I've heard the excuse "The church is full of hypocrites, that's why I don't go". I always want to respond "Well then, by all means, don't go. We don't need another one!" But I bite my tongue, that wouldn't be very Christian.
The religious leaders of the time were hypocritical too. Here, Jesus chased out those that were making money off others misfortunes and what was the religious leaders response? They are indignant. I guess it was okay to deal crookedly with those who came to worship but it was not okay spread hope and healing.
And what about the children? They sang praise to Jesus! Yet because it was directed to the One they hated, it was deemed unacceptable.
When bitterness takes root and is allowed to grow, nothing seems to satisfy it. It ends up consuming your entire life.
Matthew 21:14-17 NLT
14 The blind and the lame came to Him in the Temple, and He healed them. 15 The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”
But the leaders were indignant. 16 They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’ ” 17 Then He returned to Bethany, where He stayed overnight.
Blessings, Cecilia
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