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Study No.15 : Don't be like them!  : Mt 23:1-7

A. Find Out:

      

1. To whom was Jesus now speaking? v.1

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

2. Who did he speak about? v.2

"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.

3. What overall complaint did he have about them? v.3b

So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

4. What further did he say they did? v.4

They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5. What further complaint had he against them? v.5a

"Everything they do is done for men to see:

6. What examples of this did he give? v.5b-7

They make their phylacteries A wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them `Rabbi.'

 

B. Think:

1. How were the teachers & Pharisees being hypocritical?

2. How were they putting unfair pressure on others?

3. How was pride at the centre of their lives?

C. Comment:

     Here we see Jesus making three complaints about the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. As he does that he says they sit in the place of the upholders of the Law and that as such they should therefore be obeyed. Having said that, he then goes on to identify three major failings.

      The first is that of HYPOCRISY. They taught things but didn't do them themselves. They should have been an example to the people to follow, but they weren't.

    The second was of IMPOSING GRACELESS LEGALISM. This had the effect of laying heavy burdens on people (having to conform to their demands of the Law) without giving any means of respite from those burdens. Grace always shows the believer how to be able to do what God is asking.

   The third was that of PRIDE. These men loved to be seen to be great, in fact everything they did had that end in mind, the way they dressed to look righteous, the places of honour they expected to be given in public gatherings, and the title of “Rabbi” they liked to be called publicly, everything worked to show how great they were. That is far from the humility that is a characteristic of the kingdom of God . In all these three ways these religious leaders stood condemned – and they did not like it!

 

D. Application:

1. I am to seek to do whatever I expect of others.

2. I am to teach Grace that enables, not Law that brings failure.

3. I am to be humble in my servanthood in the kingdom.

Study No.16 : Titles fo Honour  : Mt 23:8-12

A. Find Out:      

1. What mustn't they be called, and why (2 reasons)? v.8

"But you are not to be called `Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.

2. What also shouldn't you call someone and why? v.9

And do not call anyone on earth `father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

3. What third thing shouldn't you call someone and why? v.10

Nor are you to be called `teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ

4. How do these things work in the kingdom of God ? v.11

The greatest among you will be your servant

5. What will happen to the proud? v.12a

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled

6. What will happen to the humble? v.12b

whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

 

B. Think:

1. How had the Pharisees obviously been using these titles?

2. What is Jesus' overall teaching on using such titles?

3. What does Jesus look for instead, in his kingdom?

C. Comment:

     In verse 7, we saw yesterday how the Pharisees liked being seen in public places and being acknowledged as great spiritual leaders. They wanted to be called Rabbi or teacher, they wanted to be acknowledged. This was pride in them, but pride is alien to the kingdom of God !

     Right, says Jesus, (v.8) don't call someone Rabbi for that just exalts him and only God is to be exalted. Remember you're all the same (brothers). Similarly don't exalt someone by calling him (spiritual) father, (v.9) because that takes glory from God because He alone is your spiritual Father. Likewise don't exalt someone by publicly calling them teacher (v.10), because that ability is only a gift from God anyway and only the Christ, the One sent from God, can really teach you.

    Every time we give a title to someone we are exalting them. In the world, that may be all right because that's how the world works, but in God's kingdom it only fosters pride and there is no room for that in the reality that exists in God's kingdom. Pride is the deception of falsely exalting self beyond what you really are. None of us, in reality, have room for pride, we're all fallen sinners. It's only humility that we're left with, that awareness that we're nothing without Him, we're no one without Him.

 

D. Application:

1. Pride is deception. Deception is opposite to the truth.

2. Humility is an awareness of our true situation.

  

Study No.17 : Woes - Hypocrisy  : Mt 23:13-17

A. Find Out:      

   

1. What was Jesus' first complaint against the teachers? v.13a,b

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces.

2. How did he expand on that? v.13c

You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to

3. What he then say they did? v.15a,b

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert

4. What was the end result of their work? v.15c

when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

5. What were they saying about the practice of swearing? v.16

"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, `If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'

6. What did Jesus say about that? v.17

You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

 

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise his first accusation?

2. How would you summarise his second accusation?

3. How would you summarise his third accusation?

C. Comment:

     Having just denounced the Pharisees and teachers of the law as full of pride, loving status and self exaltation, he now goes on to denounce them as hypocrites. A hypocrite is someone who says one thing but does another. In the original the word for hypocrite meant a play actor, someone putting on a show, but unreal!

