A Journey Through Matthew’s Gospel
Today we continue our journey through Matthew’s Gospel as Jesus turns His attention toward the religious leaders of His day.
And as expected, Jesus doesn’t pull any punches.
Matthew 23 is one of those chapters where Jesus makes people downright uncomfortable.
He repeatedly calls out the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They knew the Scriptures. They taught the people. They looked religious.
But something was missing.
Their hearts.
Jesus says they “preach, but do not practice.”
Ouch.
That one still hits.
It’s possible to know the Bible and still miss the heart of God.
It’s possible to talk about faith, look the part, attend church, quote Scripture, and even teach others while our actual lives tell a different story.
Jesus wasn’t criticizing obedience.
He was criticizing religious performance without a transformed heart.
There’s an important distinction here.
Jesus tells His followers to do what the religious leaders teach from the Scriptures, but not to imitate their hypocrisy.
In other words:
Don’t just talk about God. Live like you know Him.
Jesus also says something that turns our usual ideas about greatness upside down:
“The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Kingdom greatness doesn’t come from being important.It comes from serving.
And then Jesus gives one of His strongest warnings: “Woe to you.”
Again and again, He points out how the religious leaders had become experts at emphasizing the small things while neglecting the things that mattered most, like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
That’s worth sitting with.
Because, unfortunately, we can do the same thing.
You and I can become really good at arguing about the things that don’t matter nearly as much as we think they do while overlooking the people right in front of us.
In Matthew 23, Jesus asks us some uncomfortable questions.
- Am I more concerned with appearing faithful or actually being faithful?
- Am I practicing what I preach?
- Am I majoring in minor things while neglecting mercy, justice, and faithfulness?
- Am I serving people or trying to impress them?
Jesus isn’t looking for religious actors. he calls us to be the real deal. He’s looking for people whose lives are being transformed from the inside out.
Does your outward faith reflect what is happening inside your heart?
That’s the challenge of Matthew 23.
And honestly?
I’m still working on it.
Maybe you are too.
That’s why we all need a little Jesus.
Until my next post…
Be salty, stay lit.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
© 2026 Rainer Bantau | The Devotional Guy™ | All Rights Reserved
Thank you, Adam. I appreciate that perspective. I’ve thought the same—trying to give the benefit of the doubt or see it from their perspective. Thanks again. I will check out your church. Praise God for your faithfulness!
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I endeavor to always state that I am using another’s person writing by specific permission. Maybe they do that because your writing is generally on course. Keep on posting!
FYI: I am 40+ year member of https://churchofgodinchristmennonite.net/who-we-are/
Adam.
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Thanks, Adam. I appreciate your encouragement. And, yes, you may definitely repost it and share it with your readers. All I ask is that you make it plain that you didn’t write it. Unfortunately, I’ve had people repost my things on their site as if they wrote it. But, I’d be honored to have you share it. I’m happy it resonated with you. Blessings.
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Well said! Great posting. However, unless I give it “landing clearance” that all it is.
Except my Jesus is not little and I don’t need him little 🙂
I would appreciate your permission to reblog it on my blog at weaverblog.com
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