Heart Battles

St. Matthew 23:1-12

“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” –Jeremiah 17:10

As we look closer at this week’s Gospel reading which was taken from St. Matthew 23:1-12, we must understand the context of the scripture reading.  Here Jesus is speaking directly and very bluntly to the Pharisees.  The Pharisees were religious leaders that held a great deal of influence among the Jewish people of Jesus’ day.  Because of their great influence the Pharisees were often seen with high regard by the general public.  Not all of the teachings of the Pharisees were bad, but it was their lifestyle that is being called out to the forefront by Jesus.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues” (Mathew 23:5-6).  Phylacteries were little leather boxes that contained scripture verses.  These boxes were traditionally worn by Jewish men to obey Old Testament teachings (Deuteronomy 6:8, Exodus 3:9).  These became an outer display of their status as “religious men”, and our Lord calls out the characteristics that have led them astray from what scripture teaches.  They live not according to the truths they preach, undeservingly sought respect, and high titles. The Pharisees often wore something to distinguish that they were religious leaders, but what’s important here is that others should know our faith not by what we wear but where our hearts are pointing.  “The Lord does not look at things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

You may be wondering how is this applicable to us?  What Jesus is attacking are not the Pharisees as a whole but rather the attitudes of their mind.  These attitudes can be found just as easily within the Christian community of that time and every period since then.  Just like the Pharisees, we all have great influence on those that surround us daily especially as Christians.  Whether this is in the classroom, college campuses, or in our own homes, we have to find ways to be living out our faith and not just by words alone.  “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) Like Jesus who came down to earth as a man and willing humbled himself to a death on the cross, we have to strive and be willing to become a servant of all and not be bound by our pride or laziness.

At the end of the day, God is not so much interested solely on our words but where our hearts are at.  Our God is a loving God who is seeking sincerity and honesty from us rather than being “spiritually correct” with him by an outward display of affection.  The temptation lurks around us to constantly pretend with the Lord, but it does us no good as the Lord knows our hearts and our minds.  Our lives have to be a testament of Christ’s teachings, and if our lives are not in accordance with His teachings, you and I are no different than the Pharisee’s Jesus is talking to in Mathew 23:1-12.

Questions to reflect on:

1) Think about the constant relationship God has with you, and identify areas in your life where you are not letting him in or ignoring him.

2) Dig into Matthew 23:1-12. What emotion do you think Jesus expressed when saying these things? What things were the Pharisees doing that pointed to their lack of sincerity? What remedy does Jesus leave them with in verses 11-12?

3) Who is one person in your life that demonstrates sincerity?  How would you describe their  character?  How does it make you feel when someone is less than sincere with you?

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