I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Matthew 23-24.

    I think we often miss Jesus’ true intent when we read His condemnation of the Pharisees and other religious leaders. We tend to read it as directed at someone else, not ourselves. The fact of the matter is that His words are directed at us, because right in the middle of condemning the Pharisees and other religious leaders He gives His followers direct instructions. He condemns the Pharisees and sets them up in direct contrast to how we should behave. They do things for show and set themselves up as above the common man. They seek to be called teacher and desire fancy titles. But Jesus tells us that we should not let anyone address us with a title which elevates us above themselves. We are all equal, nothing more than servants of God. If we want to be important, we must seek to honor others above ourselves.
    Related to this Jesus warns us against setting up and following rules designed to let us get around the rules. Rules that let me deceive people by taking an oath that “doesn’t count”, while those in the know would know to make me take an oath which does. Rules which allow me to declare myself righteous by giving a percentage of my wealth to charity while obtaining more by taking advantage of the poor and unfortunate. God will not honor such loopholes. If you are looking for the loopholes in God’s commands, you have missed the point and will pay the price.