Monday, May 28, 2012

The Sadness of Self-fulness

 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”
(Luke 11:42-44 ESV)
Having exposed the self-righteousness of these Pharisees (and any of us witht he same tendencies), Jesus pronounces three woes, or causes for sorrow.  He is saddened that they have heard and seen Him and His Kingdom, yet continued to focuse their (our?) lives on themselves.  They live to make themselves look good instead of looking to help others. They always want people to focus on them and the wonderful things they have done.  And, worse of all, they are self-deceived in their self-righteousness, and very sadly, lead others down the wrong path - the path of self, instead of the way of Jesus.  How sad indeed, whenever it's all about me.

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