Zeal Alone Is Not Enough

Note from today’s Bible reading: Matthew 23

In Matthew 23, most of the chapter is devoted to Jesus’ condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36). Throughout His discourse, Jesus rebuked these religious elites for their hypocrisy, pride, corruption, and more.

However, they possessed at least one trait that was commendable – zeal. Yet because it was misdirected, their zeal led them to do something bad. Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15).

Being zealous to convert others is good; however, since the Pharisees were converting people to their ways rather than God’s ways, they were putting these people in a worse position than they were before.

The same is true today. If we are zealously trying to convert people to our beliefs, opinions, and traditions rather than to Christ, His word, and the pattern found in the New Testament, we are not saving anyone. We need to make sure that what we believe, teach, and practice is according to His word and then strive to convert people to Him.

So remember that zeal alone is not enough. While being zealous is good, it is not helpful if it is misguided. Let us be focused on faithfully following the Lord and encouraging others to do the same.