Today’s Reading: Matt 21:28-22:14, Ch 23
Optional readings: Matt 21:18-27, Mark 11:12-12:12, 12:38-40, Luke 20:1-19, 45-47
Jerusalem-Parables
The religious teachers were quite confident about being God’s chosen people, maybe we could even say arrogant. They are descendants of Abraham, the people of the promise, and the ones who received the Law directly from God.
The Pharisees were proud of their ability to go above and beyond the Law. They were extra religious and therefore extra sure of their salvation.
It’s been pretty popular in recent years for people to say, “I’m not religious; I’m spiritual.” Usually, that’s just code-speak for, “I like to create my own god that suits my liking.” But at the same time, I can understand the distaste for outward religious works when they are clearly not coming from a pure heart.
Jesus teaches three parables that are all a judgment against Israel. Jesus came to his own people, the Jewish people, and they did not receive him (John 1:11). Israel was promised a Messiah, but when He came to them, He found that they trusted their own religious works more than they trusted Him. When Jesus’ invitation was rejected, He revoked it and gave it to others (Mt 21:43-44, 22:8-9).
Isaiah prophesied about this people:
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules”
(Is 29:13, quoted by Jesus in Mt 15:8-9).
Religious works can make us overly reliant on ourselves to earn our salvation, as was the case with the Pharisees.
Religious works often make us secretly prideful, also true of the Pharisees.
And insincere religious works make us hypocrites, which was Jesus' main condemnation of the Pharisees.
People can spot a faker. It may not be immediately, but eventually. And I argue that nothing does more damage to the Kingdom than someone who claims to represent Jesus but does so in a knowingly deceptive way.
In C.S. Lewis’ book, The Screwtape Letters, demons write to each other about the humans they are trying to influence. In letter XXIV, Screwtape mentions a girl who has become exclusive and somewhat elitist in her Christian upbringing.
His nephew is working on her boyfriend.
Can you get him to imitate this defect in his mistress
and to exaggerate it until what was venial in her
becomes in him the strongest and most beautiful of the vices-
Spiritual Pride?
(emphasis mine)
We’ve discussed pride at length, but I think it’s worth pointing out that sometimes piety can very easily slip into pride.
ALL that we have is a grace of God.
Any ability we have to follow Him, to show Christian love to others, to obey His commands, and to someday meet Him in eternity is because of Him.
He made a way for us to have relationship with Him.
He gives us each breath we breathe.
He draws us to Him.
He saves us.
He sustains our relationship with Him.
He enables us by His Spirit.
There is absolutely no room for spiritual pride.
Now don’t misunderstand me.
God calls us to a holy life (1 Pet 1:15-16) and to good works (Eph 2:10)!
You just cannot start there. You start with gratitude for God’s unbelievable grace and a changed heart. Then the outward behaviors will follow.
Savior and Lord, forbid that I should ever think of my works as anything but a sincere offering to You. My works are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) in light of Your holiness, but I offer what little I can, knowing that they aren’t earning my salvation but desiring to show You I love You. If my heart needs conviction, please do it. Create in me a clean heart (Psalm 51:10). Amen.