Jesus sat down to eat with some “religious” leaders and a woman they defined as “a sinner” began to wash his feet with her hair and her tears before she anointed them with oil. The religious men in the room were indignant as they questioned if Jesus knew who this woman was, because surely, THEY would have nothing to do with such a woman and in their opinion neither should Jesus. Jesus knowing their heart, told them a story about two debtors, explaining that those who are forgiven much debt are more grateful. Unlike the prideful religious men in the room, this woman knew her need for forgiveness and who could give it to her.
To the outward world, these religious leaders were the epitome of virtue and truth, to Jesus they were total hypocrites, the word he used in the Greek, hypokrités, means “stage actor”! This would not be the last encounter Jesus would have with these religious actors, and many of these encounters brought out a righteous anger in the Prince of Peace. Many times, they questioned Jesus’s actions and then Jesus would expose the evil intent and motives of their heart. Once a group of these sanctimonious charlatans drug an adulterous woman before Jesus to condemn her. Jesus wrote something secret on the ground and then instructed the one without sin to throw the first stone. One by one these pious frauds dropped their rocks and slunk away.
Jesus later told them that they had taken His Father’s house, the temple, and turned into a den of thieves as he flipped their money tables they used to fleece the faithful. Religious leaders and their money tables are still alive and well today!
What was it about these religious leaders that so angered Jesus? Matthew 23 records an account where Jesus read the riot act to leaders. Jesus said that while they sat as judges in Moses’s seat, they did not practice what they preached. He said they loved to wear religious garb and loved to be greeted with fancy titles because everything they did was to be seen of men- they were religious showoffs. In incredible irony, Jesus called them “Blind Guides” who would lead both themselves and their followers into the ditch. He said while they posed as guides into God’s kingdom, they were roadblocks instead.
Jesus berated them for their religious rituals like tithing to the grain, yet they withheld mercy and justice, they strained at gnats while swallowing camels. He said they were whitewashed tombs and drinking cups that were sparkling on the outside but filthy within. To their faces, he called them “Snakes”, and a “Brood of Vipers”. What caused the loving Jesus to have this immense indignation towards these religious leaders? The answer is simple- they falsely said that they represented His Father! While they claimed to represent the Father of the Lord, Jesus said their actions represented their own fatherthe devil! Just think, those who claimed to represent God, represented His arch enemy. Not only hypocrites, but these frauds were also traitors. Time has passed but the Bible still warns about these walking, talking, snakes. They still love titles, preeminence, and the praises of men and those that love Jesus can spot them a mile away. Watch out for snakes!
Sr.
