Matthew 23:13-36 They Weren't Clean On The Inside

My commentary said Jesus did not lose His temper and He wasn't bitterly angry in these verses.  He was angry at the Pharisees' sins and what they were doing to people.  But His attitude was one of painful sorrow that the Pharisees were blinded to God's truth and to their own sins.

Some things it noted:

"It's bad enough when you keep yourself out of the kingdom, but worse when you stand in the way of others."

"Instead of mourning over their own sins and mourning with needy widows, the Pharisees took advantage of people in order to rob them."

"Jesus called them children of the devil -- people who rejected God's way of salvation (righteousness through faith in Christ)."

"They were blind to the true values of life.  Their priorities were confused ... They were not seeking for the righteousness of God; they were greedy for gain.  They worked out a religious system that permitted them to rob God and others and still maintain their reputations."

"The Pharisees majored on the minors.  They had rules for every minute area of life, while at the same time they forgot about the important things."

"The Pharisees were careful to keep the outside very clean because that was the part that men would see, and they wanted the praise of men.  But God sees the heart."

"The Pharisees were liars and murderers."

How very different from Jesus they were.  I want to be like You, Jesus!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford