march 3 : matthew 23

This is such a strong chapter in which Jesus basically calls everyone out on their sins. The more I read this book the more alive it becomes to me. It becomes alive to me in a many ways. First, Jesus speaks with such intelligence that it not only pertains to the lives lived in the past but also the lives lived now and forever. Second, he points out the very sins in my own life. Its as if Jesus is speaking to me about my problems. Throughout this passage Jesus says what the Pharisees are doing wrong, and most often than not he speaks directly to me. The cup that is dirty on the inside but sparkling clean on the outside is a description of me. How easy it is to fall into the same trap the Pharisees fell victim to. Let me show you a clip from this chapter:
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
That's some tough stuff right? I almost have to bite my own tongue as I read this. This passage really points out the legalism in our lives. Legalism will kill you as it will also kill me. People of the church are prone to following the laws of legalism, but as Jesus was trying to point out, we need to break free from this in order to break free from the chains of hell.