     They appear to be those who are concerned about God and His law yet the reality is that they themselves don't enter into the kingdom of God and don't let God rule over their lives, and by demanding men follow man-made rules and by establishing a false religion they stop others entering into that relationship as well.

     They would go to great lengths to draw a person into Judaism, into the following of the law in all its details, but they heaped so many ways of achieving self-righteousness on people that those people became even more self-confident than the Pharisees themselves, and that meant they were not able to receive salvation.

     Finally (v.16) he says their values are completely wrong. When they made an oath they would swear on things in the temple, yet the temple was greater. They're off beam, but then that's what happens when you follow man-made rules and regulations!

 

D. Application:

1. Rule keeping produces self -righteousness!

2. Acknowledgement of sin is the first step to humility and salvation.

Study No.18 : Woes - Oaths : Mt 23:16-22

 

A. Find Out:

      

1. What two things had the teachers distinguished between? v.16

"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, `If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'

2. What second two things had they distinguished between? v.18

You also say, `If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.'

3. What was wrong with that first comparison? v.17

You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

4. What was wrong with the second comparison? v.19

You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

5. What was the truth about swearing by the altar, the temple and by heaven? v.20-22

Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

B. Think:

1. Read Mt 5:33 ,34 What had Jesus previously taught about oaths?

2. What two things wrong had the teachers been doing wrong?

3. Why was all this unnecessary?

C. Comment:

     We saw yesterday that Jesus had moved on to berate the teachers of the law for the way that they distorted the whole truth about oath taking. Today we look at that more fully.

    In their legalism they had taken the object of an oath and categorised what was good to swear by and what wasn't. For instance you could swear by the gold in the temple but not the temple. You could swear by the gift on the altar but not the altar. These things were supposed to make the oath binding, but it was a human distinction.

     Jesus rips into this thinking. This is stupid, is what he is basically saying, because everything to do with the temple relates back to God. It is God alone who makes things or places holy, because He is holy. If you want to confirm or justify your promise do it before God. Anything else makes this a humanistic exercise!

     When we consider Jesus' earlier teaching in Matthew 5 we see there that he is completely against seeking to justify or confirm your word by reference to things or places. Let your answer simply be yes or no, and be known for a person of the truth, a person of integrity who doesn't need to justify his assertion. Oaths are simply to satisfy a third party. May they be able to trust your integrity, not clever words!

 

D. Application:

1. We are to be people of truth and integrity.

2. Say and do everything as before God Himself.

   

Study No.19 : Woes - Tithing : Mt 23:23-26

A. Find Out:

      

1. What did the teachers do? v.23a

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin.

2. Yet what did they fail to do? v.23b

But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

3. How did Jesus picture what they were doing? v.24

You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

4. What next did he say the teachers were doing? v.25a

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish

5. Yet what did he say was wrong? v.25b

but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

6. What did Jesus say the right order was? v.26

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

 

B. Think:

1. Why did Jesus criticise their tithing?

2. Why did Jesus criticise cleaning the outside of a “cup”?

3. So what is he generally complaining about?

C. Comment:

     Yesterday we saw Jesus complaining that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees had lost sight of reality in respect of making promises. Now he blasts at them criticising the way they apparently were careful about some outward acts of spirituality, but were failing on the essentials.

      First he criticises them for tithing on minor things, such as herbs, but failing to attend to major issues such as justice, mercy and faithfulness. In other words they were performing a token act of spirituality and law-keeping, but in reality they were completely missing the main issues. In the way they lived their religious lives they were unjust and not caring for the poor and needy, unmerciful and condemning of those weaker than themselves and unfaithful when it came to the main thrust of the law!

      Next he berates them for appearing good on the outside (using a picture of washing up) but on the inside being full of greed and self-concern. These men liked to look good in public but in reality, on the inside, they were far from being the spiritual men of God they tried to make themselves out to be. Get right on the inside, says Jesus, and the outside will look after itself. Christianity isn't about outward acts, but inward changing.

 

D. Application:

1. Have we got our priorities right in our lives?

2. Have we sorted out our lives on the inside?

    

Study No.20 : Woes - False Appearances : Mt 23:27-32

A. Find Out:

      

1. What did Jesus say they were like? v.27

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.

2. How did he say this was in reality? v.28

In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

3. What had they also done? v.29

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous

4. What do they now say? v.30

And you say, `If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.

