July 8 – Jesus Criticizes Unjust Leaders

Sunday School Lesson

July 8

Jesus Criticizes Unjust Leaders

Devotional Reading: Luke 14:7-14

Background Scripture: Matthew 23

 

Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

¹ Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

² Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

³ All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

⁴ For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

 

²³ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

²⁴ Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

²⁵ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

²⁶ Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Key Verses

The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.—Matthew 23:2, 3

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. List some hypocritical practices of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.
2. Contrast a hypocritical religious practice with its opposite.
3. Write a prayer of confession and repentance of a hypocritical attitude or behavior.

Introduction

 

1. Homes and Hearts

Real-estate agents often emphasize the importance of good “curb appeal” in an effort to sell houses. That expression refers to presenting an attractive outward appearance of the house or property so that passersby will have a favorable first impression. Foliage should be well-trimmed and pruned, fencing and sidewalks should be in good repair, etc.

The intended effect is that potential buyers will want to stop and take a look inside. Needless to say, it is important that the inside be just as well-kept as the outside. But people will likely not go inside the house if the outside shows too many signs of wear and tear. The reasoning is that a poorly maintained exterior signals similar neglect on the interior whereas a well-maintained exterior points to the opposite.

The scribes and the Pharisees in Jesus’ day were known for their religious “curb appeal.” But in their case a well-maintained exterior did not indicate the same on the inside.

1. Lesson Background

Today’s lesson from Matthew 23 covers an incident that occurred during what is often called Passion Week, the final week of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. The week began with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11) and climaxed with His crucifixion and resurrection.

It is generally believed that the events recorded in Matthew 21:23-24:51 (part of which is today’s text) occurred during Tuesday of Passion Week. This segment of text includes Jesus’ authority being questioned by the chief priests and elders of the Jews, a series of parables, and various questions directed toward Jesus.

1. Warnings

(Matthew 23:1-4)

Matthew 22 concludes with a question from Jesus to the Pharisees, a question to which they gave no answer. Having silenced His opponents, Jesus then had some preliminary things to say to His audience before launching a series of condemnations at the scribes and Pharisees. These men were already seeking to arrest Jesus (21:46); no doubt His words of condemnation in Matthew 23 intensified these efforts.

 

1. Esteemed Position (vv. 1, 2)
2. Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples.

Jesus has been attracting a multitude of people throughout His ministry (Matthew 4:25; 8:1, 18; 9:8, 36; 12:15; 13:2; 15:30; 19:1, 2). Since this is the week during which Passover will be celebrated, the crowds gathered in Jerusalem are much larger than usual. Some estimate that Jerusalem’s population, which generally numbers a few hundred thousand, swells to around two and a half million during Passover week. Jesus is also addressing more specifically his disciples.

2. Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.

The scribes and the Pharisees are considered the scholars in Jesus’ day. To sit in Moses’ seat describes their esteemed position; they are the expounders and interpreters of the law given by God to Moses. In the Old Testament, the scribes were at first primarily officials who kept records of various kinds in a king’s administration (2 Samuel 8:15-17; 1 Kings 4:1-3; 2 Kings 12:9, 10). The office appears to take a more religious turn with Ezra, who is described as “a ready scribe in the law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6) and who was also adept at teaching the law (7:10).

The term Pharisees comes from a Hebrew word meaning “to separate.” The Pharisees could be described as “separatists” or “separated ones.” They came to be during the period between Old and New Testaments; many believe their origin may be traced to the time of the Maccabean revolt in the second century before Christ. They interpret the Law of Moses very rigidly in an attempt to protect it from being violated; their added traditions and regulations have become of equal importance with the Word of God, sometimes even serving to negate the intent of Scripture.

How to Say It

anisea-nuss (a as in mat).

Cumin kuhm-mun or cue-mun.

Maccabean Mack-uh-be-un.

Nicodemus Nick-uh-dee-mus.

The Pharisees may be considered a religious “party,” while the scribes hold an office. However, the majority of scribes are Pharisees. Both see Jesus as a threat to their teachings and their authority. Paul, in his staunchness as a Pharisee by the name of Saul (Philippians 3:5), will later “do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9).

1. Exploited Position (vv. 3, 4)

^3a. All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do.

