Matthew 23:16-22

"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it." Are you someone who can be trusted? Are your words and actions written in pencil or ink? Do you feel the need to make a hard sales pitch in order to make people believe in what you say, or do you receive the benefit of the doubt because your high countenance precedes your actions? These are a few simplistic, metaphorical ways of describing the point that Jesus is making to the scribes and pharisees. Vows, oaths and promises are not bound by the objects they are made upon so as to leave room for annulment. Rather, they are bound by God because one cannot make a pledge upon anything that is not the creation of God Almighty. At first glance, this passage of Matthew could be easily glossed over. It seems like Jesus could more easily say, "Take what you say seriously and be accountable for it." But I believe Jesus is driving a stake directly into the heart of the matter because the issue of trust is absolutely foundational in all aspects of life. Consider Isaiah 26:4 which states, "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." I love this verse because it not only answers the question of who we should trust, but why. For greater context, Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary defines a "rock" as figuratively a defense; means of safety; protection; strength; asylum; a firm or immovable foundation. Therefore we are safe to assume that when we add Webster's definition of "everlasting" (i.e. eternal; existing or continuing without end; immortal), we begin to realize that we can rely upon the Lord God unconditionally and without hesitation for He is the ultimate foundation to build our lives upon (2 Timothy 2:19). It is amazing to research how the term everlasting is used in Scripture. For instance, the Lord God made everlasting covenants with His people (Genesis 9:16, 17:7-8, 48:4; 2 Samuel 23:5; 1 Chronicles 16:17; Psalm 105:10; Isaiah 61:8; Jeremiah 32:40, 50:5; Ezekiel 16:59-60, 37:26), He brought people and nations to everlasting ruin and shame (Psalm 9:6, 78:66), He sits upon the throne of an everlasting kingdom (Psalm 145:13; Daniel 4:3), and His name through Jesus Christ is referred to as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). These are simply not terms to describe one who cannot be depended upon. They are names that reveal who God is, what He is capable of as our Sovereign creator, and why He can be depended upon throughout eternity. The point I am trying to make is that God can be trusted because not only does His love endure forever, but He is an everlasting rock. So if you feel compelled to be a man/woman that is trustworthy and who can be entrusted with great possession or responsibility, how do you fare as an everlasting rock? Would those in your sphere of influence perceive you as a means of safety, protection and strength without end, trustworthy of the vows, oaths and promises you make? This is a loaded question because from a discussion of trust comes the need to examine the virtue of character, which again draws us back to the nature of God himself. "For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:16-18). I pray that you are beginning to understand as I am that our model of character, out of which comes our ability to be trusted, is found completely in the Lord God. It seems logical (and assumingly understood), but now we have a greater construct and perspective to work with when we begin to understand the nature and character of God, knowing what it means to put off our Pharisaical tendencies and die to Christ. We must be willing to experience the glory of being found trustworthy but also the persecution for it as well. For as the Apostle Paul states, "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-4). Therefore we must understand that the sanctifying process of being made righteous comes through persecution. Jesus encourages us: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10), but he also warns us: "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). In other words, there is great blessing for being a man/woman of character and trustworthiness but also an inevitable weight of persecution that comes with it. Be encouraged though! For if we unconditionally love as unto Christ in the face of persecution, we bear witness to the world that we are His disciples (John 13:35) and worthy of being trusted. All that being said, we must return to the object of Christ's intention in Matthew 23:16-22 that our oaths should be made only unto God, for we must choose this day whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15). The application for that practice is found simply in Matthew 5:33-37..."Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one."

