October 14, 2024 Daily Devotion

You Hypocrites!

You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves.

Matthew 23:13

The August 26, 2024 meditation from the Word Among US begins with “Of all the charges that Jesus makes against the Pharisees and scribes, locking up the kingdom of heaven might be the most serious. Jesus had begun his public ministry by announcing, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mathew 3:2). Jesus came to earth to usher in God’s kingdom and to open the gates of heaven to all who believe.

But by their rejection of him, these scribes and Pharisees were both locking themselves out of that kingdom and preventing others from entering it as well. Through our Baptism, we have already received the gift of the kingdom of heaven—a kingdom of love, mercy, peace, and joy. Every day you face the choice of whether you will embrace God’s kingdom and values. Let us make sure we “unlock” any doors of our hearts and say yes to the Lord!