Matthew 23 - Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees

 

Matthew 23 - Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees

 

The Word of God has authority even if the people who teach it lack integrity.  Our Lord’s standard is that we both do and teach His truth. (I Thess. 2:10-12). Those who practice hypocrisy erode their character and do untold damage to others. The tragedy is that hypocrisy blinds people so that they cannot see the Lord, themselves, or other people. Jesus warned the disciples that they should heed the Law of Moses, but not the latter law that the rabbi’s added. He also told them not to mimic the actions of these teachers.

 

The god the of Pharisees is not the God of the Bible. He is a law giver who pays back those who pay him. He is not “the God of all grace: (I Peter 5:10) or the loving Father who care for His children (Psalm 103:1-14). The god of the Pharisees is a hypocrite.

 

The Pharisees were blind to themselves. They were right, and everybody else was wrong. Because they majored on the externals, they never saw the rottenness in their hearts. Because they majored in minor details, they ignored the great principles of the Word. They were not willing in the least to help struggling people grow spiritually.

 

Hypocrites never see the damage done to others: closing doors of blessing; defiling those who touch them; giving people a wrong sense of values. No wonder Jesus wept! These “woes” were born of anguish, not anger; and perhaps He is weeping over you and me.

 

Unlike the Pharisees, Christ’s followers must take care to cultivate true humility. They should not be prideful and take on titles that exalt themselves rather than God’s truth.

 

The true teacher of Israel is none other than the Messiah Himself, Jesus Christ. Everything up to this moment should have convinced the multitudes of that fact.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

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Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible