I have no doubt that a major theme which is regularly ignored within the gospels is Jesus’ hatred for the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Whenever the first four books of the New Testament are referenced, it is most likely to the ministry of Jesus Christ and rightly so. However, a natural reading of the NT would yield many thoughts of why Jesus constantly confronted the teachings of the so-called religious crowd. In verses 1-4 of this passage, Jesus condemns the Pharisees and Sadducees for their failure to read the signs He had already given about being the Messiah. He had performed countless miracles, but they desired Him to do something more spectacular than healing others. Because of this rejection Jesus calls them hypocrites, which means actors and implies that on the outside they were religious but on the inside they were wicked – they were not really what they appeared to be (16:4). After His encounter with the religious leaders, Jesus returns to the disciples and warns them about getting mixed up in the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus was in essence warning them about the rapidly spreading (leaven) false doctrine purported by the religious people of the day, mainly that the external is all that matters. I know I’ve said it many times throughout our study of the book of Matthew, but Jesus is most interested in your heart! We should never think that we can carefully disguise the outward person and fool others (and God for that matter) into thinking we are spiritual. Spirituality comes from the heart and is never because of our best efforts. A pure heart is the gift of God and is never manufactured by anything we do. God so much wants out hearts to be surrendered to Him so that He can mold it into His image. Don’t think you can impress God by your wardrobe, adherence to rituals, or good deeds. Start each day by giving God your heart and allow Him to change you into the person He wants you to be.
Dear God, here is my heart. Change it to make me the person you desire me to become.
