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 teaches that it is not people who claim to be righteous who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but rather those who humble themselves by repenting and believing in Jesus as their Lord (Matt. 21:28-32). In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus urges us to remain watchful so that we may be spiritually prepared for the unexpected day of His return (Matt. 25:1-13). With 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 able 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 and dead on the inside (Matt. 23:27-28).
As Easter Sunday approaches, it can be easy for any believer to get entangled in legalism and acts of 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 on the holiday, it is easy to become just like the Pharisees: claiming to love our Heavenly Father and yet not fully humbling ourselves before Him.
Holy Tuesday, then, is an invitation to examine our own heart posture. Throughout His teachings, Jesus makes it clear that it is not by clinging to religious laws or outward displays of faith that we are able to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Rather, we are granted access by accepting Christ’s gracious gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). By accepting Jesus as our savior and following Him as a humble servant, we allow our hearts to be miraculously transformed by Him (Galatians 2:20).
No matter how well we may be able to deceive others—and even ourselves—of our faithfulness, the Lord knows our hearts better than anyone (Psalm 139:1-4). Holy Tuesday reminds us that even as believers of Christ, we too need to check our hearts so that we may turn from any hypocrisy that lies between our own flesh and the Spirit—fully accepting gift that frees us from the burdens of self-striving and allows us to abide fully in the Lord.
This post was written by Melody Haslam, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.
Penn Epistle 