These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Rejection of the King – Matthew 19-25
- Bad Example…
- Having already SILENCED the Religious leaders who tried to TRAP Him…
- Jesus turned to the CROWD [ὄχλος] – and to His DISCIPLES [μαθητής]
- And warned them about the SCRIBES and PHARISEES…
- Because they claimed to speak for God [seat of Moses]
- But their motives were SELFISH – they LOVED the praises of men!
- Good Example…
- Therefore – we are NOT to have TITLES: Rabbi – Father – Teacher…
- Because TITLES make it seem like we are the answer – but we are all just SINNERS…
- Instead we are to point people to the ONLY one who is GREATER – Jesus!
- Woe Unto You…
- Because of the BAD example of the SCRIBES and PHARISEES….
- Jesus gave them EIGHT warnings – exposing them for who they really were…
- FIRST – They taught men RELIGION [good works] – which closes the door to HEAVEN…
- SECOND – They were GREEDY [widows houses] – and MISREPRESENTED God…
- THIRD – They were the sons of HELL – and anyone they converted joined their family!
- Woe Unto You… vs. 16-36
- 4th – Empty Promises… vs. 16-22
- Blind guides… vs. 16
- Woe to you blind guides!
- As Jesus continues His REBUKE of the SCRIBES and PHARISEES…
- He used the very vivid description of them being BLIND guides…
- BLIND [τυφλοὶ] – 5x in this chapter – speaking of their SPIRITUAL sight…
- They were telling people they could SEE how to get closer to God – so FOLLOW them…
- But the truth was they had NO idea – so people were following BLIND guides!
- If the person has NEVER been to a place – do not ask them for DIRECTIONS…
- Yet people look to MEN for DIRECTIONS on how to get to HEAVEN [never been]
- Is it not wonder that they do NOT make it – instead they end up in the PIT [hell]!
- Matthew 15:14 – “If the blind leads the blind – both will fall into a ditch.”
- The Gold… vs. 16-17
- Whoever swears by the temple it is nothing.
- But whoever swears by the gold of the temple he is obliged to perform it.
- Fools and blind! For which is greater – the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
- In an effort to give weight to a PROMISE – men SWEAR by something great than they are…
- The Religious leaders taught that a PROMISE made by the TEMPLE – was NOTHING [οὐδείς]
- BUT if a person made a PROMISE – swearing on the GOLD of the TEMPLE – it was binding…
- Putting more emphasis on the PHYSICAL [gold] than the SPIRITUAL [temple]
- Proving they were FOOLS [μωρός] – and BLIND [τυφλοὶ]
- Because TEMPLE is what made the GOLD holy [ἁγιάζω] – therefore it was greater [μέγας]!
- The Gift… vs. 18-19
- Whoever swears by the altar it is nothing.
- But whoever swears by the gift that is on it he is obliged to perform it.
- Fools and blind! For which is greater – the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
- The Religious leaders also taught – a PROMISE made by the ALTAR – was NOTHING [οὐδείς]
- BUT if a person made a PROMISE – swearing on the GIFT on the ALTAR – it was binding…
- Proving again they were FOOLS [μωρός] – and BLIND [τυφλοὶ]
- Because all they cared about was the PHYSICAL [gold] – NOT the SPIRITUAL [temple]
- Yet the ALTAR is what made the GIFT holy [ἁγιάζω] – therefore it was greater [μέγας]!
- It is worth noting the words: PROMISE – OATH – VOW – SWEAR – carry the same idea…
- They are what someone gives to CONVINCE others they are telling the TRUTH!
- The only reason we have to PROMISE – is because we are NOT trustworthy…
- Instead of trying to convince others – it is better to be TRUE to our WORD…
- If we are faithful to what we SAY – no one will need a PROMISE to convince them!
- Perspective… vs. 20-22
- Therefore he who swears by the altar – swears by it and by all things on it.
- He who swears by the temple – swears by it and by Him who dwells in it.
- And he who swears by heaven – swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it!
- Anyone who makes a PROMISE by the ALTAR – swears by EVERYTHING [πᾶς] on it…
- Anyone who makes a PROMISE by the TEMPLE – swears by the ONE who lives in it [God]
- Anyone who makes a PROMISE by HEAVEN – swears by the THRONE and God who sits on it!
- Rather than make a PROMISE – or SWEAR by something greater…
- We should just DO what we SAY – either YES or NO!
