Matthew 23
25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.
27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. 28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.
1) THE FIRST PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE JESUS WERE
Mark 2
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
2) OUR BROKENNESS SETS US UP TO
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Matthew 5
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, (spiritually bankrupt) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, (experienced loss) for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, (humble) for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, (empty) for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, (someone had wrong them) for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart (innocent), for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, (in the middle of conflict) for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, (persecuted, and rejected) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
3) OUR OWN PRIDE CAN KEEP US FROM
Matthew 11
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
2 Corinthians 12
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Chronicles 7
14 If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
1 Peter 5
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.