Jesus encourages His hearers to respect the scribes and the Pharisees’ positions and their interpretation of the Law of Moses. Jesus has not come to overthrow these authorities, any more than He has come to start an uprising against Rome.

^3b. But do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Even so, Jesus goes on to expose the inconsistency between what the scribes and Pharisees say and the example that they actually set (their works). They do not practice what they preach. (See examples on Matthew 23:23, 25, below.)

It is worth noting that Jesus encourages His listeners not to allow the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees to diminish their respect for the authority of the law. The law is still from Moses (and ultimately from God) in spite of how the scribes and Pharisees have failed to live it out.

4. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

The heavy burdens are the many traditions that the scribes and Pharisees have instituted to guarantee faithfulness (as they see it) to the Law of Moses. But as Jesus noted during a confrontation with the scribes and Pharisees, in certain cases they “transgress the commandment of God by [their] tradition” (Matthew 15:3; see the commentary and Lesson Background to lesson 3).

At the same time, the scribes and Pharisees offer no compassion to those who struggle to keep the traditions—only contempt for those who cannot measure up to their standards. Even worse, these leaders have created clever (but in reality reprehensible) means by which they themselves can avoid keeping those same standards. In Matthew 15:1-9 (again, see lesson 3), Jesus gave an example of how this works. As a consequence, they had “made the commandment of God of none effect” (15:6). Although these leaders “sit in Moses’ seat” (23:2), they certainly do not demonstrate Moses’ spirit of humility, which was a distinctive part of his character (Numbers 12:3).

What Do You Think?

What did you learn from an experience of dealing with consequences of another’s hypocrisy?

Points for Your Discussion

When it affected your family

When it affected your church

Other

When one considers this kind of onerous burden created by these leaders, we can appreciate even more Jesus’ invitation, recorded in Matthew 11:28-30, that ends with His words, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The one through whom grace and truth come (John 1:14) offers a freedom that is impossible to experience within the rigid, twisted system of the Jewish leaders.

Imposing Burdens on Others

Wells Fargo, one of America’s largest banks, was hit with a $185 million fine for setting up bogus accounts for customers who had no idea what was happening. The bank employees who set up these accounts claimed they were forced to do so to meet quotas placed on them by upper management under threat of being fired. Apparently several of these employees had reported the pressure to an internal hotline, only to find themselves fired soon afterward for reasons supposedly unrelated to the whistle-blowing.

Wells Fargo claimed that it had fired more than 5,300 low-level and middle-management employees for these illegal and unethical practices, but federal regulators began to wonder if these workers were being blamed for implementing high-pressure tactics that had come from the highest levels in the corporation instead. Shortly after the exposure of the scandal, a $2.6 billion class-action suit was filed by many of these employees for the unrealistic expectations placed on them.

Even in our day, leaders of religious, political, and business organizations place unsustainable (even illegal) burdens on individuals. If we ever find ourselves in a position of authority, may we never require that someone carry a burden that we wouldn’t gladly accept ourselves.

—D. S.

1. Woes

(Matthew 23:23-26)

Matthew 23:13 begins a series of woes pronounced by Jesus upon the scribes and Pharisees. A characteristic of these woes is Jesus’ description of the religious leaders as hypocrites. In only one of the woes does Jesus not use that word, describing them instead as “blind” three times (23:16-22). The next part of our lesson text picks up with the woe that follows.

1. Regarding the Law (vv. 23, 24)

^23a. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

The Greek word translated as hypocrites describes a stage actor, therefore someone who is pretending to be something he or she is not. The term is quite fitting for the scribes and Pharisees, whom Jesus will later describe as “whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27, not in today’s text).

^23b. For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Mint and anise and cummin are garden herbs used either for cooking or medicinal purposes. Tithing items such as these is not commanded in the Law of Moses, but for the religious leaders such an act gives the impression of how scrupulously they follow the law. One thinks of the Pharisee (in a parable) who proudly claimed, “I give tithes of all that I possess” (Luke 18:12).

It is noteworthy that Jesus does not criticize the tithing per se of the religious leaders. In fact, He says these ought ye to have done. The problem is that paying such close attention to the details of tithing garden herbs has caused these leaders to miss the weightier (more important) requirements of the Law of Moses. Specifically, those are judgment, mercy, and faith. These more crucial matters of the law must be given first priority, then tithing as the leaders desire to do can be done as private matters of devotion to God.

