Matthew 23-24

If we have heard this criticism once, we have heard it a thousand times - Christians are all a bunch of hypocrites.

And, in chapter 23, we find Jesus calling the religious leaders of the day hypocrites.  In fact, seven times Jesus calls them hypocrites, along with a bunch of other things such as blind guides, whitewashed tombs, and vipers.  Perhaps these names seem a little harsh, but in reality what Jesus was doing was calling a spade a spade.  The Pharisees were all of these things, especially hypocrites.

When I read passages like these, or read articles online that bash Christians, or when I hear someone call a Christian a hypocrite, it always makes me think about my own walk with Jesus.

• How authentic of a Christian am I?
• Does Christ exude from me in a positive light?
• Am I as the Pharisees were?  A whitewashed tomb? A viper? A hypocrite?
• Do I live my life in such a way that would cause someone on the outside to call me a hypocrite?

I am sure that there are a hundred other questions that could be asked, but the point is that our walk with Christ is not just a one time deal when we "pray the prayer", but it is like any other relationship. It needs to be evaluated and re-evaluated on a regular basis.  We need to learn to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's convictions and be willing to change.  We need to be humble when wrong is committed, and quick to look inward when someone calls us a hypocrite (because it will happen).

Chapter 24 is an interesting one, and one that has so many diverse eschatology questions and answers.  In fact, these questions are being asked with the new Left Behind movie in theaters.  I have seen a ton of articles and posts online with questions about the rapture and when will Christ return.

The point that I would like to make is one that Jesus makes at the end of chapter 24:42-44, be ready for His return because we do not know the day or the hour of His return.  Don't be caught off guard. Strengthen your relationship with Him now, not later.  Spend time in the word and on yours knees in prayer now, not later.  Take care of the widows, the orphans, and the needy now, not later.  Share the Good News of the Gospel NOW, not later.

Of course we know that Jesus will come soon.  The New Testament is full of language that gives us clues to when this will be.  There is no doubt that we are close to the "end times", but that day could be tomorrow, or it could be 100 years from now.

One thing that we can be confident in knowing though (and it is the only thing worth knowing on this subject) is that He will return!