30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 14 1-6 The evil of hypocrisy 04 Outwardly appear righteous before men
📖 Luke 14:1-6
15Nov19 - *Outwardly appear righteous before men* - _Luke 14:1-6_ - Bible reading: _Zechariah 7:5-11_
_Luke 14:2-6 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. (3) And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" (4) But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. (5) Then He answered them, saying, "Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?" (6) And they could not answer Him regarding these things._
We understood that the problem of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time, was the problem of hypocrisy. The Lord made it clear that hypocrites will go to hell. We therefore began to look into the problem of hypocrisy and its symptoms in our own lives. The symptoms that we have seen thus far are, 1. Our heart is seeking after its own gain 2. Giving importance to outward rituals, traditions, rules and formats and not giving importance to love God, be loved by Him and to love people. 3. Seeking glory from men and 4. Appearances before men
We will look one more day into this matter of appearances before men. _Matthew 6:16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may *appear to men to be fasting*. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward._ Our Lord clarified further by saying, _Matthew 23:28 Even so you also *outwardly appear righteous to men*, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness._
Isn’t this symptom so evident in us? We do such to outwardly appear righteous before men but inwardly the matter is something else. God sees the inner person and there He sees that our ways are not pleasing before Him. The concerns of God are not occupying our hearts.
_Zechariah 7:5-11 “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? (6) When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? (7) Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?' " (8) Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, (9) “Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother. (10) Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.' (11) But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear._
When we look around us, there is so much of sadness caused by people, who are hurting and rebelling against God. Are we concerned for people? To bring God’s healing into their lives, so that God can transform our society? Aren’t we more concerned to *outwardly appear righteous before people*?
_Isaiah 58:6-8 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? (7) Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? (8) Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard._
*Thought to ponder*
```Father forgive me for outwardly appearing righteous before people.```