The legalists are often the worst when it comes to disapproval over things that are not even Biblical.
We should be preaching and striving for holiness, but no according to our own standards. It is God's heart that we must acquire, becoming so by continual confession and focusing on Christ.
When we focus on Christ, there is nothing we will feel prideful about ourselves. We are free from the pretense of self righteousness when Christ is our focus.
We see our own unworthiness when we compare ourselves to Christ. When we compare ourselves to others we are likely to see what we want to see about them that makes them less than us, while ignoring all the good parts of those we judge. Many who judge others do it on the basis of gossip, not even hard evidence against the one they target. The desire to believe evil about someone without good evidence, is the jealousy that lives deeply inside.
Self righteousness always brings false judgment on others, even disproportionate to their imperfections. And, guess what? Everyone has warts, to believe we have none, is to elevate ourselves to the status of god.
Romans 3:23
"23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Those who must be superior to others, judging everything falsely, are Pharisees, they cannot be saved because they have not come to Christ in the realization that they are nothing and in need of a Savior. They may even "say" they are sinners in need of a Savior and then proceed to "act" as though they never did anything that required saving grace.
Matthew 23:1-15
Pharisaism Exposed
23 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,
2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;
3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4 They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
5 But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
6 They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.
8 But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10 Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.
11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
14 [Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
Matthew 23:23-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.
26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
No comments:
Post a Comment