Matthew 23 is a “woe to the Shepherds” chapter, reminiscent of what we read in the prophets. The religious leaders get a harsh warning that all the righteous blood shed on earth will come on them. Jesus lists the things they will do to the righteous, thereby bringing on themselves God’s wrath.

The thing is, everyone thinks they are so righteous. What was wrong?

Their obedience was outward. It was done as duty. It wasn’t out of the overflow of a loving heart.

Our love for others is the natural result of our love for God. That’s what our good works are supposed to be, expressions of love for others.

Jesus repeatedly calls them hypocrites. They are saying one thing and doing another. They teach the law but do not follow it.

They do the physical acts of the law, but they miss the heart of the law, the spirit of the law. They are missing justice, mercy, and faithfulness, Jesus points out.

How do we keep from hypocrisy? We don’t tell others how to live. We just quietly live our lives.

To quietly live your life means you aren’t putting on a performance. You aren’t doing things for others to see them. You have an audience of One; you live to please your Father.

God loves these people. They were created in His image. Jesus will die for their sins. But He will also call them a “brood of vipers” and warn them about being sentenced to hell.

God is not willing that any perish. He wants them to repent. But they are like their fathers and are not willing to be gathered, to surrender their lives and be brought near.

You can’t hold onto your life to save it. You have to let it go. Surrender your life and everything in it. Let it all go. Lose your life to save it. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. But those who come lowly will be exalted. They will be lifted up.