Kingdom Horizon

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:13)

“He answered and said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 7:5-7)

When thinking of the person of Jesus Christ many people automatically picture Him with a shepherd’s staff in hand and children playing at His feet. They think of a nice, warm and kindhearted Jesus.

Unfortunately, that’s the extent of what people imagine Jesus as, or at least all they wish to believe – not knowing or realizing the majority of the Bible tells us about a very controversial revolutionist.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world not only to die for the sins of mankind, but to purify mankind from the inside out; starting with God’s own people, specifically the Pharisees, who were the religious leaders of the time.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27-29)

The Pharisees saw Jesus as a threat to the order structure that was firmly established. They saw Jesus as an agent of social chaos and disruption. If  the Jews were to turn from their traditional routines the Pharisees would have been out of work and would lose the control they had over those people. They were prepared to do anything to maintain their social status.

Jesus did, however, succeed in disrupting the hallow laws and traditions of the Pharisees by preaching and healing on the Sabbath, by taking apart the old framework that is the Old Testament piece by piece and constructing a new covenenant which is now the New Testament. You could say the Pharisees were unwilling to go through any growing pains.

When it came down to the hundreds of minute details the Pharisees lived by, Jesus gave two great commandments that encapsulated His entire message in opposition to these traditions:

• Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
• Love your neighbor as yourself.

Are you someone who is in the church worrying about the minute details of ministry?

Do you feel that the task is more important than what that task is actually all about? And Who it’s for?

Now I’m not saying that you are a Pharisee by any means. But we’re all guilty of misplacing our love for God with our selfish desires to be noticed in the church or to be a “better” Christian than the rest of the congregation.

It’s an easy trap the Devil has sprung.

Remember, Jesus came into the world to show us what Christian living really means. All throughout the Bible the words Jesus spoke shine through, both in the Old Testament and the New. Being a Christian means following Jesus’ example. Don’t go start mouthing off to your boss or family and friends about how they are sinners and are living like the Pharisees – Jesus already did that for us.

But remember not to fall into the snare of self-righteousness.

Above all else, Jesus came not only to build the Church, or to tear down the walls of conformity and tradition, He came as the Giver of Life and the Savior to the dead.

However controversial in His time and in ours, Jesus’ words scream louder than ever today and will continue to do so until His return.

The fact that I’m even writing this is a testament to the fact that His Word is not just written on the pages of Scripture, but has also been etched on hearts, minds and souls.