Articles by Desiring God How to Live the Unblessed Life
25 snips
Mar 25, 2026 A look at Jesus’ sharp ‘woes’ that expose false, flattering religion. A walk through Pharisees’ polished public piety and hidden spiritual neglect. Questions prompting private devotion and honesty about indwelling sin. A contrast between self-exaltation and humble life shaped by God’s nearness.
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Woes As The Negative Of The Beatitudes
- Jesus' seven woes are the photographic negative of the Beatitudes and define the unblessed life by exposing spiritual hypocrisy.
- Scott Hubbard contrasts public blessed appearance with inward wreckage using Matthew 23's opening woe language.
Avoid Publicly Curated Spirituality
- Do avoid cultivating a faith that's primarily about public image and honors like long phylacteries, broad fringes, and preferring the title rabbi.
- Scott Hubbard points to Matthew 23 examples: prayer on street corners, front synagogue seats, and flashy giving.
Secret Devotion Produces Authentic Witness
- True public Christian witness flows from a rich private life of solitary prayer and meditation rather than performance for praise.
- Hubbard cites Jonathan Edwards: the truly blessed love secret communion where no eye sees and no ear hears.
