From Rituals to Relationship: Embracing True Righteousness
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound difference between external religious observance and genuine spiritual transformation. The Pharisees, with their strict adherence to the letter of the law, believed themselves righteous because they avoided physical acts of sin like murder and adultery. However, they failed to recognize the deeper spiritual implications of sin, which reside in the heart and mind. True righteousness, as taught by Christ, is not about external compliance but about the internal state of one's heart. The Pharisees' religion was mechanical, focused on rituals and sacrifices without understanding or spiritual application. They were zealous in their practices but lacked a true relationship with God, failing to see their own need for repentance and mercy.
Moreover, the Pharisees' view of others was equally flawed. They looked down on publicans and sinners, believing that religion was only for the morally upright. They were scandalized by Jesus' association with those they deemed unworthy. Yet, it is precisely these "unworthy" individuals whom Jesus came to call. He came not for the self-righteous but for those who recognize their spiritual sickness and need for healing. The true followers of Christ are those who acknowledge their sinfulness, repent, and seek God's mercy. They understand that salvation is not earned through good deeds or religious rituals but is a gift of grace from God.
Key Takeaways:
1. True Righteousness: Righteousness is not about external adherence to the law but about the condition of the heart. Sin begins in the mind and spirit, and true righteousness requires a transformation from within, not just outward compliance. [23:45]
2. Mechanical Religion: Many people today, like the Pharisees, practice a mechanical form of religion, focusing on rituals and sacrifices without understanding their spiritual significance. True religion requires a heartfelt relationship with God, not just external observance. [27:27]
3. View of Others: The Pharisees' disdain for publicans and sinners highlights their misunderstanding of God's grace. Jesus came for those who recognize their need for Him, not for those who believe they are already righteous. We must examine our attitudes towards others and offer hope and understanding, not judgment. [29:21]
4. Acknowledgment of Sin: Recognizing one's sinfulness and need for repentance is crucial for a genuine relationship with God. True repentance involves a deep sorrow for sin and a desire for transformation, acknowledging that we cannot save ourselves. [41:14]
5. Gift of Grace: Salvation is a free gift from God, not something we can earn through our efforts. Jesus came to offer mercy and forgiveness to those who acknowledge their need for Him. Our role is to accept this gift with humility and gratitude. [48:34]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[23:12] - The Pharisees' Misunderstanding of Sin
[24:00] - External Religion vs. True Righteousness
[27:44] - The Pharisees' View of Religion
[28:14] - Jesus' Association with Sinners
[29:46] - Offering Hope to the Fallen
[30:41] - The Pharisees' Inability to Help
[33:20] - Jesus' Call to Sinners
[34:18] - Recognizing Spiritual Sickness
[35:56] - The Depth of Our Sinfulness
[37:26] - The Call to Repentance
[39:38] - Understanding True Religion
[41:34] - The Necessity of Repentance
[44:35] - The Gift of God's Mercy
[46:00] - Jesus' Mission to Save
[49:24] - The Invitation to Come to Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 9:10-13
2. Psalm 51:16-17
3. Luke 18:9-14
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 9:10-13, why were the Pharisees scandalized by Jesus' association with tax collectors and sinners? How does this reflect their understanding of righteousness? [28:14]
2. According to Psalm 51:16-17, what does God truly desire from us instead of sacrifices? How does this contrast with the Pharisees' approach to religion? [25:11]
3. In Luke 18:9-14, what is the key difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector in their approach to God? How does this relate to the concept of true repentance? [41:14]
4. How does the sermon describe the Pharisees' view of themselves and their religious practices? What was missing in their understanding of sin and righteousness? [27:27]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to have a "mechanical religion," and how can this be a barrier to genuine spiritual transformation? [27:27]
2. How does Jesus' mission to call sinners to repentance challenge the Pharisees' view of who is worthy of God's grace? [33:20]
3. Why is acknowledging one's sinfulness and need for repentance crucial for a genuine relationship with God? How does this acknowledgment lead to spiritual transformation? [41:14]
4. How does the concept of salvation as a "gift of grace" differ from the idea of earning righteousness through good deeds or religious rituals? [48:34]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual practices. Are there areas where you might be engaging in "mechanical religion" without true understanding or heartfelt connection? How can you deepen your relationship with God? [27:27]
2. Consider your attitude towards others, especially those you might view as "unworthy." How can you offer hope and understanding instead of judgment, following Jesus' example? [29:21]