What Do You Think?

How can our church ensure it gives proper attention to the weightier matters of the gospel?

 Points for Your Discussion

In the area of upreach (worship)

In the area of outreach (evangelism and benevolence)

In the area of inreach (spiritual growth)

Judgment here most likely refers to carrying out justice on behalf of others, not to judging right from wrong or to a formal act of judgment on another’s actions. This closely relates to mercy, or compassion, toward those in need. Faith as used here most likely describes active faith supported by works, the opposite of which is dead (James 2:26).

24. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Jesus further illustrates the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. The phrase strain at a gnat means “strain out a gnat.” The conscientious religious leader carefully filters his drinking water through a cloth to make sure he does not swallow a gnat.

The gnat is not specifically mentioned in the list of clean and unclean creatures found in Leviticus 11. The camel, however, is found in Leviticus 11:4, where it is the first “unclean” creature cited. Jesus’ reference to swallowing a camel is His way of pointing out how the scribes and Pharisees major in minors as they give painstaking attention to relatively less important details while they ignore the law’s “weightier matters.”

What Do You Think?

How can we protect our church leaders from the danger of spiritual blind spots?

Points for Your Discussion

When they invite us to do so

When we have not been invited to do so

1. Regarding the Leaders (vv. 25, 26)
2. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

We come to yet another woe of the series. This condemnation is similar to Jesus’ earlier description of the religious leaders’ zeal to impress others with external displays of piety (Matthew 23:5-7) while being full of extortion and excess internally.

The word extortion highlights the attitude of selfishness that characterizes these religious leaders’ approach to spiritual matters. Excess describes a certain lack of self-control (compare Luke 11:39). Jesus, who “knew what was in man” (John 2:25), sees the inside, and He is disgusted.

What Do You Think?

What steps can you take to avoid a spirituality that is oriented toward outward appearance?

Points for Your Discussion

When you think you’re not at risk in this regard

Considering the tension between needing to let your light shine (Matthew 5:14-16) and doing good deeds in private (6:1-4)

26. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

We do not know why Jesus at this point calls out only the Pharisees. Perhaps it is because they are the ones who are especially fastidious in their passion for the outward show of purity and piety (Mark 7:3, 4). What Jesus says here, however, describes not only the Pharisees but the human condition in general. Jesus pointed this out to His disciples following the confrontation with the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 15:18: “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” Real change must happen from the inside out.

Earlier, Jesus had talked about such a transformation with Nicodemus, another Pharisee. On that occasion, Jesus described the necessary transformation in terms of being born again (John 3:3).

On Gullibility

Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agreed to a nonaggression pact on August 23, 1939. The pact paved the way for Hitler’s invasion of Poland a week later, thus beginning World War II.

This treaty of nonaggression, initiated by Germany, was supposed to guarantee nonbelligerence between the two countries. It contained the further promise that neither would come to the aid of the other’s enemies in an armed conflict.

This caused the Soviet Union to believe that Hitler would be no threat to them. But while the Soviet guard was down, Hitler violated the treaty and invaded in 1941. The Soviets eventually pushed German forces out of their territory, but only after suffering 26 million deaths. Some historians speculate that Hitler entered into the nonaggression pact as a ruse to lull the Soviets into complacency.

There can be no nonaggression pact with Satan. Jesus did not sign a nonaggression treaty with the Pharisees. Their viewpoint was wrong, and that wrong had to be exposed lest it cause even more damage. In sending us out “as sheep in the midst of wolves,” Jesus challenges us to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). With discerning, Spirit-filled hearts, may we filter out alluring claims that are inconsistent with the revealed Word of God.

—D. S.

Conclusion

1. One Pharisee’s Testimony

Let us revisit the case of Saul, the ardent Pharisee who was second to none in his hostility toward the Christian faith. After his conversion, he became, as the apostle Paul, one of the most passionate spokesmen for that same faith. What made the difference?

Certainly, the appearance of Jesus to Saul on the road to Damascus was the determining factor. But as we read Paul’s later testimony, particularly in the third chapter of his letter to the Philippians, we see that something took place in his thinking and perspective. He had come to reject completely the typical set of priorities that guided a Pharisee’s outlook on matters of religion.

