1/24/10 Matthew 27 The Blindness
I saw today the blinding effect of sin again that can be in an individual’s life. It is really easy to see the sin of others, but much more difficult to see our own sin. Here the chief priests in verse 6 say; “It is not lawful for us to put them (thirty pieces of silver) into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.” The chief priests were concerned with the integrity of the temple treasury, while at the same time unmoved by the blatant injustice of condemning Jesus to death.
I am reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 7:3 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? and Matthew 15:3 And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? The tradition that Jesus is referring to in Mt 15:3 is that of Corban, meaning given to God. Consider also Mk 7:11. If the money was not lawful to be given to God, then clearly the act of betrayal was also not lawful, yet the chief priests do not even consider such an indictment. The blindness is particularly acute in this verse.
Father, cleanse my eyes of any blindness that I may have in my life. May I not be guilty of gross sin while being circumspect in minor areas of faith, and as David prayed in Psalm 51:10 Lord create in me a clean heart. In Jesus name. Amen.