Read Online
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You
are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are
filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.” Matthew 23:27–28
This would not have been an easy thing for the scribes and
Pharisees to hear. It is a hard truth, spoken by our Lord, partly
in an attempt to shake them free of their sin. And even though they
may not have enjoyed hearing this clear condemnation spoken, since
it came from the Savior of the World, we can be sure that these are
words of the deepest love and were spoken so that these men would
repent and change their ways.
Perhaps each of us, at times, feels like criticizing another. Most
often, when we feel this way, it stems from our own personal sin of
anger. Perhaps we were hurt by another and that hurt results in a
desire for a form of vengeance that comes from anger. But this was
not the case with Jesus.
First, these words were spoken by Jesus to his disciples and to the
crowds of people, not only to the scribes and Pharisees. So in many
ways Jesus spoke this for the good of those who were suffering
under the misguided leadership of these religious leaders. But
Jesus knew that these leaders would also hear His words, so He
spoke those words to them. But unlike us, He did it out of perfect
virtue so as to care for their souls.
At times, each one of us needs to hear Jesus rebuke us in love. If
any of the scribes and Pharisees were open at that time, then
Jesus’ words would have first stung them to the heart but then had
the powerful effect of challenging them to change. They needed this
and so do we. When we become stuck in our sins, especially if
obstinacy sets in, then we need to allow Jesus to challenge us
firmly. Such a challenge can be rattling, but that rattling is
sometimes necessary. Emotion and passion can lead to sin, but it
can also lead to repentance and conversion. The passion with which
Jesus spoke became an instrument by which their own passions made
them sit up and take notice. The result was that they either became
more steeped in their sin or they repented. And though most became
even more steeped in sin, which ultimately resulted in their
persecution and death of Jesus, we can hope that there were some
who did repent, such as Nicodemus. Reflect, today, upon the
strength of Jesus’ words to these religious leaders. Though they
were supposed to be both “religious” and “leaders,” they were
neither. They needed Jesus' strength, courage and firmness. They
needed to be confronted directly and receive the hard and clear
truth about their sin.
Reflect upon what it is in your own life that Jesus wants to say to
you. Is there an area of your life in which our Lord needs to
address you with passion, strength, clarity and firmness? Most
likely there is. Perhaps not in an area of serious sin like it was
with these scribes and Pharisees, but if we are open, Jesus wants
to powerfully go after every sin within us. Open yourself to Him
and allow Him to help rid you of the sins with which you struggle
the most. And be grateful for this grace when He does.
My passionate Lord, You hate sin but love the sinner. You
perfectly desire to rid me of all sin and all attachment to sin.
Please open my mind and heart to hear Your rebukes of Love so that
I may respond to Your invitation to repent with all my heart. I
love You dear Lord. Free me from sin so that I may love You more.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Image via Adobe Stock
Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.com
Copyright 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used
with permission via RSS feed.
Kommentare (0)
Melde dich an, um einen Kommentar zu schreiben.