Day 260: Matthew 22:15-23:39; Mark 12:13-44; Luke 20:20-21:4; 13:31-35

Jesus was anything but meek and mild in Matthew 23. He lays into the teachers of the law and the Pharisees pretty severely. I remember one time when Dan Pence was teaching a Bible study group on the life of Jesus - he asked me to read this chapter allowed as we began the class. But he asked me to read it dramatically...as I imagined it sounded when Jesus said these things the first time. It felt like powerful stuff...to me, at least. We so often read scripture in this dry monotone that takes away so much "life" from the words. I don't believe Jesus delivered these words in a quiet, conversational tone. I think he was fired up.

If you've never done it, I encourage you to try reading this chapter aloud. You might want to make sure you're alone when you do! Read it with the passion it deserves.

This one stood out to me today...

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” (Matthew 23:25-26)

It occurs to me that this is the essential difference in Jesus' approach to morality. Morality is more than our outward actions. It begins on the inside and works its way out.