3. Have you ever experienced a moment of true repentance, acknowledging your sinfulness and need for God's mercy? How did that experience impact your spiritual journey? [41:14]
4. In what ways can you embrace the gift of grace in your life, recognizing that salvation is not something you can earn? How does this understanding change your approach to faith and good works? [48:34]
5. Think of someone in your life who might be struggling with feelings of unworthiness or spiritual sickness. How can you offer them support and point them towards the healing and grace that Jesus offers? [33:20]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually sick or distant from God. What steps did you take to seek healing and transformation? How can you apply those lessons to your current spiritual walk? [35:56]
7. How can you cultivate a heart that is open to God's mercy and transformation, moving beyond external religious observance to genuine spiritual growth? [41:14]
Devotional
Day 1: True Righteousness Begins in the Heart
True righteousness is not about external adherence to the law but about the condition of the heart. The Pharisees believed they were righteous because they avoided physical acts of sin, such as murder and adultery. However, they failed to recognize that sin begins in the mind and spirit. True righteousness requires a transformation from within, not just outward compliance. Jesus taught that the internal state of one's heart is what truly matters. He emphasized that harboring anger or lust in one's heart is as sinful as committing the acts themselves. This teaching challenges us to examine our thoughts and intentions, seeking a deeper spiritual transformation that aligns with God's will. [23:45]
"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you invite God to transform your heart and mind today, beyond just your actions?
Day 2: Beyond Rituals: Seeking a Heartfelt Relationship with God
Many people today, like the Pharisees, practice a mechanical form of religion, focusing on rituals and sacrifices without understanding their spiritual significance. The Pharisees were zealous in their religious practices but lacked a true relationship with God. They were more concerned with external observance than with the internal state of their hearts. True religion requires a heartfelt relationship with God, not just external compliance. It involves understanding the spiritual significance of our actions and seeking a genuine connection with the divine. This calls us to move beyond mere rituals and to cultivate a deep, personal relationship with God that transforms our lives from the inside out. [27:27]
"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with God today, moving beyond rituals to a more heartfelt connection?
Day 3: Embracing God's Grace for All
The Pharisees' disdain for publicans and sinners highlights their misunderstanding of God's grace. They believed that religion was only for the morally upright and were scandalized by Jesus' association with those they deemed unworthy. Yet, Jesus came for those who recognize their need for Him, not for those who believe they are already righteous. This teaches us to examine our attitudes towards others and to offer hope and understanding, not judgment. We are called to embrace God's grace for all, recognizing that everyone is in need of His mercy and love. This perspective challenges us to see others through the lens of grace and to extend compassion and acceptance to those around us. [29:21]
"And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples." (Matthew 9:10, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life might you be judging unfairly, and how can you extend grace and understanding to them today?
Day 4: The Necessity of Repentance
Recognizing one's sinfulness and need for repentance is crucial for a genuine relationship with God. The Pharisees failed to see their own need for repentance and mercy, believing themselves to be righteous. True repentance involves a deep sorrow for sin and a desire for transformation, acknowledging that we cannot save ourselves. It requires humility and a willingness to turn away from sin and towards God. This process of repentance is essential for spiritual growth and renewal, as it opens the door to God's forgiveness and grace. By acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking God's mercy, we can experience true spiritual transformation and a deeper relationship with Him. [41:14]
"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19-20a, ESV)
Reflection: What specific sin do you need to repent of today, and how can you seek God's forgiveness and transformation in this area?
Day 5: Accepting the Gift of Grace
Salvation is a free gift from God, not something we can earn through our efforts. The Pharisees believed that righteousness could be achieved through strict adherence to the law, but Jesus came to offer mercy and forgiveness to those who acknowledge their need for Him. Our role is to accept this gift with humility and gratitude, recognizing that it is not our good deeds or religious rituals that save us, but God's grace. This understanding calls us to live in a posture of gratitude and humility, acknowledging our dependence on God's mercy and grace. By accepting this gift, we can experience the fullness of life that God offers and share His love and grace with others. [48:34]
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)
Reflection: How can you live in gratitude for God's grace today, and how might this change the way you interact with others?
