Bear Vent

All of the disciples claimed to love Christ. But did they all really love Him? A hypocrite was among them, of whom it is written, “Not that he cared for the poor” ( John 12:6 ). And are there not some people today who call Him, “Lord, Lord,” but who do not really love Him, having failed to love His poor brethren suffering on earth? They should have taken more pleasure in helping them, than in indulging in their own appetites, beautifying their bodies, accumulating great wealth, and giving luxurious entertainments. Those who truly love Christ are kind to the hungry, to the stranger, and to the prisoner, for His sake.

Matthew 23:1-4 NLT       ¹  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ²  “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. ³  So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. ⁴  They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. ——————— We read here how the Lord warned the people against imitating the example of hypocritical religious teachers. When they read the Scriptures to the people, then they are to be regarded. Their wrong interpretations, however, must be rejected; for our Savior on one occasion reproved them for teaching as doctrines mere human rules. ( Matthew 15:9 ) Verse 3 must therefore mean, that all the instructions they give, which agreed with God's word, must be followed, however wicked these teachers might be.