WEDNESDAY July 23
Exposing the Hypocrites"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in" (Matt. 23:13).
Though we often picture the kind and gentle Jesus working gingerly and softly with the worst of sinners, that is not the whole picture presented in the Bible. On the contrary, when the time was right Jesus unleashed a torrent of warnings about and toward a certain group of people. As we all know, Jesus had strong words to speak against many of the religious leaders of ancient Israel, very strong words, in fact. Indeed, in some ways He sounded just as some of the Old Testament prophets did; which, of course, is not surprising, because He was the one who inspired them to write what they did to begin with. Thus, for centuries, in one venue or another, Jesus was pleading with His people. Is it any different today?
Read Matthew 23. What were the charges Jesus was leveling against the leaders? How would you categorize them? Which, in your own mind, would be the worst, and why? If you could summarize in just a few sentences the essence of His complaints, what would you write?
If you really read carefully, all the things that Jesus accuses them of doing are amazing. One theme, however, comes through very clearly: These men were hypocrites, hiding the ugliness of their souls under the veneer of faith and piety.
What kind of outward show of piety do you put on? How different are you in private than in public? How might your local church view you if they knew the real you? What can you do to make the real you more like the public version?
THURSDAY July 24
Love for the Hypocrites"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:
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What is the message of the above text? How seriously do we take it? That is, do we understand that Christ's death included the worst sinners, even the hypocrites we read about yesterday?
The amazing thing about the life of Jesus was that even amid the harshest circumstances He never lost sight of His mission: to save the lost. Even as He hung on the cross, even as the weight of the world's sin was crushing out His life, the good of others was constantly on His mind. (See Luke 23:34, 42, 43; John 19:26). What a powerful lesson for us, we who are called to follow in His footsteps.
This applies to the religious leaders that Jesus railed against. Yesterday we read His scathing denunciations against them, as recorded in Matthew 23.
Read Matthew 23:37. How is it different in tone from the rest of the chapter? What does this tell us about Jesus and His feelings toward even those He just denounced? What very important principle is found here for us? How can we take what we see here and apply it in our own lives and our treatment of others, even those who reject our overtures toward them?
Missionary work is not easy. Look at what happened when Jesus Himself was here. Look at how so many reacted. Yet, even toward the worst Jesus showed love and care and compassion. Our feelings toward those who reject us should not be anger or resentment; it should be one of pity, of concern, and of care. When people refuse to listen, they are not rejecting us, personally; they are rejecting Jesus.
How do you respond to those who react negatively toward your witness? How can you learn to feel compassion, as opposed to anger and resentment? Why would anger and resentment only make thing worse?
FRIDAY January 25
Further Study:
Read Ellen G. White, "Woes on the Pharisees," pp. 610-620, in The Desire of Ages.
"The Pharisees thought themselves too wise to need instruction, too righteous to need salvation, too highly honored to need the honor that comes from Christ. The Saviour turned away from them to find others who would receive the message of heaven. In the untutored fishermen, in the publican at the market place, in the woman of Samaria, in the common people who heard Him gladly, He found His new bottles for the new wine. The instrumentalities to be used in the gospel work are those souls who gladly receive the light which God sends them. These are His agencies for imparting the knowledge of truth to the world."—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 279.
"We may do much in a short time if we will work as Christ worked. We may reflect with profit upon His manner of teaching. He sought to meet the minds of the common people. His style was plain, simple, comprehensive. He took His illustrations from the scenes with which His hearers were most familiar. By the things of nature He illustrated truths of eternal importance, thus connecting heaven and earth."—Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 565.
Discussion Questions:
Why is the idea of Jesus as just a great moral teacher not good enough? What hope do we have if Christ were only a moral teacher and nothing else? Look at the C. S. Lewis quote from Saturday's introduction. Why is that such a powerful argument in favor of the deity of Christ? Or is it? What options do we have if Jesus isn't the Son of God?
As a class, discuss your answer to Monday's last question.
Whatever we might have to say about the Pharisees, one point we shouldn't forget. They were members of God's remnant church, the elite of the only faith in the world that had present truth. What's the message, and warning, for us in that fact?
Summary:
The story of Jesus is the most important story in history. His life and teachings show us not only the way to live and how to treat one another but also the way to eternal life-by believing in the salvation He brought to us through His death on the Cross.