Week 22—Thursday Matthew 23:23-24
Matthew 23:23-24
“BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN
OF THE PHARISEES”—OUTWARDISM
After coming to a climax in the amazing revelation of the destiny of his followers: “You, therefore, must be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect,” Jesus then goes on to strike at the things which hinder the realization of this perfection. He mentions three phases of the same thing—outwardism. Outwardism is the tribute that hypocrisy pays to goodness. Hypocrisy says, I am not good, but this is what I would like to appear to be.
He puts his finger on three religious acts where outwardism asserts itself. First, outwardism in doing charitable things: “Be careful not to make a show of your religion. . . . Thus, when you do some act of charity, do not announce it with a flourish of trumpets, as the hypocrites do in synagogue and in the streets to win admiration from men” (Matt. 6:1-2, NEB). This tendency to do charitable acts to win favor from God and applause from people is as old as yesterday, new as tomorrow, and as present as today. Collections in churches are often doubled when bags are replaced by plates! “Erected to the Glory of God and to the memory of So and So.” And the last emphasis is always the emphatic emphasis!
A motto on the Sat Tal Ashram in India says, “There is no limit to the good you can do if you do not desire any credit for it.” It is the desire to get credit that cancels the good we do. For the self-regarding motive is the real motivating motive—the rest is playacting with yourself as the central character. An actress said to her actor husband, “Darling, I’m afraid you play too big a part in your life.” The self-display motive plays too big a part in much of our charity. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,” said Jesus to his disciples. It is valid today, for outwardism destroys the inward, makes it hollow.
O Father God, you work in such hidden ways, so hidden that we doubt your existence. You feed us, clothe us, and by the very strength of that care we ask where you are. Your humility sends us to our knees. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: There is no limit to the good I can do today if I ask no credit.