Matthew 23:15

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves." This passage is extremely intriguing to me because it directly addresses the topic of "Pharisaism" that I am extremely passionate about. In many instances, Pharisaism is virtually interchangeable with and more commonly referred to in our culture as "religion." I believe Pharisaism is perhaps the greatest detriment to Christianity and has caused those outside the church to repeatedly turn their backs on considering a personal relationship with Jesus. Why, you might ask? Because in and of itself, Pharisaism is simply cancer that left untreated becomes a breeding ground for hypocrisy and self-righteousness. In order to gain a proper context for what Jesus is targeting in Matthew 23:15 we must first understand that Jesus is admonishing Pharisaism, not Judaism. Second, we must seek wisdom concerning two key terms, "Pharisaism" and "proselyte". Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary (perhaps the greatest American dictionary available in print) defines Pharisaism as "the notions, doctrines and conduct of the Pharisees, as a sect. Rigid observance of external forms of religion without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion." Moreover, Webster defines a proselyte as "a new convert to some religion or religious sect, or to some particular opinion, system or party. Thus a Gentile converted to Judaism is a proselyte; a pagan converted to Christianity is a proselyte." These definitions assist in clarifying the context of Jesus' statement. Now I believe the key to both these definitions is the phrase, "external forms of religion." When we cross-reference Matthew 23:15 with Mark 7:15: "There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him," we begin to understand that Jesus is addressing the importance of truth, of which He is the essence of (John 14:1), and we are to specifically adhere to without the aid of external and additional man-made rules, regulations, policies and/or requirements. For when we adopt man-made religion as absolute truth (even in good conscious), we are defiled from within as Jesus warns, and that is most dangerous because it affects those around us and their understanding and comprehension of how a Christian applies the absolute truth of the Bible in his/her life. Man-made religion packaged and sold as Biblical understanding is misleading and bluntly stated, complete Pharisaism. Jesus always seeks reconciliation of the heart to God, for it is what we hold inside our hearts that makes us unclean. Therefore, if we take upon religious practices, assumptions and expectations that are above and beyond the Word of God and adopt them with sinful attitudes and self-righteous piety, we fall victim to the warnings Jesus heeds. The scribes and pharisees took great pride in the law of Moses and strictly held firm to the finest detail of the law. Where they fell short in Christ's judgment was their additional "law requirements" that not only held proselytes back from gaining access to God (Matthew 23:13-14) but rather drove them into religion rather than a personal relationship with God. Religion became the funnel in which they filtered their thoughts and actions in regard to themselves and others, and inevitably what brought the judgment of God through Jesus Christ upon them. For "the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22). To state this more plainly, I will defer to my favorite Bible teacher, James MacDonald. In a sermon entitled, "Freedom from Religion," Pastor James states the following: "It is absolutely essential for my own growth in Godliness that I don't judge or negatively assess someone else's personal conviction in regard to something that is not explicitly stated in Scripture. And when I do judge others in regard to something that is not explicitly stated in Scripture, that is the essence of being a Pharisee, that is the essence of being a religious person; judging other people by a man-made set of rules." I cannot fathom a more convicting statement for mankind and specifically myself because I am a habitual sinner and Pharisee and honestly ashamed to admit it. God help us to begin filtering our lives solely through the absolute truth of Scripture that we may be set free from the weight of religion and Pharisaism! It is a chronic problem and the cancerous trail it leaves behind drives a wedge further between ourselves and those around us who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and are hindered from accepting His grace by faith due to the hypocritical example we provide as self-proclaimed Christians. The Pharisaism we are selling is stifling the work of God because we have traded faith for religion. Spiritual conviction that leads to repentance and God's forgiveness has been culturally replaced by self-justification and a self-righteous, unwillingness to be broken (Proverbs 28:14). Jesus warns us emphatically: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5). We must be honest with ourselves and admit we have adopted man-made religion in every facet of our lives. It benefits nothing if we cannot be real with the reflection in the mirror. For if we hold firm to our religion rather than walking in the absolute truth of Scripture, we will be judged not only according to God's standard but the false standard of religion that we hold so dear to (i.e. our cancerous definition of righteousness.) That is the danger of Pharisaism and we are wise to denounce our false doctrines and walk in humble righteousness through Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

