Gospel Reflections #90: The Joy of Liberated Sinners

Matthew 23:13 "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites, for you shut out the kingdom of heaven before the people. You hypocrites are unfortunate, because you shut up the kingdom of heaven in front of people. Not only will you not enter, but you will not let anyone who tries to enter in."

The scribes and Pharisees felt superior in keeping the law, and they judged others by the law. Through the cross of Jesus, we are allowed to rejoice as God's children because He has borne the burden of our sins and covered us with His righteousness.

There is no superiority or inferiority. God wants to raise every one. We don't have to strive to become pure on our own like the scribes and Pharisees.

We are liberated sinners. We are so light that we can jump up and down because Jesus has borne all our burdens. This is the only thing we are to share, the joy of being redeemed, the joy of being saved, the joy of being made children of God, and not judging each other.

A hypocrite is someone who tries to do in his own strength what he cannot do in his own strength. We do not have to be hypocrites because we have been redeemed by Jesus' death on the cross!

Let us acknowledge that we are sinners who have no power but have been saved, and let us share in that joy with confidence. Jesus has already triumphed over the world!

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This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, a devoted student of the Bible who passionately embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on the Gospels as a way to reach out to others and spread the message of Jesus. We're sharing her message here so that you too can experience the joy that comes from the Gospel that has filled her heart.