Today's Reading: Matthew 15: 1-9
**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Matthew 15: 1-9
Bible Study
N.T. Wright helps us to understanding what Jesus was talking about in this passage. He says:
In the Ten Commandments themselves, the Israelites were commanded to honour their parents. This meant, not least, looking after them in their old age. But in the Pharisees' traditions it was permitted that someone might make a gift to the Temple of an equivalent amount to what they might have spent on their parents. If they did that, they were deemed to be under no further obligation. This had an obvious benefit to the Temple, and indeed might give the appearance of great piety. But it undermined the whole point of the law.
From this one little example Jesus launches his major attack on the Pharisees: they are play-actors. The word 'hypocrite' literally means someone who puts on a mask to play a part. The mask, says Jesus, is the words the Pharisees use. Behind their words of piety, their hearts have no intention of really discovering what God desired. They have elevated merely human customs to the status of divine commands. In the process, they have overthrown the actual divine commands themselves.
Do you think you have put on a mask, or some masks to make yourself looking better? Guard your heart! Don't be a hypocrite!
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: Put down your mask! Don't be a hypocrite!
What I received from Jesus today is a warning of our own being. See how those Pharisees wanted to prove that they are better than other people, that they love God more than other people, but they like to make accusation, they like to see everything negative, they are so picky, looking down upon all people!
It's really painful to be surrounded by Pharisees. It's more painful to be a Pharisee because if you are one of them then you won't feel happy, you won't feel satisfied and you won't feel safe, you are always insecure! The worst is that you do not know your own problem because you are spiritually blind! How sad!
How do you know whether you are a Pharisee?
If you see everything and everyone negatively, love to spread rumours, like to accuse other people even your own boss or especially your own boss, having all kinds of evil thoughts like what Jesus says in verse 19, doing dirty things secretly, and more...
How do you prevent yourself not being a Pharisee?
The opposite of a Pharisee is a faithful, humble and obedient disciple of Jesus. To be such kind of loving disciple of Jesus you just need to follow Jesus pattern to have a heart to heart relationship with God daily.
Just like the message I shared yesterday: up, up and pray!
If you really have that kind of heart to heart relationship with God then you are able to:
Put down your mask! To be a true faithful, humble and obedient disciple of Jesus!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to see our true self and that we can put down our mask. Help us to leave the path of a hypocrite and to follow your path to be a faithful, humble and obedient disciple of you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Please click this link to worship with us - Cares Chorus
Chinese praise song - 愛是不保留 Unreserved Love
You can subscribe to my podcast feed here:http://feeds.feedburner.com/discipler123
You may choose to follow my first blog which I started in July 2009:http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/