Matthew 23:13-14

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation." After laying a firm foundation in Matthew 23:1-12 on the conduct of the Jewish leaders, Jesus now begins one of His most direct admonitions in all of Scripture. Now begins the "seven woes to the scribes and pharisees" that in contrast parallels the Beatitudes, commonly referred to as the most popular section of "The Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5:1-12). Matthew 23:13 begins a complete shift of focus in Christ's teaching. The audience has now changed and Jesus has transitioned from addressing His disciples and followers on the conduct of the scribes and pharisees and their subsequent response to submitting and obeying religious authority, to a piercing judgment specifically aimed at the ones who would inevitably crucify Him for his teachings rather than embrace Him as Messiah. In studying this particular passage, it is interesting that Jesus is not vindictive, spiteful nor angry, but rather judicial. He is exercising His authority as Messiah with compassionate condemnations for their conduct under the Law of Moses. Keep in mind He is not allowing His supreme knowledge of what the Jewish leaders will do to Him cloud His actions. His emotions are in check and He uses the law to convict them in their wicked ways, all the while knowing that this religious group will demand and execute His crucifixion in the days to come. For a moment, consider the context of Isaiah's prophesy with Christ's actions in this passage of Matthew's Gospel: "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). Could you or I ever imagine to respond in truth and love to our executioners if we were unjustly condemned for a crime we never committed, knowing full well the hour and torturous method of our impending death and opening not our mouths in defense? I know that in my flesh I could not. But I am reassured because God's Word reminds me that He is in full control: "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). Jesus begins Matthew 23:13 by addressing the scribes and pharisees as "hypocrites." The 1599 Geneva Study Bible comments that "Christ, when he reproves any man sharply, uses this word to show us that there is nothing more detestable than hypocrisy and falsehood in religion." The scribes and pharisees used the law as a tool to shut others out in order to maintain religious control as "the" righteous authority and mask the covetousness within their hearts that Jesus exposes in verse 14. Note too the issue here is not that the law is flawed but that the Jewish leaders were using the law to drive people away from the kingdom of Heaven rather than toward it. Jesus stated very clearly, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). Therefore, His focus is completely on application of the law, for the truth is what sets us free (John 8:32) and will bridge the eternal gap between man and God. The 1599 Geneva Study Bible provides outstanding insight on verse 14 as well: "It is a common thing among hypocrites to abuse the pretence of zeal when in reality they are exercising covetousness and extortion. Literally, 'under a colour of long praying'; and the word 'and' signifies a double wickedness in them: the one, that they devoured widows goods: the other that they did it under a pretence of godliness." Therefore, when we step back and gain perspective on Matthew 23:14, it should not surprise us the incredible sins the Jewish leaders of His day were committing under the banner of religious authority and why Jesus judges their actions according to the very law they are presumed experts in. So how do we apply this warning that Jesus addressed to the scribes and pharisees and now sets before us? For me, the study note phrase "under a pretense of godliness" is a perfect starting point because it convicts so severely and addresses the sin Jesus is targeting. I know it is rather easy for me to preach the Word of God to others on how they should live and apply it to their lives, but incredibly difficult and humbling to live it out in my life under both public scrutiny with man and private judgment before God Almighty. I know I fall victim to this pattern daily and share in the apostle Paul's frustrations: "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate" (Romans 7:15). As with Paul though, I hold firm in faith and embrace the wisdom that the Holy Spirit spoke through him as he wrestled with this spiritual dilemma: "For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin" (Romans 7:22-25). May this absolute truth encourage you as well and bring us all to a greater understanding of God's amazing grace!

