Must Apply To Ourselves First…

“Being religious” is when a man takes his convictions and makes it a burden to another man (regardless of his own beliefs). The Pharisees did just that. Jesus tells the crowds to listen to and do what the Pharisees say, but don’t behave the way they behave. They are hypocrites. The point here is that true religion is found in a relationship with God, through Jesus. It’s not an obligation. Our duty is out of gratitude and reverence for God. Whenever you read the Bible, we must apply to ourselves first. We should never use it to get want we want from others. It’s for us first, and other believers second. The way we behave either helps draw people to God, or in the “Being religious” method, drives them away from God. Your behavior, should match your testimony. It’s as simple as that. If it doesn’t, you deny the power of the Gospel with your life.

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.5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’ Matthew 23:1-7a