This post was last updated on December 5, 2025
Day 293, Year 1
Honestly Confronting the Weaknesses in Human Nature
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers.” (Matthew 23:29-32 NASB)
Sometimes, what liars vehemently deny is actually something they agree in their hearts. Meanwhile, a person who frequently talks about good deeds but does not act on them may be a liar. Today’s passage gives us hints on how to uncover lies and distortions. The Pharisees, etc., who “build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,” were indeed escaping from obeying the godly teachings. By renovating the tombs of the prophets, etc., they pretended to be pious in front of the Israelites at that time. Perhaps the Pharisees, etc., thought that by doing such good work, they could avoid having their evil and fear exposed. For even if their wickedness were exposed, they would have some good deeds to counteract the accusations. In this way, they intended to cover up their disobedience to the prophets.
Actually, knowing the mentality of hypocrisy and pretense will help our faith in Jesus grow stronger. Giving up the hard and doing the easy, pursuing deceptive comfort, and the love for pretense to conceal one’s weaknesses are all wrong mentalities and behaviors that we have to eradicate to believe in Jesus genuinely. It is difficult for those who want to truly believe in Him but keep on giving in to human weaknesses. Conversely, honestly and courageously acknowledging our hypocrisy is the first step in combating it. We need to accept the reality that God has intentionally created humans with weaknesses, so that we can start right in seeking His help and progress in faith.
Understanding our weaknesses will drive us to humbly rely on Jesus. If people are unable to accept their natural weaknesses, they may look for deceptive affirmations or accomplishments to avoid or conceal them. Deceptive affirmations, etc., can also be illusory consolation. If people do not face the truth honestly, various kinds of evil will emerge. And it is difficult for them to truly rely on God as well. Conversely, we should be mindful of the direction of our endeavors, which is to hate hypocrisy, deal with the problems in our lives, do the Lord’s will with His help, and then grow in Him step by step.
Reflection questions:
1) Do you tend to hide or escape your problems or weaknesses? If so, how would you resolve it with God’s help?
2) Do you feel the inherent weaknesses that God created in you? If you do, does it drive you to pray more for God’s help? Why?