BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Jesus’ showdown in Jerusalem, which began yesterday, continues today. People are starting to get seriously irritated—especially the most powerful people.

After graciously slipping through the traps of those who opposed him, Jesus turns to the crowds and urges them to follow his way rather than the hypocritical ways of the so-called experts and guides. Jesus says that they’re teaching good stuff, so pay attention to that and do that, but do not do what they do. Their way is to burden everyone. They read and teach Scripture not to bless others but to enrich themselves and increase their status.

Today’s video explores the word “hypocrite,” which is about acting or pretending. Jesus repeatedly says, “Woe to you, experts in the law … you hypocrites!” He exposes the fact that they pretend to know about God and love God when neither is true.

Remember that he’s rebuking these guys in public, which means he’s also teaching the larger crowd something. He’s suggesting that genuine followers of God will be people who cultivate things like humility, generosity, honesty, justice, and love for neighbors. They won’t burden people and coerce them with fear.

Then he tells his disciples about the future. He declares that Jerusalem’s temple will fall and warns them to ignore alarming voices that say wars, rumors of wars, or natural disasters are signs of the end times. Those are necessary realities, Jesus says, not alarming signs, but many will pretend they are and use them to terrify you. Like the expert hypocrites, they are using you for their own gain. Just ignore those voices.

The way of God’s Kingdom is already beginning. Turn your attention away from the chatter about when, where, and how it will play out. Instead, pay attention to living rightly with one another. Keep busy with God’s good work today. That’s what matters.

Preparing for God’s future-arriving, fully renewed, fully restored Kingdom is about choosing to live faithfully with God and others right now.

Reflection Questions

• Jesus calls justice, mercy, and faith the “weightier matters of the Torah” (Matt. 23:23). Where else in the Bible have you seen this idea? (Read a prophet for a hint: Amos 5:15, 24; Micah 6:8; Ezekiel 45:9; Hosea 12:6; Daniel 4:27; Zechariah 7:9-10.) What does this idea of weightier matters suggest for us in terms of how to interpret the Torah?
• Meditate on the idea of readiness for Jesus’ return, the final fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. What have you learned in Matthew about Kingdom life? What does readiness look like?