Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 23 as we continue our study through the Word of God. And keep in mind that what Jesus is going to say, His message, is born out of the hypocrisy, the unbelief of the religious leaders in Matthew chapters 21 and 22. They are not interested in the truth but only in their own theology.
And as chapter 22 closes Jesus shows them how the Messiah is not only to be the Son of David, but also the Son of God! And even though the Scriptures clearly taught this, they refused to look, they refused to listen, they refused the truth. Thus, we read in Matthew 22:46, "And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore."
Now as chapter 23 opens, you will clearly see why Jesus gave this message to the religious leaders. With that said, let’s dig into Matthew chapter 23, starting in verse 1, and see what the Lord has for us this evening.
VERSES 1-2
1. The religious leaders refused to hear Jesus, so He turns to His disciples and the multitudes showing them the error’s of these religious leaders. Now keep in mind that the religious leaders were still there, and they too will be hearing what Jesus says, condemning the hypocrisy of these religious leaders and speaking of their destiny - HELL!
2. Now the first thing Jesus nails them on is FALSE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP! You see, this verse can be translated, "[they] have seated themselves in Moses’ seat." And the idea is they have placed themselves into this position, not God. They had no authority to be adding human tradition to God’s Word. This false spiritual authority they claimed for themselves!
VERSE 3
1. And what is born out of false spiritual leadership? A LACK OF INTEGRITY! Look at what they are doing here. They teach God’s Word, the Mosaic Law, and that is great, but they themselves don’t keep it. They talked the talk but did not walk the walk! They lacked integrity!
VERSE 4
1. So far we have seen false spiritual leadership bringing forth a lack of integrity, and here we see A LACK OF SYMPATHY! They were placing upon people heavy burdens, and the people were breaking under the weight. These heavy burdens were extra biblical traditions that they placed on the people. They were to help the people and yet, they were hurting them as they placed more and more burdens on them. They lacked sympathy towards the people!
VERSES 5-7
1. And lastly, false spiritual leadership LACKS HUMILITY! Notice, they love to be seen doing good works. They love the attention. And just in case some may miss how spiritual they are, they go to extreme measures so they will be seen.
2. A phylactery is a leather box that contains a parchment that has the following Scriptures written on: Exodus 13:1-10, Exodus 13:11-16, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and Deuteronomy 11:13-21, and these were written in four columns. These phylacteries were worn on the forehead and/or the left arm. Why did they do this? Because in Deuteronomy 6:8 it says God’s Word is to be upon your head and hand. They were not to literally do this, but to have God’s Word in their mind, have God’s Word guide their actions. But, to be even more spiritual here, they broadened the leather straps that held the phylacteries in place so people would see how spiritual they were. Can you imagine these huge leather straps across their foreheads, and that makes you more spiritual?
3. In Numbers 15:38 they were told to place blue tassels on the corners of their robes, reminding them of heaven. But now they lengthened the tassels to make them look more spiritual.
4. They also love to sit in the chief seats, to be recognized by all that they are important. They loved to be called "teachers" in the market place, for everyone would look to see. They loved the title, the loved the honor, they loved the attention, they lacked the humility!
5. Now Jesus is going to show them what true spiritual leadership is about and how it should be manifested in our lives!
VERSES 8-12
1. Jesus is saying that true spiritual leadership avoids those elevated titles, names, and accepts even the lowliest task. He does not exalt himself but is a servant! Leadership is service.
2. Now please don’t read into this that Jesus is saying we shouldn’t call anyone teacher or father or master. We still are to respect people but don’t use titles to elevate yourself above others or God. Yes, God has placed us in different ministries within the body of Christ, but we are all one, no one is more important in the body than someone else. Thus, if you want to be great, be a servant! The way up is down, humbling yourself before God and man.
3. There is only one teacher who has absolute truth, and that is Jesus, "...‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’" John 14:6. There is only one Father who can give to us spiritual life, and that is God, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."
I Peter 1:3-4. And there truly should only be one Master of our lives, He is in control, nothing happens without His approval, and that is God, "Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." Colossians 4:1.
VERSE 13
1. Now Jesus starts a series of 8 woe’s pronounced upon these religious leaders. The word "woe" is OUAI in the Greek, and it speaks not only of wrath, which we will see, but also of sorrow, and we will see that as we conclude this chapter with Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem’s coming destruction for their rejection of the Messiah.
2. The first woe was against their RELIGIOUS LEGALISM that not only kept them from heaven, but others who listened to their doctrine. They kept people from coming to God because of their traditions! It is as Paul said in Romans 10:1-3, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." Their legalism kept them out! And isn’t it interesting that religious people tend to be the greatest opponents to the Gospel of grace! They will be judged!
