The Corruption of Righteousness

One of the biggest parts of Yeshua’s ministry is that He constantly was attacking the Pharisees over how they tried to be righteous. Yeshua taught that people were more important than things, and that being humble is better than being self righteous.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

Matthew 23:23 NASB

See the Pharisees were so focused on the physical things that would make them righteous, like tithing even their spices, that they forgot the more important aspects of the Law. The Pharisees had twisted the Truth to be more about things then about people.

The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.”

Matthew 27:6 NASB

Even after they had captured Yeshua and were bringing Him to be judged and crucified, they took the money that they gave to Judas to betray Yeshua. And in taking it, they thought more on how it was tainted money that couldn’t go into the temple, rather then the fact that they gave Judas the money to betray Yeshua. They cared more about the sacredness of the temple, than the sacredness of human life.

Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’

Matthew 28:11‭-‬13 NASB

And even after they heard that Yeshua had indeed risen from the dead, they still sought to hide the truth. They would rather them stay in power and not change their ways, then to see the truth. And the corruption of truth can happen to anyone, even in the church today. Do we value church attendence more then we value one another? Do we think that knowledge of the scriptures is more important then living the scriptures? Think about what you value and ask if that is what Yeshua would value.

Thanks for reading this post! If you liked it make sure to share it with your friends and family. And if you would like to read my book on the Gospel click here. Thanks again and have a blessed day!