April 15, 2025

OUR BLESSED HOPE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

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! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. 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. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 23:25-28 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

On Tuesday of Holy Week Jesus returns to Jerusalem to address the religious leaders. He gives long speeches to the leaders in which he calls them hypocrites, blind guides, and whitewashed tombs among other things. 

Jesus is very passionate in his denunciation of the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. He says they are “full of greed and self-indulgence.” Jesus is stressing the need to be people of integrity. Not falling into the trap of living for outward appearance to please people. 

We live in a culture that thrives on selfies and filtered post to impress people and get more likes on our social media platforms. While I enjoy the benefits of seeing my friends and their children on social media there is a danger of becoming addicted to the spotlight. Attempting to impress others with our appearance instead of being people of integrity and authentic followers of Christ.

Our world needs to see Jesus wrapped in human flesh. As followers of Christ, we should pray regularly the prayer that David prayed in Psalm 139, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalms 139:23-24 NLT)

After Jesus’ extended teaching time in the Temple, He goes to the Mount of Olives with his disciples and gives a long discourse about the end of the age, the second coming of Christ, and the final judgment. Jesus wants them—and us—to remember this world is not the final chapter. Jesus is coming back again to set injustice right. 

As Jesus is nearing the end of His earthly ministry, He wants His followers to have hope for the future. The cross will not be the final chapter. The resurrection will not be the final chapter. He is going to return as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will establish His kingdom on earth. This is our blessed hope.

Let’s examine our hearts to be sure our priorities are in the right place.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, I invite You to search my heart today. Know my thoughts and help me to see anything in me that offends You. Lead me to be a person of integrity and purity. Help me to always look forward to Your return. 

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”