What is the righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes like?
From Jesus’s admonishment of the Pharisees and scribes in the gospel, it is visible what their righteousness entailed.
Thus, Jesus says to them; “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27-28)
The Pharisees and scribes only follow the letters of the law without minding what the spirit of the law demands. And so, they are proud to say that they are righteousness because they have not physically killed anyone, or committed adultery, or because they’ve not gone against the other commandments physically, but what they harbour in their hearts is worse than killing and adultery and other sins put together.
This informs Jesus’s teaching in the gospel of today, thus, “…I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Jesus wants us to practically mean what we claim to be. What we reject in the day, we should not accept in the night, and whatever we claim not to eat, we should not use our teeth to share it.
Be genuine in your resolve as your work out your salvation in all sincerity, in fear and trembling. (Philipians 2:12)
We pray that God may give us the grace for true repentance and may our fasting be acceptable in His sight.
Peace be with you 🙏🏾🙌🏾
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