Dead Inside

What do I still lack? (Matthew 19:20).

There have been times when I have been engaged in conversation with people that I noticed there was no light in their eyes. It was as though they were dead inside. Their conversation had no passion or conviction; it was almost mechanical and routine. 

If you will remember John the Baptist burst on to the scene of Jewish life 400 years after the last prophet of the Old Testament had spoken the Word of God. A lot of things developed in Jewish life during those 400 years. Most of it was not good at all. One of the more prominent developments from that period was the rise of the Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees. 

The Pharisees added to the Mosaic Law their oral traditions, opinions, and commentaries, and eventually considered these more important than God’s Law (Mark 7:1–23). Jesus’ teachings often agreed with the Pharisees, but He knew their hollow legalism and lack of compassion reflected the absence of a genuine faith relationship with God. 

The Sadducees represented the aristocrats and the wealthy. Their power rested in the Sanhedrin. They rejected all but the Mosaic books of the Old Testament. They refused to believe in resurrection, eternal life, the spirit world (angels and demons) and were generally students of the Greek philosophers, whom they greatly admired.

The Scribes were intelligent men who studied the Law, made copies of it, and wrote commentaries on it. They were often called ‘lawyers’ in the Gospels because they devoted their lives to the Mosaic Law and the additions to it.

When John the Baptist appeared from out of the wilderness he had only one sermon, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2). That sermon was preached to the common folk and to the Pharisees and Sadducees (the religious leaders; Matthew 3:7-12). The same is true with Jesus, who came on the scene with one sermon, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15). To repent is to turn away from sin and turn to God in faith for salvation. John and Jesus both understood the vast majority of the Jews were religious, even very religious, but they were lost. They were sons and daughters of Abraham, but they were not the children of God. 

Jesus said, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness (Matthew 23:27). The young rich man who came to Jesus with his questions was a product of this religious heritage and culture. He was just as dead inside as they were.

“Lord Jesus, than You for giving us life, abundant and eternal, through Your death, burial, and resurrection. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for opening our eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Amen.” 

Pastor