Matthew 23:13-39
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Reflection
Jesus continues his condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees. Though they were knowledgeable about the Bible, they were blind to their own hardheartedness toward God (Matt. 23:16, 17, 24). As a result, they were not only heading toward eternal destruction themselves, but also leading others astray down the same road (vv. 13–15; see also 15:14). Their central problem was the hypocritical difference between their hearts and their outward appearance (23:25–28). To other people, they appeared devoted to God and worthy of respect (vv. 3–7), but they were motivated by their love for the praise of others, their greed, and their self-indulgence (vv. 5, 16–24, 25).
Throughout the book of Matthew, Jesus provides several tests for making sure that his disciples’ hearts are not hardened toward God. First, he urges us to be careful that our acts of devotion to God flow from a heart for God and not from a desire to be praised by others. In order to cultivate this, we sometimes need to obey in secret (6:1–18). Second, Jesus encourages his disciples not to allow earthly riches to replace God as our ultimate source of security (6:19–34; 13:22, 44–46; 19:16–30). Third, he encourages us to keep our motives on target by focusing on service to others (20:26–27; 23:11) and “the weightier matters of the law,” which he defines as “justice and mercy and faithfulness” (23:23; see also Mic. 6:8; Hos. 6:6).
1 Corinthians 6:1-8
6: When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!
Reflection
Some of the Corinthians are suing one another in secular courts (1 Cor. 6:1– 8). As mutual heirs of God’s kingdom, we should not bring lawsuits against fellow believers regarding property or financial disputes that can be settled in the church (vv. 1–7); we are not free to “wrong and defraud” our brothers (v. 8). Only the cross of Jesus Christ can strengthen us to surrender our rights, patiently “suffer wrong” (v. 7), and forgive those who harm us (Luke 6:27–36; 23:34).
Psalm 103:2-5
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
One of the most challenging commands Jesus gives us is the command to forgive those who have sinned against us. If someone has wronged you, battle hard in prayer to forgive this person as Christ has forgiven you. It may take serious effort, but God’s Spirit can provide you the strength as you remember the grace God provided for you in the gospel.