Warnings and Woes (4)

Pray Psalm 91.1-3.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.

Sing Psalm 91.1-3.
(Lauda Anima: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven)
All who dwell within God’s shelter in His shadow will reside.
He our Tow’r, our Fortress ever, in Him we our trust confide.
From the trapper’s snares He saves us; safe from sickness we abide.

Read
Matthew 23.1-30; meditate on verses 23-30.

Prepare.
1. Why were the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites?

2. Which matters more, what’s inside us or what we show on the outside?

Meditate.
Jesus returned to the “hypocrites” theme in these verses. Here He pointed out that their hypocrisy was in parading an outward appearance that wasn’t’ matched by the inner reality of their souls.

The scribes and Pharisees might have wondered to themselves, “How does He know?” Jesus knows what’s in every person (Jn. 2.24, 25). The religious leaders were big on the outward show – tithing down to the smallest detail (v. 23), parading their righteousness (vv. 25, 27, 28), and pretending to deplore the sinful actions of their forebears (vv. 29, 30) – but inwardly, their lives were lawless, self-serving, and bloodthirsty.

We can imagine the religious leaders becoming increasingly furious at this dressing-down from One they considered to be unschooled and uncredentialed. But everyone knew it was true. When religion makes outward appearance the main issue, and neglects the cleansing and nurture of the soul, works righteousness is what you get. And works righteousness is not righteousness at all.

Jesus’ view has not changed from then to now. We need to make sure that our hearts are submissive to God’s Word (v. 23), and not just so that we can flout our so-pure doctrine before the uninitiated (v. 24). Daily cleansing of the soul involves waiting on the Spirit, confessing our sins, and repenting of everything that is contrary to God’s Law (Ps. 139.23, 24; 1 Jn. 1.8, 9; Ps. 119.59, 60). A clean soul is not just one swept of wickedness, but one that is filled with the furnishings of God’s Word and fullness of His Spirit (v. 28; cf. Ps. 119.9-11; Eph. 5.18-21). And a soul rightly-attuned to Jesus knows that we’re all always capable of the worst sins we can imagine (v. 30).

It is hypocrisy to try to be a Christian from the outside-in. Take care of the inside of your life, and the outside will fall nicely into step with the way of Jesus.

Reflect.
1. What are the most important disciplines for growing your soul? Where do you need to improve in the use of these?

2. Why is outward “righteousness” not enough to fulfill our callings as disciples of Jesus?

3. How can believers help one another to follow Jesus from the inside-out?

Hypocrisy, because it is a counterfeit of the good, possesses nothing vital of the good it simulates, but is only its dead bones, so to speak.… If we listen with wisdom to what the present passage wants to tell us, we will understand that every simulated righteousness is a dead righteousness, hence no righteousness at all.
Origen (185-254), Commentary on Matthew 24

Cleanse me within and without, Lord, so that today I will follow You as I…

Pray Psalm 91.4-16.
Shelter in the Lord as you pray about the day ahead. Seek His Presence and help to live as His follower in everything you do.

Sing Psalm 91.4-16.
Psalm 91.4-16 (Lauda Anima: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven)
He will shade us with His pinions, ‘neath His wings we safety find,
from night’s terror, from day’s arrow, from the fears that stalk our mind.
When destruction falls at noon time, safe in Him shall we abide.

Thousands at our sides may falter – it will not to us come near!
We instead shall see the end of all who at God’s mercy sneer.
Evil shall no more befall us for we hold the Lord most dear.

He shall give His angels charge to bear us up, lest we should fall;
they will guard and carry all who on the Savior’s mercy call.
Cobra, mighty lion, serpent: We shall tread upon them all!

Save us, Lord! We love You only; set us up secure on high!
You we know, on You we call in trouble: Hear us when we cry!
Show us Your salvation, let long life forever satisfy!


  1. 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).
T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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