(Matthew 23: 1-14)


Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence makelong prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matthew 23: 1-14)

Jesus speaks to the Pharisees and scribes. They are indulged in their righteousness. So, Jesus says to humble yourself. They said that they were not aware, they were full of evil, and they were also those who shut the gates of heaven in front of people and made those who were trying to enter heaven out.

It is expressed in Romans 3:9-18.『What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:  Their feet are swift to shed blood:  Destruction and misery are in their ways:  And the way of peace have they not known:  There is no fear of God before their eyes. 』

Those who are not afraid of God can always pray for what they want. The reason is that the spirit is dead. Those who fear God can repent. If people are not afraid of God, they do not even know the meaning of repentance. When people sin and run away from their father, the father will say, "Now kill the heart and come back."

The heart must die. This is repentance. By the way, if people just go back to their father without dying. They misunderstand that his father will accept it because they are not afraid of their father. They think of God only as a loving father, for they do not know the fearful eyes of their father who punishes sin. If the heart does not die, the father will not accept it. The father waits patiently for the heart to die. God is waiting. This is the God of justice and the God of love.

God's judgment will begin at the Lord's house. There are not many who seek God in the Lord's house. As the Jews came to Jesus and believed in Jesus, it is said that today they come to church and worship God, but there are not many who seek God. Because the way of self-denial cross is not the easy way. Because it is a narrow road. But the Lord said, 'Go on a narrow path.' Those who are not afraid of God will not go down the narrow path. Even though they go on a wide and flat path, they believe that Jesus can be saved by faith. Those who do not have self-denial of repentance are those who do not fear God. So, even if they confess that they believe in Jesus, Jesus will say I don't know you.

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