Opening Prayer

Dear Lord, as we see Jesus’ hatred for hypocrisy in our reading this morning, would You help us to put away all pretences and turn again to You in repentance and faith? Please give us faith to believe that Your Gracious promise of Salvation can even extend to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture

Devotion

As righteous indignation pours out of Jesus against the hypocrisy of the religious rulers, His last words to them before His crucifixion are striking. In verse 37, He compares Himself to a mother hen longing to gather up the people of Jerusalem.

Do you know when a hen gathers her chicks under her wings? When there is danger! When she sees the bird of prey swooping over-head, when she hears the fox rustling in the bushes, she clucks a special warning sound and all the chicks come running to hide under her wings. She places her own body between her children and the threat.

What does this tell us? Two shocking things.

First, though He hates hypocrisy with a perfect hatred, Christ longs to gather hypocrites up under His protection. These 7 woes were a warning sound, as it were, that judgement is coming, so that those who are His will quickly run to Him. And for all who come to Him, He places His Body between them and the threat. He stretches out His arms on the cross and all the judgement, with all the wrath of God against our hypocrisy, falls on Him. He longs to save.

Second, though Christ would gather sinners, they will not be gathered. Though Christ would save sinners, they will not be saved. Men and women are always brought to ruin by their own lack of will. Being warned that judgement is coming against all sin, many say – ‘I’ll take my chances.’

Christians are those who have found protection in the Body of Christ.

Intercessory Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, we offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. We pray that You would bless everyone who believes Jesus is the Christ in the workplace. We pray that You would bless them with the spirit of fearing the Lord, and the spirit of strategy. Bless them the talent, knowledge and wisdom they need at work; have positive influence and in turn become the blessing of their home country. May they have heavenly peace and joy, and bless them and keep their families with harmony and peace; help them spread the Gospel to those who have not yet known You, so that others would know Your Love and Grace! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!