Project 119: Matthew 23
| Project 119 | Dr. Wayne Splawn
What would be the most hurtful thing someone could call you? There may be a few things that come to mind, but I would venture to guess “hypocrite” might be toward the top of most of our lists. After all, as a rule, we value sincerity. In a world full of phonies and fakes, we admire and strive to be people who are genuine.
Here in Matthew 23, Jesus repeatedly accuses the Pharisees and scribes of being hypocrites. They valued seats of honor and positions of privilege in the community. They required others to adhere to rules and
regulations they had no intentions of following. They tithed small garden herbs, but neglected the pursuit of mercy, justice, and faithfulness. They appeared to be holy in terms of following the smallest jot and tittle of the ceremonial law, but they were actually sanctimonious fakes. And Jesus calls them out in front of everyone.
It would be easy for us to read Matthew 23 and have feelings of deep disdain for the Pharisees and scribes or to even develop a running list of people we know who are just like them. But, a more healthy approach to reading this passage would be to allow the shortcomings of the Pharisees and scribes to serve as a catalyst for introspection. How have we allowed the intoxicating applause of men to spur us on to pursue places of honor rather than humbling ourselves and trusting that God will exalt us? How have we held others to a higher standard of righteousness than we are willing to pursue? How have we focused on our ability to keep the more insignificant regulations of the law while neglecting the weightier matters of faithfulness, mercy, and justice? How have we sought to keep up our appearances in order to hide the uncleanness in our hearts?
If you are like me, reflecting on such questions is a challenging exercise. I am reminded of how far short I often fall of God’s perfect standard of righteousness and how much I need the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. And, I am also reminded of how willing God is to extend His love and mercy to me through Jesus Christ. A recognition of God’s love and the unfathomable grace He has extended to me through Jesus Christ awakens in me a deeper love for Him and a desire to genuinely live for the Lord. Let’s be followers of Jesus who refuse to put on a show for others or ask others to do the same. Let’s be transparent about our shortcomings and extend grace to others when they share their failings with us. And let’s encourage one another to pursue a life of genuine holiness and righteousness as we seek to faithfully bear witness the life-transforming love God has extended to us through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 23 (ESV):
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.4 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. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 “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. 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.
16 “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.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 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.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”