- Matthew 5:37 – “Let your Yes be Yes and your No be no!”
- Blind guides… vs. 16
- 5th – Useless Tithing… vs. 23-24
- Spices… vs. 23
- Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites. You pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin!
- The Religious leaders were VERY strict about giving a TITHE to God…
- They would even TITHE the spices from their personal gardens [mint and dill]
- TENTH – [δεκατόω] 10x in NT [three forms] – where we get the word TITHE…
- SEVEN of the TEN times the word is used in NT – Hebrews 7:1-10
- The other THREE occurrences are NEGATIVE – here as well as – Luke 11:42 / 18:12
- Abraham gave a TENTH of everything he had to MELCHIZEDEK…
- Because he realized God was GREATER than He was – Hebrews 7:4
- Like Abraham – we give to God – because He is GREATER than we are…
- It is easy to forget that God is the one who provides – start to take credit for our success…
- Yet He is the one who gave us our TALENTS – orchestrates all of our CIRCUMSTANCES…
- Everything we have – NO exceptions – is a gift that comes from the Lord…
- Therefore – we give back to the Lord as a way to remember He is GREATER!
- II Corinthians 9:7 – “[We] must each decide in your heart how much to give. And do not give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
- More important… vs. 23
- [You] have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.
- These you ought to have done – without leaving the others undone!
- The Religious leaders had TITHED [which was a law] – Leviticus 27:30
- But then the MISSED the more important [weightier] command from the LAW…
- JUDGEMENT [κρίσις] – the truth that we will stand before God one day…
- MERCY [ἔλεος] – the hope that God will FORGIVE us…
- FAITH [πίστις] – the ONLY way we can be saved – Ephesians 2:8
- This is what God wanted them to be DOING [imperfect] – not just tithing spices!
- When we invest in the Lord – there is a blessing that come to us…
- God wants us to invest in Him – in His work – Luke 12:34
- Because wherever we put our treasure – is where our heart will also be – Matthew 6:21
- But God does NOT need our money – He is the creator of all heaven and earth…
- What He wants is for us to recognize the MORE important TRUTHS…
- He wants us to KNOW there is a JUDGMENT coming – but He is God of MERCY…
- And if we will CHOOSE to put our FAITH in Him – we will be SAVED – Romans 10:9
- Eating Camel… vs. 24
- Blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
- Their TITHING was further proof that these men were BLIND [τυφλοὶ] guides…
- Because although they would STRAIN at a GNAT [unclean]
- The LAW commanded the Jews NOT to unclean animals – Leviticus 11:14
- They would swallow a whole CAMEL [also an unclean animal]
- Meaning they followed LESS important laws – but missed the MOST important ones!
- Sadly when we walk into a lot of churches today – what we hear MOST is about MONEY…
- Putting a heavy burden on people to give – as if it is important…
- Yet because of all the focus on GIVING – more important truths are MISSED!
- The only time we talk about GIVING – is if it comes up the passage…
- And even then the message is NOT what we have to GIVE – it is what we have been GIVEN…
- Because God did NOT come down to earth and die for what He could get from us…
- He came down from HEAVEN because He wanted to give to us…
- And that is the MOST important message – we should be telling everyone EVERY day!
- Spices… vs. 23
- 6th – Filthy cups.. vs. 25-26
- Outside… vs. 25
- Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites. For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish.
- But inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence!
- The Religious leaders were very careful about APPEARANCES…
- They made sure the WASH the OUTSIDE [cup – dish] – so they LOOKED clean…
- But when you looked on the inside – it was covered in FILTH…
- EXTORTION – from the verb [ἁρπάζω] – to snatch away and steal [widows homes]
- SELF-indulgence [ἀκρασία] – to have NO [ἀ] POWER [κράτος] over their sinful nature!
- Inside first… vs. 26
- Blind Pharisee first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish.
- That the outside of them may be clean also!
- For a FIFTH and final time Jesus calls these Religious leaders BLIND [τυφλοὶ]
- Because anyone who could SEE – would know to FIRST clean the inside of the cup!
- If we had two cups – one clean outside [dirty inside] – the other clean inside [dirty outside]
- No matter how clean on the outside – if its filthy on the inside – we do NOT use it!
