November 29, 2014 Serious Sin

Serious Sin

Matt 23:14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” (NKJV)*

YOU will likely look at the title of this devotion and think, “All sin is serious.” Yes, that’s true. But Jesus teaches here that some sins are more serious than others.

     In this second of the eight “woes” Jesus condemns hypocritical Pharisees for taking advantage of widows. Apparently they defrauded widows of their property and homes due to them after their husbands had died. The dishonest Pharisees might be compared to an unethical money manager who advises people to take action that will put most of their money into his pocket. The Pharisees and scribes received no money for their work, and those who were dishonest would charge widows large sums of money for their “advice”.

     In addition, Jesus condemns here, as he does in Matthew 6:5, long prayers done more for show than for true worship of God. Jesus’ judgment takes sure aim at lying, unethical hypocrites, and he pronounces, “Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.”

     Is one sin more serious than another? Do not all sinners who do not repent receive the same punishment? One answer comes in James 3:1: “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” “More strictly” says there is strict judgment on those who teach falsely. Other scriptures point to more severe penalties for other acts against God and His people.

     As Christians we all have been given much responsibility to live faithfully in Jesus’ true teachings. I pray you will be serious about obeying Him so that Jesus will reward you one day with, “Well done, my good servant!” (Luke 19:17)

LIFE Link: Serious obedience.  

*The New King James translation of the Bible is one several translations that has this verse. I normally use the New International Version that does not have Matthew 23:14. This verse is found in Mark 12:40.