Paul described himself as someone who, as a Pharisee, had “confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:4). His résumé was quite impressive in an earthly sense (3:5, 6). All the items he lists in that description he refers to as “gain to me” (3:7). They constituted what he calls “mine own righteousness” (3:9).

But Paul discovered something (and someone) far greater than his own self-made faith (which really wasn’t faith at all). He calls it “the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). While Paul calls his righteousness obtained through the law “blameless” (3:6), law is by its very nature cold and impersonal. One cannot have a personal relationship with the law.

What Do You Think?

How do you guard against placing confidence in yourself rather than in God?

Points for Your Discussion

Steps that evaluate whether a problem exists

Steps that correct an identified problem

Steps that ensure the problem stays corrected

It was in a person (Jesus) that Paul found what the law could never provide. Among those blessings was a joy (a repeated theme in Philippians) that rigid devotion to the law (any law) is powerless to give. Gladly did Paul suffer “the loss of all things” (all the ingredients of his self-made religion) and “count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:8). He was determined to move forward (3:13, 14), with his ultimate goal of seeing Jesus—not in a vision, but face-to-face in His heavenly presence (3:20).

It can be hard for us to appreciate Paul’s experience fully. It may be difficult to grasp the radical nature of the decision that led him to follow Jesus and reject an upbringing and a heritage that was deeply ingrained within him. Even so, Paul’s example and testimony remind us that following Jesus is worth any price we pay to do so.

1. Staying Heart Healthy

The spiritual condition of the religious leaders, as exposed by Jesus in our text, was, sadly, nothing out of the ordinary. God’s people in both Old and New Testaments were always subject to the temptation to focus more on external acts of worship or devotion to God while neglecting the condition of the heart. This can be an especially serious pitfall for leaders of God’s people (the focus of today’s lesson title). They can become so enamored with their authority and the title they hold that they forget to give proper attention to their own spiritual condition as a model for others to emulate.

Wise King Solomon advised, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Yet Solomon failed to follow his own advice and allowed his heart to turn from the Lord through the influence of his pagan wives (1 Kings 11:1-4). We too must be cautious of how we care for our hearts. We cannot just point our fingers at the Pharisees and highlight their faults, lest we too fall prey to the pride that acted like a cancer on their hearts.

Our society is very conscious these days (as it should be) about taking care of the physical heart by eating right, exercising, and getting sufficient rest. The spiritual heart, however, is for the most part ignored or viewed as one’s own business. Clearly, though, the corruption and decay going on in our world spiritually and morally (and with increasing speed, it seems) cannot be good for the spiritual heart.

At the grocery store, certain foods are now marked as “heart healthy.” If an individual has concerns about his or her heart, that person watches out for such a label. Wouldn’t it be nice if certain items (TV shows, books, movies, music) came with a (spiritual) heart unhealthy warning attached? What if we started watching, reading, or listening to one of these and a siren or alarm went off as if to say, “Careful, this is bad for your heart”?

 

The Bible is meant to serve as that kind of alarm. But it has to become a part of our spiritual heart to the point that we know it well enough (a good reason to memorize Scripture!) to call on it for guidance in times of temptation, tragedy, or other circumstances that have the potential to draw our hearts away from God.

Perhaps the words of Psalm 119:11 say it best—words that are part of the “pledge to the Bible” that is often recited by young people in Sunday school or Vacation Bible School classes: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

1. Prayer

Our Father, in the world around us is so much spiritual darkness that poses a grave threat to the health of our spiritual hearts! Help us to exercise discernment: to listen to, to watch, and to read what will keep our hearts in tune with Yours. May the source of our discernment be Your Word; may it always be the lamp to our feet and the light to our path. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

Let the great physician keep your spiritual heart healthy.

 

Kid’s Corner

Two Kinds of Examples

July 8, 2018

Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

(Matthew 23:1) Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,

Jesus taught the crowds and His disciples because they needed a Shepherd. What He taught His followers, the scribes and Pharisees also heard, but many of them only listened to Him so they could discover some sin or fault in His teaching that they could then use to condemn Him using the laws of Moses and their human traditions. The scribes and Pharisees did not have a teachable spirit but a condemning spirit. When Jesus taught, He sometimes used the scribes and Pharisees as bad examples to avoid. If they had had a teachable spirit, some of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees would have repented and followed Him after hearing His accurate accusations.