Matthew 23:8-12

"But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." The singularity of the deity of Jesus Christ is perhaps the most radical and highly controversial topic in all religion. Christianity makes no apology for this stance, and that in and of itself is enough to rub culture the wrong way. We live in a day where political correctness is expected and tolerance for other religions or worldviews is preached from every angle. Unfortunately, Jesus Christ left no room for debate: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Therefore, neither should we leave room for debate. Why then is it so important for Christians to hold firm to the singularity of the deity of Christ as the only path to God? Thankfully, Jesus directly addressed this issue when he said, "Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33). Those who profess to be Christian must realize the weight of this passage and what he/she risks by not standing up for the absolute truth of Scripture. God simply does not take this issue lightly and He expects that we will hold firm to the first commandment He gave Moses (Exodus 20:1-6), of which Jesus is the fulfillment that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). It is quite interesting that the issue of hierarchy is directly addressed with Jesus twice in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke by the disciples. The first occasion comes after the Transfiguration on the mountaintop by Jesus, Elijah and Moses in the presence of Peter, James and John, and the second occasion during the Last Supper meal just prior to Christ's death and crucifixion. In both instances, the disciples mistook the word "greatness" for accomplishment and/or status while Jesus sought a deeper meaning that would not only transform their perspective but also their ministerial purpose in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Specifically in Matthew 18:3, Jesus told his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." This statement echoes the statement made in Matthew 23:11-12 that in order to be in eternal communion with Jesus Christ, an attitude of service and humility must burst forth from the seams of our character and countenance, leaving no doubt that the grace we freely received for our salvation took root within our hearts and bore much fruit. The Expositor's Commentary perhaps articulates the meaning of this passage best: "The child is held up as an ideal, not of innocence, purity, or faith, but of humility and unconcern for social status. Jesus advocates humility of mind (v.4), not childishness of thought." Imagine the possibilities that would flourish in our lives if we chose to filter our minds through the spiritual colander of humility, washing away all unrighteousness and iniquity that enslaves us and leaving behind only the God honoring qualities that produce the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22). However, due to a lack of understanding the disciples again press this question of "who is the greatest" upon Jesus in His final hours at the Last Supper (Luke 22:24-30). The context of this verse is striking in Luke's Gospel. Here, within hours of His unconditional sacrifice and death upon a cross for the sins of mankind, Jesus took bread and wine and divided it among his disciples, symbolizing His broken body and shed blood. In essence, He pulled back the veil of Heaven and allowed His most trusted friends a glimpse of God's sovereignty. How incredibly amazing! And yet, all the disciples could think about was their own hierarchical standing in the kingdom of heaven, proving they had completely lost perspective. This convicts me to the core I must admit, for how often I look past the absolute truth of God's Word set before me to fix my eyes upon the selfish longings of my heart. I repeatedly put off the blessings of Heaven that merely require a humble heart and mind and rather indulge in sinful attitudes that not only cloud my thinking but rob me of the righteousness I desperately desire in obedience to Him that paid the ultimate sacrifice for my sins. I confess that I fall victim to the warning of Proverbs 26:11: "Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly." But I pray that God will give me the strength to put off the selfishness that comes so naturally to me and draw near to the cleansing truth of His Word spoken through the prophet Hosea that I may be sanctified through humility and repentance. "Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up" (Hosea 6:1).

Matthew 23:1-7

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others." For the past week, I have been drawn specifically to Matthew 23:23 but have not been able to really write about all that God is placing on my heart. The main reason is that while I have tried to "force" an exposition of verse 23, I found it impossible to do so without first gaining proper perspective from Christ himself as He began teaching on "seven woes" directed specifically at the scribes and pharisees of His day. So in order to accurately expound upon the verse that called me to this poignant chapter of Scripture, I feel it is important to take chapter 23 piece by piece and not quench the Spirit's fire (1 Thessalonians 5:19) by rushing through all He has in store for me to learn. According to the ESV Study Bible, "The scribes were the professional interpretive experts on the Torah itself, while the Pharisees were experts in theological matters that the Torah raised." Therefore, the scribes and pharisees represented the immense knowledge and complete authority concerning the law of Moses. No one possessed greater knowledge of God's Word, but as Jesus points out, they lacked the supreme understanding to implement the law into their own lives. Their spoken words were a testament to truth, but their inability to practice what they preached was perhaps their greatest downfall in the eyes of God. Now it is evident that the scribes and pharisees were attentive to adhering to the law. They prided themselves upon it. However, when it came to others observing the law, they turned a blind eye and did not lend a helping hand to their brothers. Perhaps they would have been better served had they applied Ecclesiastes 4:10: "For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" Rather than helping others follow God's law, the scribes and pharisees increased the burden of others by requiring them to adhere to the extra-Biblical traditions of the rabbis. Praise God that Jesus addressed this issue when he encouraged His followers with the following: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Verses 5-7 of Matthew 23 are certainly the convicting verses that apply not only to the scribes and pharisees, but mankind throughout history. We often fall prey to performing works that will not only portray us in a favorable light but also distance ourselves based upon our spiritual walk with Christ in contrast to those around us. We long for recognition whether it be with others and/or with God for the investment we make to live according to the principles of God's Word. But we must realize that the condition of our hearts is the true litmus test of our faith. Do we serve only ourselves or the kingdom of God which includes those who test our patience and frustrate our senses? The apostle Paul addressed this heart condition directly: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). In other words, if the visual evidence of your faith is how you flaunt your piety before God so as to gain favor for the deeds you have done, you are missing the boat. Repent of your sin and humble yourself before the Lord, "for toward the scorners He is scornful, but to the humble He gives favor" (Proverbs 3:34).