13“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. (Matthew 23:13)
Thoughts: The Pharisees condemned people they considered "sinners." They did not give second chances. They lived only by rules and not be grace. So, the Pharisees were quick to condemn (and in their minds) send people to hell. This is what Jesus means when he says, "shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces."
But the Pharisees do not enter. They believe that they deserve heaven because they try so hard to obey their rules. The problem is no one is perfect. If heaven is a perfect place, even the Pharisees- who try harder than anyone- will not make it. Imperfect people cannot come in or haven will no longer be perfect. The Pharisees did not think they needed God's help to get to heaven. They felt that all they needed was to keep all the commands and they felt they could.
The Pharisees also condemned those who were trying to follow Jesus. Thus He said, "Nor will you let those who enter who are trying to." The sinners who repented and followed Jesus were condemned by the Pharisees as were all who followed Jesus.
The Pharisees acted as it they were guardians of the door. They did not have that right because they couldn't get in themselves. The invitation to heaven is open to all and only God has the right to let people in.
Prayer: Lord, let me trust in your grace and not in my own ability to do good.
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