The Word of God has authority, even if the people who teach it lack integrity.
Yes, God's Word has authority unto Itself.
Our Lord's standard is that we both do and teach His truths.
Those who practise hypocrisy erode their character and do untold damage to others.
The tragedy is that hypocrisy blinds people, so that they cannot see the Lord, themselves, or other people.
Yes, hypocrisy is blinding.
The 'God' of the Pharisees is not the God of the Bible.
'He' is a rigorous law-giver, who pays back those who pay 'Him'.
'He' is not the God of all grace, or the Loving Father who cares for His children.
The Pharisees were worshiping another God, if indeed they worship at all.
The Pharisees were blind most of all to themselves.
The most important thing to them was to be right – that they were right, everybody else was wrong.
Of course, that element is still in the church today, because they majored on the externals.
They never saw the rottenness in their own hearts, because they majored on the minor details.
They totally ignored the great principles of the Word.
You see, hypocrites never see the damage done to others.
Closing doors of blessings, they have very little or no understanding about matters of the heart.
They defile those who touch them.
Giving people a wrong sense of values.
No wonder Jesus wept.
These woes we're going to read about here, were borne of anguish, not anger... and perhaps He is weeping over you and me.
This is a chapter of stinging rebuke to the religious know-it-alls of His day.
Jesus takes the Pharisees and the Sadducees to task, and He really makes toast of them.
He called them a lot of names: hypocrites, and other names which are not very complimentary.
And of course the point is that we have the religious know-it-alls in our Christian culture today.
And Jesus says to those who know so much about Scriptures, about God, and take it upon themselves to teach others, to tell others how to live their lives when they themselves wouldn't live that way, nor would they help anybody else live a holy life.
They are teachers of the law for profit.
And not only for profit, but to feel good about themselves at the expense of others.
So Jesus the Son of God, as you can imagine, the irony of this is just incredible – but here is the Son of God who visited the earth and of all the people in the world who should know He is and what He is all about:- it should be these teachers of the law!
After all, they were the religious experts of the day.
But they totally missed it! By a mile wide!!
Watch out for the legalists of our day, and you'll always find a lot of religious people who wanna tell you what to do and tell you what God is saying to you.
Don't let other people open up your mail from God.
You are quite capable – God has a letter for you and He wants a personal relationship with you.
The theme is the tribulation – the Day of the Lord, that will come upon the world in the last days.
The emphasis in this chapter is on the signs of His coming to the earth, and is directed primarily to Israel, telling the people to watch and be ready.
But these words have a message for the church today, because coming events cast their shadows before.
See, we are looking for the Saviour and not for the signs, because He can come at any time.
But as we see these things developing in our world, we're encouraged to expect Him very soon.
And this passage of Scripture focuses on the church rather than Israel.
The emphasis is not on signs, but on the fact that Jesus can return at any time.
When he comes, he will reckon with the servants and reward those who have been faithful.
So it behooves us to be ready.
Do not be doubtful!
Religious leaders will come and go ... stand and fall.
But the Word will not change
Believe it.
Obey it.
Hold to it.
No matter what others may say or do, your Bible is God's light in this dark world.
And don't be distracted.
We watch when we stay alert, and remind ourselves that our Lord may come at any time.
When in your heart you delay His coming – you start to lose your effectiveness in witness.
Keep watching and keep working.
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