Good morning! We are continuing in Matthew 23. The Lord is speaking to the religious leaders and pointing out their many flaws. Join me as we continue. Enjoy your day.

BIBLE VERSE – Matthew 23:15-22 NLT

“¹⁵ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell  you yourselves are!

¹⁶ “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’ ¹⁷ Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? ¹⁸ And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding. ¹⁹ How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. ²² And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.”

REFLECTION
In these verses, the Lord called the religious  leaders (Pharisees) hypocrites and blind guides. They were leaders who were leading others by religious practices instead of drawing them nearer to God. Brothers and sisters, let us be careful to share the gospel truth, to be truthful in all our dealings and not press religious traditions that mislead or lead someone astray – but speak and share God’s truth.

Brothers and sisters, if you have been led to believe incorrect things or had bad experiences at a church, or with people in the church, don’t let those things deter you from following God with your whole heart and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Get back to reading and studying the word of God for yourself. Pray for God to send you to the right church that will help build your faith and disciple you. Allow God to have His way in your life.

PRAYER
Lord God, creator of everything, thank you for today.  Thank you for waking us up. Lord, you know us. Lord, equip us in your word. Help us to share your word with others. Lord, we lift up our brothers and sisters in the faith and ask that you pour out your Holy Spirit into their hearts. Lord, lead us in the way that we should go. Heal our brokenness and restore our souls.  Lord, we pray for the victims of violent crimes that we hear about and those we don’t. Lord, we pray for the survivors of those tragedies and we ask for healing and peace to overflow within them. Lord, we pray for the family members who are helping them to recover and pray for the family members who have lost their loved ones to violence. Lord, hold their broken hearts together. Lord, wipe their tears and help them to catch their breath and breathe. Lord, calm their souls and their minds from racing. Lord, ease their pain as only you can. Lord, help us to hear your voice today and soften our hearts to be obedient to your word. Lord, thank you for coming to earth to save us. Lord, use us today, as you please. Help us to be your hands and feet in this world. Lord, heal this world, lead our nations leaders and our families, and Lord – protect us all from those who plot and plan evil in their hearts and act on it. Shield us. Bind the plots of the devil. Set free those bound by the devil, heal them and transform them to follow you. In Jesus name, amen.

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