~ Warning to Religious Leaders ~
There are at
least three great warning chapters in Scripture. Interesting enough they all are double digit
chapters ending in three (making it easy to memorize them (Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel
33, and Matthew 23). In this post we are
summarizing the last of these three chapters.
Matthew 23 Summary
~ This chapter follows the clash
between our Lord and the religious leaders of the day. (1) Pharisees were the most prevalent of the
religious leaders and were legalistic to the extreme and were known for their
self-righteousness and hypocrisy. (2)
Scribes were those who meticulously made copies of the Holy Scriptures—so they
knew the text well and were therefore considered authorities. The words of our Lord to these religious
leaders are the strongest denunciation that He ever made of anyone or any
group! Keep in mind that Jesus Christ
was the perfect embodiment of what a spiritual person should be—and He loathed
religious pretense.
It is
important to keep the context of this chapter in mind. On Monday of this week Jesus had cleansed the
Temple. At that point He left the Temple
and would never again enter it! This
ended His public ministry. He would hang
on the Cross of Calvary just three days later.
Matthew 23 Scripture Portions
~ “Then
Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: ‘The scribes and
the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do’” (verses
1-3).
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (Multiple
times in the chapter). “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! See! Your house is left to you desolate; 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!’” (verses
37-39).
Matthew 23 and Today
~ Religious form without
substance is alive and thriving today—as it has been throughout Church history.
Is it time for your personal
self-examination?
closing note: The warnings of Matthew
23 are well worth personal study by each of my readers. A careful and thoughtful reading will cause
conviction to any serious believer.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
NOTES:
(1)
The
current
TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very
bottom of this home page.
(2)
There
is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the
left column.
(3)
You
may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.
(4)
You
may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by
prominently displaying the following statement: Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free
blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid
Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/
.
