While there are no clear dates written in the Scriptures, the Tuesday before Christ’s crucifixion, Holy Tuesday, is widely believed to have been the day that Jesus shared so many of what would become His final parables and teachings. Although Jesus speaks on many things—from doubtless faith that can move mountains (Matthew 21:21) to the signs of the end times (Matthew 24:1-35)—He repeatedly rebukes performative religiosity and shares of the true heart needed to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
Through the Parable of the Two Sons, Jesus tells us that it is not the people who claim to be righteous that will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but those that humble themselves in choosing to repent for their sins and believe in Jesus as their Lord. (Matt. 21:28-32) Through the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus teaches us to prepare ourselves spiritually since we will not know the exact time of His return. (Matt. 25:1-13) Through the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, Jesus cautions us that while many may be invited to enter the kingdom of Heaven, only the people that accept the invitation to be transformed by Christ will be allowed to enter. (Matt. 22:1-14)
Jesus also warns against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, saying that while they may outwardly praise God, their actions reveal that their hearts are self-serving and far from His. (Matt. 23:1-12) Jesus ultimately scolds the teachers of the law and their performative acts of religion, comparing them to whitewashed tombs—clean on the outside but unclean on the inside. (Matt. 23:27-28)
As Easter Sunday approaches, it can be easy for any believer to get entangled in legalism and religious performance instead of taking time to truly slow down, focus on the Lord, and prepare their hearts for this special season, remembering and celebrating the resurrection of Christ Jesus together. Whether it be from the pride we take in fasting or our desire for recognition in declaring our faith so publicly for the holiday, it is easy to become just like the Pharisees: claiming to love our Heavenly Father and yet not fully humbling ourselves before Jesus.
Holy Tuesday, then, is an invitation to examine our own heart posture. Jesus makes it clear throughout His teaching that it is not by upkeeping religious laws or by impressing others with our displays of faith that we are able to enter the kingdom of Heaven, but rather by accepting Jesus as our savior, humbly following Him and having our hearts transformed by Him, that will lead us there. We need to check our hearts and rebuke any hypocrisy that lies between our own flesh and the Spirit.
Holy Tuesday reminds us that it is not by our own standing and performance that we will be made righteous, but by being made new in accepting the gift of eternal life from Jesus’ sacrifice to us on the cross.
This post was written by Melody Haslam, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.
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