Woes Continued

30. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our text is as follows:

Matthew 23:23 ”Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 25 ”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. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 ”Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. 29 ”Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! 33 ”You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

On last Friday, we we talked about how this chapter opens up with a series of rebukes that are directed to the Pharisees.  Jesus called them hypocrites and then began to specifically identify some of their hypocritical actions.   We talked about how there are eight woes to the Pharisees.  We dealt with four of them on Friday (though they were combined as two) and today we will deal with the other four 

Woe #5-   You give a tenth of everything even down to the spices, yet you neglect the more important matters of the law which are justice, mercy and faithfulness.  Jesus instructed them that they should not ignore the tithe but practice the other items also.

Woe #6- You clean the outside of the cup but the inside is filled with greed and self-indulgence.  If you clean the inside, the outside will automatically be clean.  Jesus was speaking to the heart.  If our hearts are clean then our natural appearance will take care of itself but to focus on our outward appearance without working on the heart still leaves the inside corrupt.  

Woe #7 – You are like whitewashed tombs that on the outside are beautiful but on the inside are filled with dead men’s bones.  Jesus was telling the Pharisees that you appear to men as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Woe #8- You build tombs for the prophets and for the righteous and testify that if you had lived during their days you would not have taken part in shedding their innocent blood yet you yourself are doing the same thing.

Let me just remind you of our context.  We are on the last week of Jesus and the things that he did before he would go to the cross.  As you see from our study, Jesus makes sure that during this last week, he sets the religious leaders of the day straight for once and for all.

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

Have a great weekend. 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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