Bible League: Living His Word Then he said to them, "You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God."Most people want to look good in public. Most people want to appear to be upstanding, upright, and respectable. For some people, however, the appearance projected to the public is all that matters. For some, the appearance is everything. It's a mask necessary to cover up the real motives of the heart. The Pharisees in Jesus' day wanted to appear righteous in public, wanted to project a love for God, but God knew what was in their hearts. He knew that what they really loved was praise from people (John 12:43) and money (Luke 16:13-14). The world, however, honors what the pharisaical do. The world honors those who put on masks and construct fronts designed for public consumption. The world honors them because the world only cares that it looks good, not that it is good. The world goes along with the show because the world wants the approval of those that exalt themselves in public and lift themselves on high. If you want to get ahead in the world, then you should never look behind their masks and fronts and you should never question their motives. God, on the other hand, hates what the pharisaical do. God detests the masks and fronts whose only purpose is for show. God detests them because He wants what is good, not what merely looks good. God is more gracious to the wretched sinner who truly repents from the heart than the self-righteous Pharisee whose heart never repents for anything. Indeed, God will justify and exalt the sinner, but condemn and humble the Pharisee (Luke 18:13-14). If you want to get on God's good side, then you better drop the masks and fronts and you better straighten out your motives. God wants true disciples who do His will from motives that are sincere and genuine, not Pharisees who put on public shows of righteousness for the praise of people and the benefits they confer. God detests the artificial impressions that are highly esteemed by the world, but are born of motives that are actually evil. We should examine the motives of our hearts on a regular basis. We should ask ourselves why we do the things we do. Are we true disciples, or just a bunch of Pharisees? Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 43, 44, 45 Jeremiah 43 -- Johanan Disregards Prophecy, Takes People to Egypt; Jeremiah Warns NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 44 -- Jeremiah Predicts Conquest of Egypt, Disaster in Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 45 -- Jeremiah Instructs and Comforts Baruch NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 3 Hebrews 3 -- Jesus Our High Priest; Danger in Unbelief NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.Insight Paul writes against any philosophy of life based only on human ideas and experiences. Paul himself was a gifted philosopher, so he is not condemning philosophy. He is condemning teaching that credits humanity, not Christ, with being the answer to life's problems. That approach becomes a false religion. There are many man-made approaches to life's problems that totally disregard God. Challenge To resist heresy you must use your mind, keep your eyes on Christ, and study God's Word. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Hebrews 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.There is a strange power about the very name of blood, and the sight of it is always affecting. A kind heart cannot bear to see a sparrow bleed, and unless familiarized by use, turns away with horror at the slaughter of a beast. As to the blood of men, it is a consecrated thing: it is murder to shed it in wrath; it is a dreadful crime to squander it in war. Is this solemnity occasioned by the fact that the blood is the life, and the pouring of it forth the token of death? We think so. When we rise to contemplate the blood of the Son of God, our awe is yet more increased, and we shudder as we think of the guilt of sin, and the terrible penalty which the Sin-bearer endured. Blood, always precious, is priceless when it streams from Immanuel's side. The blood of Jesus seals the covenant of grace, and makes it forever sure. Covenants of old were made by sacrifice, and the everlasting covenant was ratified in the same manner. Oh, the delight of being saved upon the sure foundation of divine engagements which cannot be dishonored! Salvation by the works of the law is a frail and broken vessel whose shipwreck is sure; but the covenant vessel fears no storms, for the blood ensures the whole. The blood of Jesus made his testament valid. Wills are of no power unless the testators die. In this light the soldier's spear is a blessed aid to faith, since it proved our Lord to be really dead. Doubts upon that matter there can be none, and we may boldly appropriate the legacies which he has left for his people. Happy they who see their title to heavenly blessings assured to them by a dying Saviour. But has this blood no voice to us? Does it not bid us sanctify ourselves unto him by whom we have been redeemed? Does it not call us to newness of life, and incite us to entire consecration to the Lord? O that the power of the blood might be known, and felt in us this night! Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 25:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 1 John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; • so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Matthew 6:22 "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. John 7:17 "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. Isaiah 35:8 A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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