- God is NOT impressed by the OUTSIDE – the Lord looks at the HEART – I Samuel 16:7
- No matter how good we LOOK – if the HEART is not right – we are still UNCLEAN…
- But if our HEART is right – NO matter how the OUTSIDE looks – we are CLEAN…
- When we get saved Jesus does NOT clean the OUTSIDE first – He takes care of the HEART…
- Then in time the OUTSIDE comes to reflect the NEW life we have on the INSIDE!
- Outside… vs. 25
- 7th – Whitewashed tombs… vs. 27-28
- Pretty Graves… vs. 27
- Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs.
- Which indeed appear beautiful outwardly – but inside are full of dead mens bones!
- Jesus likens [μοιος] these Religious leader to Whitewashed tombs…
- The Jews [much like today] would paint their TOMBS white to make them look nice…
- But thought the OUTSIDE was beautiful – the INSIDE was DEAD [bones] and UNCLEAN!
- Acropolis gardens is a nice place to go for a walk – we enjoy the OUTSIDE…
- Because we make sure to paint the tombs – cover them with pretty flowers…
- But we know better than to OPEN up any of the GRAVES – death and decay are INSIDE!
- Not Righteous… vs. 28
- Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men.
- But inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness!
- In the same way these Religious leaders LOOKED to men to be GODLY [δίκαιος]
- BUT – what men could NOT see was their HEARTS…
- Which were FULL of HYPOCRISY [ὑπόκρισις] and a rejection of the LAW [ἀνομία]
- Because they were putting their FAITH in RULES to make them GOOD!
- We come to church with a smile – but just had a HUGE fight with our spouse…
- We come quoting scriptures – but like to look at pictures our phones…
- Giving the appearance of godliness – but we are HYPOCRITES – living a LIE!
- Colossians 2:23 – “Rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion – pious self-denial and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering evil desires.” [NLT]
- RULES may change the OUTSIDE – but it is superficial…
- RULES do NOT have the POWER to change our HEARTS…
- The solution to being a HYPOCRITE – is to admit we are NOT good…
- That sets us free to come to the ONLY one who can change our heart!
- Romans 7:24 – “Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus!”
- Pretty Graves… vs. 27
- 8th – Like your fathers… vs. 29-36
- The Prophets… vs. 29-30
- Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets.
- Adorn the monuments of the righteous and say: If we had lived in the days of our fathers.
- We would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets!
- The FINAL woe to these Religious leaders – was about the PROPHETS…
- They built their TOMBS – decorated [κοσμέω] the MEMORIALS of Godly men…
- The reason they did this was to PRETEND to be different…
- If they had been there in the days of their FATHERS – they would NOT have killed them!
- Sons of murderers… vs. 31-32
- You are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
- Fill up then the measure of your fathers guilt!
- These Religious leaders were NO different than their FATHERS …
- Because although their FATHERS had persecuted and murdered the PROPHETS…
- Who foretold the coming of the CHRIST – Isaiah 53
- They were the ones who would put the Jesus on the CROSS…
- Therefore – they were [imperative] just as guilty [full measure] as their FATHERS!
- When Steven shared the Gospel with the Jews…
- He pointed out how they had a HISTORY of rejecting those whom God sent…
- They had rejected Joseph – Moses – and countless prophets…
- He concluded by saying they had ALWAYS had a hard heart – ALWAYS resisted the Lord…
- So that in the end – they BETRAYED and MURDERED the CHRIST!
- Acts 7:52 – “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One – whom you now have betrayed and murdered.”
- Sons of satan… vs. 33
- Serpents – brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
- Generation [from] of VIPERS – a title both Jesus and John the Baptist used – Matthew 3:7
- Connecting them to their TRUE father – the SERPENT [ὄφις] – Genesis 3:1
- And since they were the children of SATAN – destined for HELL [γέεννα] – Matthew 25:41
- How did they hope to escape [subjunctive] the same JUDGEMENT [κρίσις] as him!
- When Korah led a REBELLION against Moses – Numbers 16:1-3
- God opened up the EARTH and swallowed him up along with ALL who followed him!
- Be careful who you stand with – you will become like them – and share their fate!
- Enemy of God… vs. 34
- Therefore I send you prophets – wise men – and scribes: Some of them you will kill and crucify.
- And some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city!
- God was sending [present] them PROPHETS – WISE men – and SCRIBES…
- But they would [future] KILL – CRUCIFY them – BEAT them in their churches [synagogues]
- Because they belonged to SATAN – they would persecute those who were from God!
