What is essential to our being Christian and human as well as what we are within our inner selves? In Roman 3:28 St Paul reiterates that a person enters into a right relationship with God by faith and not by seeking to observe all the detailed requirements of the Jewish Torah, which the scribes and Pharisees advocated. The basic message of Scripture is that we must believe and act rather then merely achieve. Thus all of us have failed but God has made it possible for all people to regain a right relationship with Him through a believing acceptance of the redemptive death of Christ.

The Scribes and Pharisees however had used the law as a rod to punish the people instead of interpreting it as a gift from God. They had taken away the key of knowledge and the means of a true understanding of God and salvation. By misusing the law they themselves had been misled.

Jesus criticism of the scribes and Pharisees was a condemnation of the practice of their ancestors as well. Eventually it would lead to His own crucifixion. Stephen, the first martyr, would be stoned for accusing Israel of murdering its prophets (Acts 7:52-54).

To remain true to our calling as followers of Christ we too need to risk our lives as we continue the mission of Jesus, in returning to the Father through true worship.