5. What did Jesus say that did? v.31

So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

6. What did he say for them to go on and do? v.32

Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

 

B. Think:

1. What is the key thing that Jesus is saying here about them?

2. How does this directly follow on from yesterday?

3. How does he say this is a continuation of history?

C. Comment:

   We finished yesterday with Jesus talking about needing to be clean on the inside and using the illustration of washing a cup on the outside only. In today's reading he continues and expands on the point he is making.

    He now likens them to a tomb or a grave, that had been made to look good on the outside but inside it is death and uncleanness. There is perhaps no stronger picture than this of religion that is all surface, all concerned with outward appearances, while on the inside people are full of all kinds of wrong. Is that perhaps how so much of today's religion really is?

     Having mentioned graves and tombs he moves on to talk about the way they decorate the tombs of the prophets of old and appear to esteem them, yet, he infers, they are part of the same people who persecuted the prophets and put them to death. The reality is that they would reject modern day prophets, like they did with John the Baptist and will yet do with Jesus himself.

    Go on then, says Jesus, keep doing what you forefathers did, complete what they started. Jesus knew that they would be the ones who would be at the heart of the plot to kill him. “Religion” can be a very dangerous thing!

 

D. Application:

1. What are we like on the inside? Be real, be honest, face it.

2. Jesus came to cleanse people from the inside out.

    

Study No.21 : God's Yearning : Mt 23:33-39

A. Find Out:

      

1. What does Jesus call then and what does he ask? v.33

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

2. Who was he sending and what will happen to them? v.34

Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.

3. So what will happen? v.35

And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

4. When will it happen? v.36

I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

5. What had he longed to do? v.37

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem , you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

6. Yet what will be the outcome? v.38

Look, your house is left to you desolate.

 

B. Think:

1. What is the “hard” prophetic part of this passage?

2. Yet how is there also a soft gentleness?

3. What was going to happen, and why?

C. Comment:

     As Jesus concludes his tirade against the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, he declares God's judgement on them. Basically he is saying, you are going to hell! When he calls them snakes and vipers he really means it! This is not just cosy picture language but harsh reality. This is what they are really like.

     He then moves into prophecy (v.34). First he will send others to follow him (his apostles and church), some of whom these so-called religious leaders will kill, crucify, flog and chase from town to town. This was exactly fulfilled. As the Jews, and especially their religious leaders, did this to Jesus' followers, they would show themselves to be of the same line who had killed all of God's messengers previously, and because of that they would warrant the judgement that would come upon them. In AD70 Jerusalem was sacked by the Romans after a Jewish rebellion and the nation of Israel was dispersed for the next nineteen hundred years.

     Yet, says Jesus, I have longed to gather you together to God, just like a mother hen gathers her chicks, yet you refused to let me. Jesus came to draw his people to God but, by and large, they refused. The judgement that was coming was warranted. No excuses.

 

D. Application:

1. It is plain to see the truth about Jesus in the Bible. No excuses!

2. Those who reject him, are rejected by God.

   

RECAP No.3  "Woes!"  Matthew 23

 

SUMMARY :

  

In this third group of 7 studies we have seen :

- Jesus denouncing the teachers of the law and the Pharisees

- Jesus denouncing them for:

- their love of being heralded

- their hypocrisy

- their tithing attitudes

- their externalism

- their internal uncleanness

- having the same attitude as their forebears

- Jesus prophesying what they will do to his followers

- Jesus anguishing over Jerusalem

 

COMMENT :

     This chapter is made up of solid prophetic challenges by Jesus against the religious establishment. He denounces their graceless, hypocritical, legalistic religion that was full of pride and unrighteousness. No wonder they became upset, and eventually arrested and crucified him! The truth is often not pleasant – at least when you are living a lie!

 

LESSONS?

1. God's kingdom has no room for pride in it

2. God expects us to do what we preach or say to others to do

3. God works on the inside and change starts there

4. Christianity is about a relationship with God, not with things

5. God expects us to have a teachable spirit and be open to change.

 

PRAY :

      Lord, search me and try me (Psa 139:23). Wash me and cleanse me of all falseness. Allow me to know myself as you know me.

 

PART 4 : " A Call to be Alert "   Matthew 24

     The next and final Part of this set of studies sees Jesus on the mount of Olives teaching his disciples to be alert and wise about the days to come. This is simply prophecy about what will be coming and a teaching about how to cope with it when it does come. These things are likely to be stretched out through history to the End Times. Watch!