“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean."
Matthew 23:27
Thtat is how Jesus ruling over the pious and scribes looks like.The situation is terrible! But not only then there was this externall religiosity, it still exists today! The entire communities are influenced by this spirit of religiosity. They are so pious, so solemn, so festive, so good… Only real life is not to be found there. There is no Gospel, no Message of liberation. There are only rules and rituals that you must keep if you want to find God’s favor. The assurance of salvation is missing, but the pride in one’s religiosity is quite large. God could not reject such religious people – they think, but God thinks otherwise.
Religiosity is the greatest enemy of the gospel. It kills the life of the spirit. Where external religiosity prevails, heavenly joy is rare; the communities do not grow; if one makes a mistake, others ogle him; man is proud of his Christian works; prayers are long and solemn, as if you talk to remote high-rulers, but they show the irrelevance of God; people are dependent on anything, but not on Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is not really needed. For Jesus those communities and people are dead.
“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings." (Matthew 23:37)
Jesus wants to be the Lord of the church. He is the true protector of His flock. He gives life, joy, and peace in abundance. In Him we are safe as the chicks under the wings of the hen. Gospel means: We do not need to labour in order to please God; instead of it Jesus is there and He has reconciled us with God. He has wiped out not only the past but also helps us to live to God in faith. He is the mercy and reconciliation! I will rather rely on Jesus’ mercy and grace than on my own power and religiosity. It is so good, relaxed, easy and happy to go through life! Thank you, Jesus, You saved me. I can not add anything to it – only rejoice at my release!
We tie up the false spirit of religion in the name of Jesus. And we liberate the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and community. We want the life that God gives! We want salvation, the heavenly joy of Jesus and His mercy! Thank you, Jesus, that You have mercy on me and you have drawn me to you! Thank you, I am yours!
Read more: Matthew 23!