(Matthew 23:2) saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;

Jesus declared that the scribes and Pharisees who sat in Moses’ seat had been given a place of mostly religious authority in Jesus’ day over God’s people. They ruled in religious matters, while the Romans ruled over the Jews in political matters. Those who sat in Moses’ seat were the rulers of the synagogues, the Sanhedrin, and the high priests in the temple. They maintained a religious government as they interpreted and applied the Jewish laws (the Law of Moses and their traditions) over the Jews. Jesus did not teach His disciples to disregard or disrespect established human government, authority, or rulers. Jesus was not anti-government (whether religious or political); but as the Messiah, Jesus represented the Kingdom of God, God’s rightful government, authority, and rule over all (including over all human governments). Those who sat in Moses’ seat should have listened to Jesus, because if they had truly known and believed the Scriptures they would have known that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

(Matthew 23:3) therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.

The dictionary definition of irony is: “the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning.” Jesus may have been using irony and perhaps smiling to convey that irony when He said, “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you.” If Jesus had not said what He said in those words with a wink or a smile, He could have been arrested before His time for treason and for advocating disobedience to the Law of Moses, which He came to fulfill. The context and the totality of Jesus’ teaching and practice must help us understand that Jesus would never tell anyone to disobey God just because a government or religious leader told them to do so. Jesus opposed lawlessness, but Jesus did not teach His disciples and the people to blindly obey whatever their leaders taught, because sometimes they did not truly teach the Law of Moses. When they truly taught the Law of Moses, they were to be obeyed by the Jews, but Jesus said some of these rulers did not obey their own human rules or the Law of Moses. Jesus warned against following the bad example of those who accurately declare the Law of God or the Scriptures but do not obey the Law of God or the Scriptures. To fully understand how Jesus was mainly condemning the hypocrisy of some leaders, we must consider Jesus’ practices and discussions with the Pharisees. Jesus would never want someone to disobey God or the Word of God to do what someone else wanted – even a religious or political leader. Jesus did not obey or require His disciples to obey the human traditions of the scribes and Pharisees, especially when these traditions set aside the Law of God. Jesus taught, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28).  As the Messiah, who was the Ruler over those who sat in Moses’ seat, Jesus taught, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23). Furthermore, the disciples did not obey those who sat in Moses’ seat when the Sanhedrin ordered them to disobey Jesus; with respect for their places of authority, Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29).

(Matthew 23:4) “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.

The heavy, cumbersome burdens of the scribes and Pharisees included their interpretations of the Law of Moses and human traditions that made it more and more difficult for people to live or follow God rightly. They did not make their rules easy to obey, but hard to obey, which gave them more authority over others. They took unjust advantage of those under their authority. They did not teach those they ruled over how to bear the burdens of their laws and rules or provide the means to bear their burdensome requirements. They did not teach people how to have the spiritual power or understanding to obey God. They used their religious authority to demonstrate that they were superior to others (or so they thought), rather than help people obey God. “Not willing to lift a finger” indicates that these religious leaders were unwilling to do the slightest thing to help anyone, for they were concerned only about themselves. They ruled solely for their own selfish benefit, which is not an example that anyone should follow. In Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, the religious leaders refused “to lift a finger” to help the beaten and robbed man they saw at the side of the road (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus accused these scribes and Pharisees of refusing to be good neighbors. They did not truly love God or their neighbors.

(Matthew 23:23) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

A hypocrite tries to appear on the outside as something they are not on the inside. The teachers of the law (the scribes) and the Pharisees may have had official sounding religious titles and looked important, but they did not do as they taught. They stole the honor of a true Pharisee or scribe, the honor of one who tried to live according to the law of Moses and in the presence of God (as Saul tried to live unsuccessfully before he met Jesus and became the apostle Paul). Jesus said that those who kept and wanted others to keep the fine points of the ceremonial laws, while disobeying the moral laws that required them to love God and their neighbors, would suffer. The law of love should motivate people to work hard to promote justice, mercy, and faithfulness in every way they wisely can according to the Scriptures. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees that Jesus said would come under condemnation were those who did not rule rightly or teach or help their fellow Jews (and others) receive justice and mercy. They did not teach and act upon the importance of living faithfully before God. They lived for themselves instead of for God.

