Continuing in reading through Holy Week, I came to Tuesday of that monumental week. The scriptures for Tuesday are Psalm 118:19–27, Psalm 110, and Luke 20. I’ll post a verse from each.
“A stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.” Psalm 118:22“The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” Psalm 110:1
These two verses are quoted in the Luke 20 passage. Here are a couple of thoughts. First, the stone rejected by the builders is Jesus. The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, but Jesus is the “chief cornerstone” of the messianic kingdom.
Second, in vv. 42–43, Jesus is pointing out that David recognized the Messiah as his Lord and in fact is greater than David. Jesus is more than a blood descendant of King David, he is in fact David’s Lord. The Lord of Lords!
Those verses are hugely important as the leaders were challenging Jesus’ authority. He shows them from the Scriptures that he is indeed the Messiah and Lord of all.
But I want to focus on Luke 20:46–47.
““Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love personal greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”
Religious hypocrisy. That a constant plague. How often I put myself out as something I’m not. Accolades are addicting. Having people or family members think I am more pious than I am makes me feel better about myself. All the while I’m hiding behind that mask and inwardly knowing that “if they only knew” the struggles I have and the doubts I entertain, they might think differently.
Why am I (we?) so concerned with how I am perceived? That’s something I need to prayerfully ask God to change in me.
