Matthew 23 reminds me of the key to any relationship. We use the word adore to describe the great affection we have for someone special. We often express our feelings through loving acts of kindness and we can’t help but tell others about their wonderful qualities. Without the love, those same actions can feel like obligations and the same words sound hollow. Today’s chapter describes the difference between Religion, and Relationship. Jesus was speaking to the disciples and growing crowds in Jerusalem during Passover week. He spoke of “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees” exercising authority while teaching. He began, “be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do”. There is wisdom in God’s Word, even when the reader is flawed. Jesus summarized the problem with being religious, “They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders”. Every time expressions of adoration are replaced by a “to do” list, the delight becomes a burden. Worse, these Jewish leaders “do not practice what they preach”. He says, “Everything they do is done for people to see” because “they love the place of honor”. Jesus spoke out in the most direct way possible, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces”. The biggest problem with religious chore lists is that they are used to create a spiritual ranking system. Are you feeling burdened by religious duties?
He continues, “Woe to you, blind guides!” The rules of man added layers to the simple act of keeping promises. “You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath’”. How seriously do you take the promises you make? Jesus continues His criticism by noting their lack of balance, “You give a tenth of your spices… But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness”. The legalist can overlook mercy in an effort to prove they are right. The religious care most about appearance, “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence”. He calls them “whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead… inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness”. This can describe any individual in any relationship after the “adore” is no more.
The chapter closes with Jesus emotionally looking at the place that was supposed to be the happy home; the city where God and man were to reconcile; the place where the empty were to be filled. “You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous… you testify against yourselves… you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets”. The religious believe they are superior because of their standards, yet the Messiah stood before them and they loathed Him. “Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!” He asked the hard question that many do not want to hear, “How will you escape being condemned to hell?” Please understand that God does not damn anyone, but He gives each of us free will to choose. With great sadness He declares, “Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing”. They were too busy doing chores to stop and embrace the Savior. And the result was “Look, your house is left to you desolate”. Are you there now? My friend, is it time to replace religious duties with loving acts of adoration for the Author and Finisher of our Faith? Jesus wants a relationship with you.