(Matthew 23:24) “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

Imagine a guide who had never been on a mountain before leading tourists around the edge of a crater of an erupting volcano, or a guide who had never been in a desert before leading stranded fellow victims to water. Jesus directly accused the religious leaders standing before Him of knowing nothing about the true God and His purposes. They were spiritually blind, and leading others into disastrous thinking and acting. God the Father sent Jesus to save people from their sins by dying in their behalf, which demonstrated the justice, mercy, and faithfulness of His Father and himself. Jesus accused these leaders to their face of hypocrisy and of knowing nothing about the ways of God. Rather than break one of their traditions, they would strain out an unclean gnat if it landed in their drink; then, they would swallow a large unclean camel when they disregarded justice, mercy and faithfulness. They focused on little outward matters regarding their traditions that made them look holy to others, while inside they were selfish and sinful and always looking for ways to cheat their neighbors to enrich themselves. Or, they would use their traditions on small matters to accuse Jesus and His disciples of sin to keep others from following Jesus the Messiah and His teachings.

(Matthew 23:25) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.

To suffer “woe” is to experience deep sorrow or distress or heartache or tribulation. Jesus foretold these religious leaders that they would suffer these consequences among others if they persisted in their hypocrisy rather than repent as He called them and others to do. Their traditions required them to wash their hands before eating and to clean their dishes before they filled them with food – good habits to follow, but not necessary for salvation and growing spiritually. Many of the scribes and Pharisees who heard Jesus teach refused to repent and follow the true interpretations of the law of God that required them to love God and their neighbors. Instead, they loved themselves supremely and were greedy for all types of personal gain and power. They would lie, cheat, steal, or kill to achieve their personal goals or the goals of their party — they were plotting to kill Jesus. They indulged their selfish desires while maintaining a show of holiness outwardly to hide their inner motivations and deceive others. Jesus declared that if they persisted in these hypocritical ways that they would suffer deep regrets for refusing to truly honor God with sincere obedience to His law and true love for God from their hearts.

(Matthew 23:26) “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.”

Jesus used the outward religious behavior of the Pharisees to illustrate their spiritual blindness. In teaching these truths to them before His disciples and the crowds, Jesus warned His followers not to follow the spiritual example of spiritually blind teachers. Jesus insisted that people cleanup their lives from the inside out. Those who try to clean up their lives from the outside in by trying to keep laws and traditions as carefully as they can, as these Pharisees did, or by trying to be and look holy to others will not change them on the inside. The only way to become and remain clean on the inside is to come to Jesus with a repentant heart requesting that He cleanse us from all sin, and then continuing to come before Him daily as our Lord and Savior to prayerfully follow Him according to the Scriptures. But the Pharisees refused to believe Jesus was the Messiah; they refused to acknowledge their sins; they refused to come to Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing. If the scribes and Pharisees would have turned to Jesus in repentance and faith, He would have cleansed them from all unrighteousness and have changed their motivation from love of self to love for God and others. Furthermore, on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus would have sent the Holy Spirit to indwell, guide, and empower them to love God and their neighbors as themselves. Going to Jesus was the only way they could cleanse themselves from the inside out; following religious practices, rules, and traditions will not cleanse anyone inside. Jesus remains the only way for anyone to become and remain clean on the inside, which results in loving, merciful, just, and faithful behavior. The apostle Paul is the perfect example of one Jesus cleansed from the inside out and the difference that cleansing can make in a believer’s life.

 

Two Kinds of Examples

July 8, 2018

Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

 

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25)

Jesus taught by word and example, and so did the religious leaders of His day. Jesus always taught and demonstrated the truth, so everyone could trust what He said and live according to His moral example. However, when the religious leaders taught the Law of Moses and expected others to comply with their laws and traditions, they did not always practice what the preached. So, Jesus warned the crowds and His disciples not to follow their bad examples. Everyone is an example of one kind or another, of what to do or what not to do, and Jesus wanted the crowds and His disciples to follow good examples and be good examples for others. Worse, perhaps, are the hypocrites Jesus warned. Hypocrites try to appear as someone they are not. Jesus warned the hypocrites He met that they would experience anguish and distress in the future if they did not change. On the inside, they were full of selfishness and self-indulgence, but they wanted to deceive others into thinking they were honest and upright. Like a dishonest person who wants to take advantage of someone’s trust to steal from them, they made themselves appear on the outside as trustworthy and faithful. Jesus forewarned that such people would face the condemnation of God. To avoid God’s just judgment, we need to clean ourselves on the inside. To clean ourselves, we need to ask Jesus to turn us from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, to wash us clean and fill us with His Spirit; then, there will no longer be any room for selfish ambitions.