VERSE 14
1. This second woe is against their TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF RELIGION OR GOD. Do you see what they are doing here? They would go to widows houses saying, "It is tragic to hear of your husbands death. If you would really like to honor his memory, make a good donation to our ministry!" And they did this as representatives of God, making long prayers to impress them while they ripped them off! They will be judged!
VERSE 15
1. This third woe is a MISDIRECTED ZEAL, A ZEAL OUTSIDE OF THE TRUTH. You see, they travel near and far to convert one soul to their form of Judaism and when a person turns, they are even more zealous in their actions and yet, both are heading to Hell, to Gehenna, the lake of fire, even though they were very sincere about their faith. And we see that today as people go door-to-door trying to convert you to Mormonism or to be a Jehovah Witness, or whatever. Lots of zeal, but not the truth. And tragically, they are heading to Hell with all those they have converted to that faith! They will be judged!
VERSES 16-22
1. This forth woe that Jesus speaks against the religious leaders deals with DISHONEST REASONING, a justification for their actions and the Lord is going to correct them on their misguided actions. You see, they thought the gold of the temple was more important than the temple, the dwelling place of God. Thus, if you took an oath "by the temple" it was not binding. But, if you took an oath by "the gold of the temple" you were subject to carrying through with your words. And Jesus is saying that when you take an oath, you are obligated to keep it. They had justified their actions, but Jesus shows them how wrong they were and if they continue down that path, they will be judged!
VERSES 23-24
1. The fifth woe that Jesus pronounces upon these religious leaders deals with EMPTY RITUALS or majoring on the minors! First of all these little garden herbs were weighed out by these religious leaders and a tenth was given to the Lord according to what the Law said. And they took this to the extreme and yet, when it came to justice, mercy and faith, they did not balance out. Thus, this was nothing more than an empty ritual because on a practical level, they were cheating the people, they were unmerciful, their faith was built upon the keeping of the Law and because of that they burdened the people with it’s weight! Isn’t it amazing how we can major on the minors while negating those issues that are the most important!
2. Secondly, and I love this, this makes a great picture. These religious leaders would strain their drinks through a fine cloth just in case a gnat was in the drink. You see, a gnat was the smallest of the unclean animals, and thus, to protect themselves from swallowing these tiny creatures, they would strain their drinks, (Leviticus 11:23). They were so meticulous with the small things and yet, when it came to the bigger issues, they swallowed them down, took them in, digested them. And the picture here is great. The camel was the largest of the unclean animals, (Leviticus 11:4). Thus, as these guys strain out the gnat, the cloth didn’t catch the camel, and they swallowed it down, but the gnat was strained. You see, they were majoring on the minors and neglecting the weightier issues, and God says they will be judged!
3. Now before we move on, how many of us strain out the gant and yet swallow the camel? How many of us major on the minor issues and yet leave out justice, mercy and faith? Be careful! You see, the Lord is showing us these things so we may examine our own hearts. It is as Peter said in I Peter 4:8-11, "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." Let the love of God rule your heart and control your actions!
VERSES 25-26
1. The sixth woe deals with EXTERNALISM. You see, to these religious leaders, their external actions were more important than a internal relationship with God! But Jesus is saying that it is a heart issue, and first you need that internal reality and that will then manifest itself in godly actions. The example Jesus gives is strong when you think about it. Imagine getting a nice cup of mocha, and the cup is beautiful, spotless on the outside, a thing of art. But, as you start drinking you find out that the inside is filthy, it has eggs, dried food, something we aren’t sure of what it is, all on the inside. When you see that it will make you sick, and you know what, it makes the Lord sick also when He looks at it. It is as David said in Psalm 51:6, "Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts..." Many today live their lives in empty external activities and they have no relationship with Jesus! That is hypocrisy and Jesus says they will be judged!
VERSES 27-28
1. The seventh woe deals with the CONCEALING OF THEIR HYPOCRISY. You see, if you were a Jew and you were traveling to Jerusalem for one of the feasts, if you stepped on a grave you would be unclean and chances are, you would not be able to join in the feast, (Numbers 19:16). So they would whitewash the tombs, the graves, so that as you traveled you would not accidently step on one. Now as nice as these tombs were, as nice as they looked on the outside, the inside were filled with dead men’s and women’s bones! Now the point that Jesus is making is this, they had the outward appearance of godliness but they were dead spiritually, they were full of evil, their outward appearance did not match up with what was going on in their heart! And once again, they will be judged!
2. The same is true today. Outside of Jesus we can dress ourselves up in all kinds of religious activities, spiritual jargon, and yet be dead spiritually. You see, unless you are born again, unless Jesus is Lord and Savior of your life, you are dead in your trespasses and sins, and it doesn’t matter how good you look outwardly!