Quotes
if you have since our Lord you've murdered him in your spirit and in your heart but they never thought of it as long as they hadn't actually committed physical murder they were guilty they were righteous the same you remember with adultery thank God says the Pharisee that I'm not like these other people walking the streets of London or whatever they are now I've never committed adultery thank God my record is clear wait a minute since Christ you may be clear as regards the letter but what of the spirit have you ever looked at a woman to lust have you have a fondle that idea in your mind inherent imagination if you have you've already committed adultery with her in the sight of God but you see they didn't do this it was the letter of the law and as they had not broken the letter of the law they believed they were righteous they never sinned they did good what more all is well all righteous I came not to call people like that since Christ they are not the people I'm interested in these are the people who are utterly hopeless these are outside they don't need me they don't see any need of me they don't need any physician they're all they're righteous [00:23:01]
take the other aspect of their review of religion sacrifice they'll unlearn what that meaneth I will have mercy not sacrifice I've expanded it to you let me apply it it means this using their whole view of religion is again something external and our last how many such I wonder other in the church today this is what religion means to them external observances going to the temple with your offerings and sacrifices oh the prophets in the Old Testament one after the other keep on saying that to the children of Israel this is no good DAV do you remember said it there in that 51st Psalm that we read together at the beginning it's the thing that said everywhere of necessity it must be said thou delight us not in burnt offerings the sacrifice of God are a broken spirit not simply burnt offerings and sacrifices not killing your animals and draining away the blood and taking the meats and the portions that you commanded that's not it that's not God's Way but that was the way of the Pharisees this externalized mechanized religion [00:27:20]
as long as you go to a place of worship Sunday morning you're all right go to the mass alright what you like follow certain forms and 7on is nothing more is demanded and you see they can be very zealous about this the Pharisees were extremely zealous people and I know many people who are very zealous in this respect today there's no application in their personal life they never think about that at all as long as you come to this one service some of them don't even go every Sunday Easter Sunday morning prayers is enough puts you right or if you may go a bit off now that puts you right for the day and you're right with God do they ever stop to think about sin and the and God and his judgment and Christ and his death never for a moment they've never even thought of it they have no conception as to what it's all about their idea is that if you turn up to the service you've done your duty as it when that puts you right now that was exactly the attitude of these people sacrifice [00:28:46]
they're amazed and astonished that our Lord should allow publicans and sinners to sit and eat with him and with his disciples they're amazed at this they say into his disciples why eateth your master with publicans and sinners their writer souls were disturbed and upset at this why well because from their standpoint publicans and sinners were entirely outside the pale they were godless they were real religious they were vile living they were unrighteous and there was nothing for them and here's a man who claims to be a religious teacher mixing with them the thing is all wrong this in religion has nothing to do with people like that is for good people religion is for moral people religion is for religious people it's got nothing to do with publicans and sinners they despised them and they saw no hope for them and they were offended by the Son of God because he had anything whatsoever to do with them [00:28:14]
have you any hope to give for the failures in life is there a member of your family perhaps or fallen into terrible sin drink or something worse what's your attitude what's your attitude to the moral failures that you know is it one of simple thing is it one of understanding have you got anything to give them have you any hope to offer them or is it sure impatience is it one of a kind of righteous indignation that you feel them let the family down let you down let somebody else down are you impatient and now you know them and have nothing to give them you tell them to pull themselves together but they can't pull themselves together have you anything to give them now the whole tragedy about the Pharisee this type of men with whom I'm dealing whether is in the church or outside the church is that he fails completely when you confront him by the failures of life the man who's lost his character a woman who's lost her chastity somebody who's all into [00:29:46]
