Day 28 - Matthew 23 ("Mint, dill, and cumin < Justice, mercy, and faithfulness")

1. Apart from v. 1, Jesus does all the talking in this chapter. In the first section (vv. 1-12), Jesus is issuing a warning to his disciples and to the crowd about the religious leadership which, to put it mildly, he finds unacceptable and deficient. He explains in v. 5 that these leaders love to put on a show? What does this mean?

2. What does Jesus say about greatness and humility in vv. 11-12?

3. The second section (vv. 13-39) can be titled "seven woes." What does the word "woe" mean?

4. In vv. 23-24, Jesus says that these religious leaders are picky in maintaining ritual and rule with herbs and spices. But, what more important matters have they neglected?

5. Talk about the cup and inside/outside cleanliness that is described in vv. 25-26. What does this analogy tell us?

6. What animal does Jesus compare himself to in v. 37? What does this tell us about his love for Jerusalem, even if the city has rejected prophets, rejected truth, and ultimately will reject him?

This chapter can be a difficult read. It is a one-way conversation and Jesus' accusations are serious and heavy.

Jesus is prepared, as we know, to forgive all sin. And, even more importantly, he loves sinners and wants to rescue them. He is prepared to sacrifice everything in order to save them. This is the fullest picture of love that anyone could ever imagine - and Jesus did it.

But, as we learn here, there is another side to it. What if you refuse that offer? And what will happen if you prefer your own way to God's way? And, worse still, what if you lead others on this road of blindness, selfishness, hypocrisy and pride?

Well, that must stop. And it will stop. Permanently.

Unmistakably, Jesus' woes to the teachers of the law and to the Pharisees are serious - but they are not divorced from love. A sharp rebuke towards safety and health is a good word. It is a loving word.

The coherence of love and judgment isn't a cartoon or a greeting card. It is both serious and real. And it is a matter of the heart. And, invariably, there will be consequences.

Either Jesus paid the price for you, or it remains to be paid. That is either the best possible news for you (and for me) or it is the worst possible news - with no middle or third option.

In love and compassion, Jesus wants to gather us to himself.