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Luke 11:42-44
In this passage Jesus gives the Pharisees three woes, and in the third woe He includes the scribes as well. I like to think of these three woes as being one from the Father in heaven, one from the Son Jesus, and one from the Holy Spirit. There is no proof of this but if this were to be in question, this threefold woe would represent the fullness of the Trinity in the wholeness of God, and in so would represent the importance of taking heed to these warnings from Jesus.
Jesus is teaching that as the Pharisees (and scribes) take great care in preventing themselves from becoming unclean according to the Law, they are more concerned with being embarrassed of their outer appearance, should it become flawed, rather than the importance of believing in their hearts, which would change their lives and outlook in humility to God. Jesus teaches them that they are like unmarked graves which they walk over while not being aware of it. This would make them unclean (the thing that they tried most not to be) in that by walking over these unmarked graves, they would become unclean from touching the dead (Numbers 19:11).
This is an example of the unclean ways of man in believing in himself and how it makes him blind to the ways of God.
This is a command to do the things in accordance with what God puts in our hearts not to make ourselves look good, but in having a sincere heart to following Jesus and bringing glory to God.
To do “good deeds” is honorable in God’s eyes, but we must remember that we are not doing good deeds to earn our way to heaven, but because of the forgiveness we have received through what Jesus has done for us on the cross, we do the “good deeds” to bring glory to Him.
When we stand before God in heaven and He asks us why He should allow us into His kingdom, no deed or work that we have done will be enough. It is only through believing in Jesus and submitting our lives to Him that we will hear the LORD’s reply of “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, NKJV). Jesus states in John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth, and the life; and that no one comes to God except through Him.
Dear Lord,
Please help us see that doing good deeds is the action in our lives that is a result of salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Doing things that are pleasing to You and Your will for our lives is what we should be striving for each day in following the teachings of Jesus, and not that we would do “good deeds” to bring attention to ourselves, but that others would see Jesus working in our lives through these good deeds and bring glory to You LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.