Toxic People In God’s Temple?

Recently a family member shared an Instagram post with me about toxic people. My first thought after her sharing was, “How did Jesus handle negative/ toxic people?” Jesus is what God sees when He looks at us, for those who have received Him as Lord, so follow His lead! In Matthew 23, Jesus speaks to a multitude and the disciples; He opens by talking about the Pharisees, scribes, and Moses, and He puts them in the same seat of the law. He warns them to observe them but don’t do as they do. 

Jesus Is the Answer!

For every situation a believer may encounter, God has given a solution. Jesus! He had several incidents, but I shall only speak on one today in Matthew 23. Jesus attempts to teach the disciples, Pharisees, and scribes. The focus is more on the Pharisees and scribes and their hypocrisy. But remember, Jesus knew all things, John 13:3. Jesus speaking with these people leaves me with a greater understanding that some will refuse God, no matter what you say! Their way is the only way!

Jesus Explains

The Pharisees and scribes load men with heavy burdens too hard to bear and don’t attempt to move them, and everything they do is to be seen by men. They love the best seats at feasts and the synagogue. They enjoy being greeted as Rabbi, Rabbi, but don’t you do as they do, for One is your teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Where the Pharisees and scribe gave themselves a position above others, Jesus made men brothers.

Woe To the Pharisees, Scribes, and Hypocrites!

Jesus calls the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites and blind guides and fools. But these were the people of societal status seeking out converts, making them twice as much a son of hell as themselves. It appears these men swore as a declaration of truth while lying. Repeatedly Jesus points out which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold, and which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift.

Let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No” be “No.” For 

whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Matthew 5:37

Jesus Tell Them Swearing Is Before God!

The man swears before the temple is doing so before Him, who sits on the throne. Father God is serious about this business of hypocrisy, pretending to be something you are not for the temporary purpose of self-importance. 

Jesus Address Tithing in the Right Spirit

Jesus said, you hypocrites! You pay tithes and neglect the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. These should be a priority. To put this in a modern-day perspective, Jesus urges the believer not to focus on the appearance of things. Jesus warns these pretenders of their fate and tells them they shall see him no more till they say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  

Jesus Handled The Toxic

Jesus spoke of their ways and the result of their lifestyle choices and told them how to repent. He didn’t become like them to make them see the error of their ways! See, beloved, we don’t need to make ourselves significant in Christ; God has already done that, so look to the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross.     

Beloved,

I pray you receive the words of Jesus with all your heart: I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 10:19  

In Jesus’ name, Amen!