Jesus spent a whole chapter exposing hypocrites. Think you’d make His list?

I’ve been on quite a spiritual journey. It started way back when I was 24 years old, studying Torah in a Reformed synagogue. I never expected where that path would lead me. Then in the summer of 2010, I felt God calling me, specifically calling me to help His people with relationships. And now here I am, guiding you through the Gospels in a way that honors both my Jewish learning and my faith in Jesus.

The way I’ve set this up is pretty simple but meaningful to me: I took the ancient Jewish tradition of reading Torah in 54 portions throughout the year and applied it to the Gospels. I remember thinking, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to read the gospels in a year and have them spread out where we can have time to see these gospels come alive in our life?” And let me tell you, it’s been absolutely wonderful so far.

Today’s Gospel portion? Well, it’s going to be one of the most intense yet that I’ve shared on my podcast Gospel Portions Torah Tidbits. I’ve titled this portion Hypocrites. When you read Matthew 23, you’ll see why. Jesus basically spends the entire chapter calling the Pharisees hypocrites and pointing out exactly why the specific actions they do make them hypocrites.

Let me read you Jesus’ words slowly, because they really need to sink in: “They say and do not,” Mathew 23:3.

There it is. That’s Jesus’ definition of a hypocrite right there. The Pharisees taught the Ten Commandments, preached righteousness, and demanded obedience from everyone else, but when you actually looked at their lives, they weren’t living what they preached.

God bless, Shirah Chante, your relationship coach
PS – You can listen to the entire episode called Hypocrites: Man of War on my Gospel Portions, Torah Tidbits podcast.