- If we LIVED like the WORLD – then they would LOVE us…
- But when we LIVE for Jesus – we will feel the brunt of the HATE of the world…
- Not because of WHO we are – but because of WHO is in us!
- John 15:18 – “If the world hates you – you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world – the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world – but I chose you out of the world – therefore the world hates you.”
- Righteous blood… vs. 35
- That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth.
- From the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah.
- Whom you murdered between the temple and the altar!
- Therefore – ALL [πᾶς] of the blood of the RIGHTEOUS [δίκαιος]
- From the FIRST who was killed – ABEL – son of Adam and Eve – Genesis 4:8
- Whose death looked forward to the sacrifice of the Christ – Hebrews 11:24
- To the LAST who was killed – ZECHARIAH [not the son of Jehoiada] – II Chronicles 24:21
- But the one who wrote the book of ZECHARIAH [son of Berechiah] – Zechariah 1:1
- Who apparently was also murdered [only here] between the Temple and Altar…
- Because he prophesied about the death of the Christ [pierced] – Zechariah 12:10
- This generation… vs. 36
- Assuredly I say to you: all these things will come upon this generation!
- AMEN [ἀμήν] – ALL [πᾶς] of these things will [future] happen to THIS generation…
- Jesus knew that with this final WOE – He was destined for the cross…
- He had exposed these Religious leaders as the HYPOCRITES they were…
- There could be no more discussion – the only answer would be to SILENCE Him!
- But this is why God will ALWAYS win…
- Because even in their attempt to SILENCE the TRUTH…
- These men would only manage to bring about the PLAN of God to REDEEM the world!
- The Prophets… vs. 29-30
- Fall of Jerusalem… vs. 37-39
- 1st – Rejecting the Message… vs. 37-38
- Not willing… vs. 37
- O Jerusalem – Jerusalem – the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!
- How often I wanted to gather your children together.
- As a hen gathers her chicks under her wings – but you were not willing!
- Jerusalem was a city known for REBELLION…
- Jesus would even say it was the place where PROPHETS had to be killed – Luke 13:33
- Yet countless times the DESIRE [θέλω] of God had been to gather her people…
- Bring them under His WINGS – like a hen protecting her CHILDREN…
- But the people did NOT want [θέλω] Him – they CHOSE to reject God!
- Jesus has INVITED everyone [highways and byways] to come – Matthew 22:9
- Anyone who BELIEVES on the name of the Lord will be SAVED – Romans 10:13
- God CALLS everyone to put their faith in Jesus – He WANTS them to be SAVED – II Peter 3:9
- But He does not MAKE anyone BELIEVE – He just sends opens the door!
- Destruction… vs. 38
- See! Your house is left to you desolate!
- The cost for REJECTING God – was Jerusalem would be EMPTY [ἔρημος]
- As Jesus will go into great detail with His disciples explaining [Olivet discourse] – Matthew 24
- In just a few years – Rome would come and burn the down the TEMPLE – destroy the CITY…
- And it would overrun by Gentiles for the next TWO thousand years – Luke 21:24
- We were in Jerusalem on a Friday – just outside the Temple mount…
- TENS of THOUSANDS of Muslims came flooding onto the streets from the Temple Mount…
- Because to this day – the Holy place is under the control of unbelievers!
- The Lord WANTS to gather us to Him – He wants us to be saved …
- But when we choose to REJECT Jesus – we choose to give our life over the enemy…
- It means we live a defeated life – we will not be free – Romans 6:16
- Not willing… vs. 37
- 2nd – Salvation of Israel… vs. 39
- For I say to you – you shall see Me no more till you say:
- Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!
- Israel would NOT [οὐ μή subjuntive] Jesus again…
- Until they would be willing to say [subjuntive]: blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
- There is a blindness over Israel to this very day – II Corinthians 3:14
- Less than TWO percent of the nation believes in Jesus to this day…
- But that does NOT mean there is NOT any hope!
- There will come a day – after the SEVEN years of Tribulation…
- The THIRD of Israel who survives the wrath of the Antichrist – Zechariah 13:8
- Will look up and see Jesus coming out of the clouds [second coming] – Zechariah 12:10
- And they will say: blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord – Romans 11:26
- Bad Example…