Read Matthew Chapter 23:13
“Woe, you hypocrite!”
Jesus becomes very harsh against the scribes and Pharisees. He confronts their lives because they speak one way and live another. He says “WOE” to them eight times which is a term used to refer to a judgment or punishment from the Lord. And seven out of the eight times he calls them HYPOCRITES which literally means “an actor” or “someone playing a part.”
Vs 13: Jesus says, “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven on people and you yourselves will not enter nor do you allow others to go in.”
The scribes and Pharisees made their religious rules and human traditions more important than God’s word. Their emphasis was on teaching the fulfilling of these laws and human traditions and as a result missed seeing the fulfillment of God’s word before their eyes. Jesus the Messiah, the Savior of the world, was in their midst. Rather than pointing people to Jesus they burdened them with the laws and traditions of men.
Their hypocrisy taught people hypocrisy. So they all missed the mark of heaven.
Can we learn from this verse?
1. Are you a hypocrite? I mean, are you saying all the right words about Christianity, but your life is far from the truth of Jesus? Your hypocrisy will produce hypocrisy in others.
2. Has Christianity just become all about being a “good” person? If so, then you missed the mark. If Jesus and God’s word is not being preached, then people are being led astray and will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
3. Or you do proclaim Jesus but you miss proclaiming Love, Repentance, and Obedience. A life with Christ is a new and changed life (II Corinthians 5:17).
Don’t forget Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. He is The giver of Life and the forgiver of sin. If you miss preaching and living Jesus and his word, then you lead people astray.
Is Jesus saying to you, “Woe, you hypocrite!”?
