Verses 14-15 The Pharisees listened to these weighty teachings about money and could not contradict Jesus. So they scoffed at him and made a joke about his sermons on worldliness because secretly the Pharisees were lovers of money. God sees the heart.

Love of the world ruins many devout religious leaders. Theft, embezzlement, adultery, and a desire for notoriety and popularity plague the Church.

Though we say we believe God’s way is best and His Word is our rule to live by, selfishness feels slightly jealous of the world.

God Sees The Heart

Jesus points out that God sees the heart, regardless of how they justify and defend themselves to others. The Pharisees are deceiving themselves under the disguise of faith. They are hypocrites. They used their wealth to camouflage their greedy hearts.

So often, people admire the things that appall God.

We know where people rank in our lives when we defend ourselves with stretches of the imagination to save face. God knows the truth in the depths of our deceit. God sees the heart.

Jesus Is For All

Verses 16-17 The Law of Moses and the messages of the prophets (the ESV version calls it “The Law and the Prophets”) are the writings we have in the Old Testament. They teach us about the kingdom of God, which is how God rules and reigns. Until John the Baptist came along, only the Jews knew the Old Testament scriptures. Jews were the chosen ones with access to righteousness and salvation. Puffed up with pride, the Pharisees feel privileged with their exclusive access to God. People admire their spiritual knowledge.

And then John enters the picture. John proclaims the kingdom of God, Jesus, has come, and He is for all people. Every person who believes and trusts in Jesus has access to eternity. No one has an excuse for ignoring God now. We must strive against the mainstream crowds, letting go of all pride and deceit, to force our way into Jesus’ arms. He is our justification before the Almighty Holy God.

And just because we have the New Testament (NT) that documents a restored relationship with God through Jesus, it doesn’t mean the Old Testament (OT) is gone. All of God’s Word will last forever, far beyond the firmly established foundations of heaven and earth, and it will not fail. The duties, morals, and sins still stand. In fact, Jesus explains and enforces them. Some OT laws prevent even greater sins. When Jesus came, He stood in their place and now we observe the intentions of those laws. One example is bringing a sacrifice for sins. Jesus sacrificed his life for our sins once and for all. We observe the intention of the original law by acknowledging Jesus’ sacrifice for every sin we commit.

Marriage is God’s Idea

Verse 18 Jesus gave an example of the authority of God’s Word. Marriage is God’s idea. In the beginning, he declared that a man and woman who came together as husband and wife are “one flesh”. (Genesis 2:24) Divorce and remarriage, without a biblical reason, ignores scripture’s authority and is adultery. God has very strict guidelines for what he considers a cancellation of the original marriage. (We read about the biblical reasons for divorce in Matthew 5:31-32. It appears later in Matthew 19:1-9, as well.)

Why does God hate divorce? God sees the heart. He knows at the bitter root of every divorce are corrupt desires and passions. God’s Word digs into the depths of our sinful nature, exposes the rotting areas of selfishness and sensuality, and heals the neglected wounds we’ve allowed to fester. He will not allow us to indulge in the poison of hard-heartedness or the pain. Instead, his Word gives us permission to grieve, heal, and grow more resilient in our love for Him and for our spouse.

God’s Word helps us trust in His good things, no matter how deep the grave has been dug. He’s in the business of defying gravity and bringing dead things back to life.

Some of the Pharisees would permit divorce for virtually any reason, so they were not the supposed law-keepers they claimed to be.

Prayer

Jesus, it seems like sin runs through the Church and bruises her image. But it’s sinners who are trying to turn from the world that make up the Church. The scandals, greed, and worldly ambitions should surprise us. Help me love them anyway. I don’t want to justify the sin in my life or anyone else’s. Show me, Jesus, where I’m being deceived, where I justify my actions, and where I try to protect my image. Your Word says to guard my heart. Help me guard it against my foolishness. I denounce greed in my heart and any selfish deception that is trying to lead my decisions. Help me find the good things I’ve lost, Lord. The indulgences Expose indulgences I’ve been enjoying for what they are, Jesus. Any wounds I’ve been coddling or pain I’ve been protecting, Jesus, bring them to mind and help me heal in your perfect way. Raise the good things that are dead to new life for the glory of your name, Jesus. Help me grow more resilient in Your Word and my love for you, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.