we must in this type of person can't help their daugther why not well for this good reason you see all they've got is what they've done themselves they say I've lived a good life I've had to use my willpower I've had occurred myself I've had to say no I've had to take myself in him it's been a great fight but I've done it and I've succeeded in going the straight in the narrow way I haven't fallen into sin and because they've done it himself they obviously have got nothing to give anybody else you may have a very high and a very strong willpower but you can't give that to another you may have a very high moral code but you can't implant that into the mind of another here you're dealing with somebody who hasn't got a strong willpower in fact it's as weak as water this poor person has decided like you many a time never again to do that thing but when he or she meets a certain type of person gone in a moment it's just hopeless they want to be bet but they can't and all this type of person can say to them is well you should pull yourself together you know it's wrong why don't you make pull yourself [00:31:36]
the first characteristic is that they know that they are sick they that are whole have no need of the physician but they that are sick what's he talking about what he means is this he is interested in people who know that they're morally and spiritually ill the people that he's come to call and in whom he's really interested are those who know that there's a running saw in their souls the people he's interested in other people know that they're weak that they're diseased that they're twisted that they're perverted that there's something wrong in their very innermost paths they're the people described by David as he talks about himself in that 51st town they're people who troubled about themselves they say isn't that a doctor isn't there a physician isn't there somebody who can help me somewhere I'm an ill man I'm sick what do they mean by that will they say I've got no strength to will is present with me but how to perform I [00:34:18]
repentance just means sorrow for sin a realization that you're an evil person that there's no good in you at all that in you in your flesh dwelleth no good thing to repent means this that you not only recognize that you are a sinner that you condemn yourself for it that you admit it to yourself you admit it to God you say that you deserve punishment far from presenting a sermon about sin you say it's absolutely true far from feeling annoyed because I say that you're rotten at the heart you say you're perfectly right if you only knew more about me you'd say it's still more you've got nothing to say for yourself that's repentance the man who repents is a man who says yes I'm a vile sinner wash me with hyssop create within me a clean heart repentance means that you've got a broken heart because of your sinfulness your unworthiness you are wrong attitude towards God repentance [00:41:14]
the man who's truly repented the man was aware that he sickened that he's a sinner and who repents he's a man who sees absolutely clearly that it doesn't matter what he does he can never put himself right though my zeal could my zeal no respite now could my tears forever flow oh for sin could not atone now this is absolutely basic my friend this man who is to be blessed by Christ is a man who realizes that he can do nothing at all about his salvation nothing he no longer relies upon his goodness positive and negative he no longer relies upon his own religion he relies upon nothing in himself and nothing that he can do he simply cries out and says Lord be merciful to me a sinner nothing else or with David he puts it have mercy upon me O Lord according to thy loving-kindness according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions he says this will be one hope for me and that is that there is mercy with God and he casts himself upon the mercy of God [00:44:35]
I am come who is the son of God the second person in the blessed Holy Trinity I am come I came from heaven to earth he said to save you to give you the mercy that you need because of your failure I am come I'm come to call you I'm come to tell you that I've taken your sins upon myself that I came into this world in order to die for you I came to receive your punishment that's what happened to me on the cross and because I received your punishment I offer you freely with nothing at all without money and without price the pardon of God the reconciliation to God sonship of God and airship of eternal bliss I am come for you not for that like yourself satisfied men not for that good religious man that me a church member no no I haven't come for him I've come for you whatever you are in your other helplessness and hopelessness in your sickness in your soreness in your depth of sin and shame I've come for you [00:46:00]
he didn't come to tell us to save ourselves he came to save us it's his action that saves us nothing that we do we have the purpose that you to receive it as a free gift it's all in Christ it's all his action he's come he lived he died he rose again he's done it and he gives it to you unto me as a free gift and because it is the free gift of God's grace you can never be too bad for this he doesn't ask a hippie from you not a farthing nothing he doesn't ask a scrap of righteousness he gives it all and all he asks of you is that realizing your need your vileness you're a desert of hell that your father did every claim on the love of God realizing all that that you believe him when he tells you that he has come in order to call you to repentance and then to give you the forgiveness that you need he's come to wash you to cleanse in your inner thoughts as well as external and to make you a child of God and an air of his own eternal glory [00:48:34]
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