The Pharisees not only refused to enter the kingdom of God but hindered others from entering. Their proud refusal to humbly confess their sins before John the Baptist meant they were not ready for Jesus Christ and they undermined Him. If we confess our sins and our need for the deliverance from sin that Jesus bought with His blood, we have each other’s fellowship and we have fellowship with those who ultimately find fellowship, companionship with Almighty God and His Son. I need this deliverance, I do indeed. God knows it. There, that is all the Pharisees needed to say an we can so easily go their way too. It is tough to admit we are the sinners needing deliverance from sin’s chains. Yes, that deliverance as costly to Jesus and the cost overflows into our lives when we join with Him in fellowship for truth. Speaking truth is costly, especially admission that we are not as worthy as people think and we should not be exalting ourselves. The power of God flows in when ego and lying pride are thrown out. It hurts but that power heals and soothes the pain. Oh for grace to be truthful and not proudly boastful.
