CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ON YOUTUBE
Matthew 12:9-10
The Pharisees were considered to be the most religious people of the day. They were considered to be closer to God than anyone. But their hearts were not sincere in their actions, and their hearts were not sincere to God. They exploited the weaknesses or faults of others in an attempt to make themselves appear to be “better.” They were not sincere – they were self-seeking glory hounds. This is directly reflective of the devil – of Satan himself in his attempt to overthrow God. He now uses this same means to make man fall from the grace of God. I believe that the Pharisees thought they were setting an example in being holy. But that is exactly the point at hand; they were not holy – man is not holy – only God is holy (Revelation 15:4).
The Pharisees have accused the disciples of Jesus of disobedience to the law (Matthew 12:1-2), and now they are accusing Him of disobedience as they question Him (Matthew 12:10, NKJV), “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
This is an example of seeking the faults of others in an attempt to justify our own sinful lives.
When God gave the Law to Moses, He declares in Leviticus 11:44a (NIV), “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” He then, in Leviticus 11:45, the very next verse, reiterates, “I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” The Apostle Peter ties this all together for us in 1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV), “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy” [Leviticus 11:44]. God’s command to be holy is to be holy because He is holy. We cannot be holy in and of ourselves, it is only through God that we may be holy through the grace of God given to us in salvation through accepting the gift – His One and only Son, Jesus, that we may be holy. It is not our holiness but the holiness of God given as a blessing for being obedient and sincere in our faith in Him. The Pharisees were striving to bring glory to themselves by exploiting the faults of others, but in humble obedience and sincerity to God, they should have been striving to bring glory to God by uplifting and helping others.
Dear LORD,
We have a deep desire to show You and everyone else how good we can be, but Jesus teaches us that in bringing glory to You, we should be humble and uplifting others, just as Jesus did by humbling Himself to the cross for others so that through Him, others may be uplifted and bring glory to You, our Creator and Sustainer of life for all who will put their faith in You. Please give us understanding and the realization of this way in Christ Jesus, that we too would be uplifting to others and celebrate our new life in Christ Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.