URC Daily Devotion 3 March 2026
St Matthew 23: 23 – 28
‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.
‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Reflection
“Woe to you elders and ministers, hypocrites! You make out standing orders to church but ignore the poor sleeping rough next to the building! You love to quote Micah’s words about justice being like an everlasting stream but invest your money funds in guns, alcohol, and fossil fuels! Pay attention to justice and only then think about the sincerity of your religious practices!
“Woe to you, readers and listeners, hypocrites! You value the beauty of holiness, the choicest hymns, the shortest sermons, the most poetic of prayers but squabble amongst yourselves, hate newcomers, and resist the truth! You look righteous but inside you are full of hypocrisy and resentment!
“Woe to you, committees and councils, hypocrites! You write vision statements and mission plans, but fear change more than you fear injustice! You debate structures, constitutions and ministry models, but leave the wounded waiting while you perfect your paperwork! You protect buildings and processes, yet hesitate to risk yourselves for the sake of the Gospel! You speak of being a pilgrim people, but cling to comfort, control, and church culture!”
I imagine if a visiting preacher offered such thoughts; they’d not be invited back! If you heard such a sermon you’d probably think the preacher was being too harsh, unfair, and partial even as some of the points hit home.
As Christians we’re often tempted to see the Pharisees as the bad guys in the story – and in Matthew’s Gospel we have a document written amidst tensions between Christians and Jews as their paths diverged. It’s easy to be drawn into those struggles and not see our own weaknesses. Clearly Jesus critiqued an attention to detail at the expense of more important matters; he critiques a trait often found in religious folk who prefer minutiae about inconsequential matters to the difficult task of changing one’s life and living more authentically.
Prayer
Help us O God,
to keep your Law of justice, mercy and faith,
that we may leave our hypocrisy behind,
and turn to you anew.
Amen.