Who Goes to HeavenSample

Today, I want to talk to you about something crucial for our spiritual life: our relationship with Jesus. In Matthew 23:1-3, Jesus warns the crowds and his disciples about the Pharisees, the religious leaders of his time, who taught the law but did not practice it. This warning from Jesus is a powerful wake-up call for us today.

The Pharisees were seen as the most righteous and religious people of their time. However, Jesus pointed out that although they taught the law of Moses, they did not live according to it. They made great displays of their piety, but in their hearts and daily actions, they did not reflect God's justice and mercy. This shows us that simply doing good deeds or following religious rituals is not enough to enter heaven.

Jesus challenges us to look beyond the external appearances of goodness and righteousness. What really matters is our relationship with Him and our dependence on His grace and forgiveness. It is not about how many good deeds we do or how perfect we try to be on our own. It is about recognizing our need for Jesus, trusting in Him, and allowing His love and grace to transform our lives from within.

Reflect on your relationship with Jesus this week. Are you more focused on doing good deeds to gain the approval of God or others? It's easy to fall into the trap of wanting to appear good in the eyes of others, but Jesus calls us to an authenticity that goes beyond appearances.

Spend time in prayer, asking God to help you focus on your relationship with Him. Recognize the areas in your life where you have been more focused on external appearances of goodness than on a true relationship with Jesus. Ask God to guide you and give you the strength to depend on His grace and not your own merits.

Look for opportunities to practice authentic faith this week. It might be showing mercy to someone in need, forgiving someone who has wronged you, or spending more time in communion with God through prayer and reading His Word. Remember that what really matters is not how good you are, but in whom you trust. May your life reflect total dependence on Jesus and His transforming grace.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you feel knowing that Jesus criticized those who appeared good but did not live according to His teachings?
2. In what areas of your life are you more focused on external appearances of goodness than on a true relationship with Jesus?