 

Thinking Further

Two Kinds of Examples

July 8, 2018

Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

Name ___________________________

 

1. In what places did the teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit? What did that mean?

 

2. Why do you think Jesus talked about the sins of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees where the crowds and His disciples could hear Him rebuke them?

 

3. Why did Jesus tell His hearers not to do as the Pharisees did? How might His words be translated into a general principle for everyone to follow?

 

4. What were some of the heavy, cumbersome loads or burdens that the Pharisees put on the backs of the Jews?

 

5. What did Jesus say were the more important matters of the Law that the religious leaders?

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

1. In what places did the teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit? What did that mean? They sat in Moses seat. They taught and ruled in official places of authority in the (mostly religious) government of the Jews.
2. Why do you think Jesus talked about the sins of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees where the crowds and His disciples could hear Him rebuke them? Jesus did not want the crowds and His disciples to do as the scribes and Pharisees did, because they were bad examples, but at the same time he wanted to teach them to respect and obey those in authority when they rightly taught the Bible’s commands rather than follow their disobedience of God by word or example. Jesus carefully taught that leaders should not always be obeyed just because they are leaders.
3. Why did Jesus tell His hearers not to do as the Pharisees did? How might His words be translated into a general principle for everyone to follow? They did not practice what they preached. Just because somebody else does something does not mean that you should do it too.
4. What were some of the heavy, cumbersome loads or burdens that the Pharisees put on the backs of the Jews? Interpretations of the Law of Moses and human traditions that made it more and more difficult for people to live or follow God rightly.
5. What did Jesus say were the more important matters of the Law that the religious leaders neglected? Justice, mercy and faithfulness.

 

Word Search

Two Kinds of Examples

July 8, 2018

Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

Name __________________________

 

U R W G L Q C Q U O I C Z V X

H Y P O C R I T E S U K H L F

A F Q X O D L P W K W M Y A N

I T A W E P H A R I S E E S P

U Y D I Q C W Z D A Q U A J H

O S L S T F I S P L C N S S T

F Z K E C H X T J R Z T C E X

Q M Q S F M F A S B E R I S J

D F P O J E W U D U I A H C J

A Y S M V R H A L B J N C E E

S P T E K C N Y E N L Z S H Z

C Y D L F Y H S F K E U P F L

Z A G P X W S E A T S S E N A

D T E A C H E R S G V B S C W

U H B Z R S E L P I C S I D T

 

 

Jesus

Crowds

Disciples

Scribes

Teachers

Law

Pharisees

Moses

Seat

Practice

Preach

Hypocrites

Justice

Mercy

Faithfulness

 

 

True and False Test

Two Kinds of Examples

July 8, 2018

Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

Name _________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. Jesus wanted the crowds and His disciples to avoid some of the practices of the scribes and Pharisees. True or False

 

2. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees refused to preach the law of

Moses. True or False

 

3. The scribes and Pharisees made unnecessary laws for the people, Jesus, and His disciples to obey. True or False

 

4. The scribes and Pharisees did all they could to help the crowds draw

closer to God and obey all God’s laws. True or False

 

5. Jesus commended giving a tenth in offerings. True or False

 

6. Important matters of the law are justice, mercy and faithfulness. True or False

 

7. Jesus warned that some guides can be dangerous. True or False

 

8. Religious hypocrites can end up suffering anguish and distress. True or False

 

9. Some people can become so concerned about following their human rules that they ignore how God wants us to live. True or False

 

10. Some religious people are full of greed and self-indulgence. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

 

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. True

10.True

 

Prayer

Our Father, in the world around us is so much spiritual darkness that poses a grave threat to the health of our spiritual hearts! Help us to exercise discernment: to listen to, to watch, and to read what will keep our hearts in tune with Yours. May the source of our discernment be Your Word; may it always be the lamp to our feet and the light to our path. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.