FRIDAY, December 11

Matthew 23:27-39. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

What follows is written only to religious people. If you are a secularist or an atheist, stop reading now. This is not for your eyes.

I'm very devout, and I'm known for it. People aren't invited to write for this publication unless they're known to be devout. We devout people are particularly susceptible to certain sins. Other people occasionally wallow in those sins as well, but we're more likely to. First among the sins of the devout is hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing another. It's talking the talk but not walking the walk. It's reciting the creeds and the prayers, then behaving as if they don't mean anything. It's going to church not to have our petty prejudices changed, but to have them confirmed and made to look respectable. It's religion that starts on Sunday and ends on Sunday. It's looking good rather than being good.

Jesus didn't say much to notorious sinners. Presumably, he disliked their behavior, but he rarely mentioned it. It was the devout who bore the brunt of his anger. Why do you suppose that was?

PRAY for the Diocese of Western Tanganyika (Tanzania)

Ps 31 * 35; Haggai 1:1-15; Revelation 2:18-29.

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Dec 11, 2009 at 4:47 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

For two reasons that I can think of at the moment. Because duplicity grieves the Holy Spirit; and, a promise is a promise. Notorious sinners usually don't promise with their heart to be good, or faithful.

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Dec 11, 2009 at 6:18 am

Written by Richard H. Schmidt, Editor, Forward Day by Day,

Thank you, Steve, for that thoughtful answer to my rhetorical question. I have been out of town for the past three days and was unable to respond to postings Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But I'm back now. As the December author, I greatly appreciate the insights you have offered on what I wrote. Many minds are much better than one! Thanks.

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Dec 11, 2009 at 7:09 am

Written by George,

The hypocrite, having accepted God's pursuit, then chooses to love himself first. The "notorious sinner" hasn't accept God's pursuit and so still there is hope. Too often the "devout" wear this as a "superior" cloak, and often church can become a punch-card superstition. Worse yet, it justifies the secularist and atheist rather than displaying the compelling "light on the hill".

Technical Writer

Dec 11, 2009 at 8:48 am

Written by Junelle,

Perhaps parents have a tendency to hold their own children to a higher standard than other children. To expect more, to tolerate less. Maybe Jesus felt this fatherly tendency towards the devout, as they really want His approval. I also think that Jesus may have been so upset over the sufferings of the collateral people, that this prompted his attitude.

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Dec 11, 2009 at 10:07 am

Written by Richard H. Schmidt, Editor, Forward Day by Day,

I'm thinking the devout are tempted to think their own efforts---praying, Bible reading, good deeds---are all that is needed, whereas the obvious sinners know they need help and therefore (are more likely to ask for it. Acknowledging one's powerlessness is the first step in A.A. and the first step in faithful Christian living, I think. Thanks for writing in.

Notorius Sinners

Dec 11, 2009 at 2:11 pm

Written by Dan,

I liked today's meditation. I did want to point out that though Jesus was harder on the devout, and I too believe it was due to their hypocrisy and their arrogance of attitude, He was also very welcoming to the repentant of even the most notorius sinners. And, I am thankful for that!

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Dec 11, 2009 at 7:41 pm

Written by Rob,

Hebrews 12:10
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

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