Turn to Ephesians chapter 2, starting in verse 1, and listen to what God can do in a persons life. We read "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:1-9. When God gets your heart, that new life He gives you inwardly will manifest itself outwardly, it is real! Paul put it this way in II Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." That is what God wants, your heart! You see, not just a professor of God, but a possessor of God!
VERSES 29-32
1. The eighth and last woe that Jesus speaks of deals with their SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS! What do I mean? Look at what they are doing. They are decorating the tombs of the prophets who were killed by their fathers. And in the Kidron Valley they have beautiful tombs. Now, in their minds they are saying if they had been around during the times of these prophets who were killed by their fathers, they would not have killed them like their fathers did. How ridiculous. At this very moment they are plotting how to kill Jesus, the greatest Prophet of all, God incarnate! Turn to John chapter 11 and let’s start reading in verse 47, "Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.’ And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’ Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death." John 11:47-53. They were not only going to do what their fathers did, but much more! Thus, they too will be judged!
VERSES 33-36
1. Can you imagine how these religious leaders felt at this point? Jesus is speaking to the multitudes, while the religious leaders are just hanging out, getting blasted by Jesus. They saw themselves as holy, as righteous, as going to heaven and Jesus says they are going to Hell, Gehenna, the lake of fire! Why? Because they rejected Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! Jesus said to a Pharisee named Nicodemus in John chapter 3, "Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’...For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:3, 16-18.
2. All you have to do is read the book of Acts and see the persecution against the church, against the prophets, the apostles, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, trying to put to silence the messengers of God! You see, they were no different than their fathers!
3. Jesus speaks of the first Old Testament martyr - Abel, who was slain by his brother Cain in Genesis 4:8. Now their seems to be some confusion to who this Zechariah is. What I believe is that this Zechariah is the same one spoken of in II Chronicles chapter 24. Here in Matthew he is called the son of Berechiah and in II Chronicles he is called the son of Jehoiada, why? Possibly he was the grandson of Jehoiada and the son of Berechiah, we aren’t sure. But this I am sure, Jesus’ words are infallible and I will leave it at that. Now Listen to what is said of this event in II Chronicles 24:20-21, "Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.’ So they conspired against him, and at the commandment of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD." Sounds like a match to what Jesus is saying. One last point on this issue, in the Hebrew Bible Genesis is the first book, just like ours, making Able the first Old Testament martyr. Also, Zechariah was the last Old Testament martyr for in the Hebrew Bible they have II Chronicles as the last book. Another good fit to what Jesus is saying!
4. As Jesus concludes in verse 36, that generation saw the destruction of Jerusalem some 38 years down the road, in 70 AD. Now that thought is going to lead into what Jesus is going to say in the next 3 verses.
VERSES 37-39
1. We have seen the wrath of God in verses 13-36 and now we see the weeping of God, the sorrow of God towards His people who have rejected Him! He tried to gather them in but they refused to come to Him, to receive Him. Thus, in 70 AD Titus and the Roman army came in and destroyed Jerusalem slaying over 1 million Jews, destroying the city and the temple and causing the remaining Jews to flee. And as you read this you can see the broken heart of Jesus, for He knew what was coming upon His people, their destruction! It is interesting to note that when Jesus used a name twice, it was when His heart was broken - Luke 22:31 with Simon, Luke 10:41-42 with Martha, and Acts 9:4 with Saul, and here in Matthew 23:37 for Jerusalem! That is the heart of God, compassion for His people but He won’t force them to do what they don’t want to do!
2. Jesus does not leave them on a sour note, but speaks of a day when the nation of Israel will call upon the Lord, call upon Jesus and they will see Him. When will this occur? At the end of the tribulation period as the Lord returns to set up His kingdom. This is their petition that they will speak as they call upon the Lord.
3. As we close this evening I want to leave you with these thoughts. The Bible speaks of three things we are not to be ignorant of, and yet, we see that many today are ignorant on these issues. What are they? The first is SPIRITUAL GIFTS, I Corinthians 12:1. And yet, look at how confused people are today, from saying they are not for today to the bizarre activity that is blamed on the Holy Spirit. Study what the Scriptures say, God wants us to know!
The second is the RAPTURE, I Thessalonians 4:13. And yet we have people that deny there is even such a thing as the rapture, to people putting on their rapture clothes and waiting on some mountain for the Lord to come! Study what the Scriptures say, God wants us to know!
And lastly, the SALVATION OF ISRAEL, Romans 11:25. You see, some say Israel has forfeited her promises and God is now done with them, the church is now spiritual Israel. I disagree and the Bible says we are not to be ignorant on this matter. So what does the Bible say? Look at Romans 11:25-27, "For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’" It is going to happen and here in Matthew is their petition to the Lord, and Zechariah tells us "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." Zechariah 12:10. They will see Him, Israel will be saved as we then move into the kingdom age. Study what the Scriptures say, God wants us to know! I think that is a great place to end, where Jesus is on the throne!