Matthew 23

The Pharisees—good teaching, bad examples (vs. 1-12)—The battle between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders reaches its climax in this chapter with the Lord’s severe denunciation of the hypocrisy of those leaders. He is speaking here “to the multitudes and to His disciples,” (v. 1), so these words are not just for the scribes and Pharisees. Not all that the Pharisees did was wrong: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do” (vs. 2-3); the problem was “they say, and do not do” (v. 4). If they teach the Law as it is written, listen to them. Just don’t follow their example. “All their works they do to be seen by men” (v. 5); “they love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues” (v. 6). Phariseeism is a self-aggrandizing religion. It cares nothing for others. They loved “to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’” (v. 8). Then Jesus makes an interesting point about religious titles: “But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven” (vs. 8-9). Notice: “you are all brethren,” and thus no one should exalt himself above others with a special title. I don’t know how the Lord could have been clearer on the subject, especially the use of “father” as a religious title (He obviously doesn’t mean our physical fathers). In verse 11, He concludes with a point He’s made many times before: “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” That is the exact opposite of Pharisaic doctrine, which taught that they, as the leaders, should be served by others. A more contrary conception of God’s true religion could not be found. It was never that way, even under the Old Testament. The Jews were given the wonderful privilege of serving mankind by having the Scriptures and being the people through whom the Savior of the world would come. It wasn’t enough. And it isn’t to this day. And Jesus will let them know the penalty in chapter 24.

The “woes” (vs. 13-36)—Here in a series of scathing denunciations Jesus exposes scribal/Pharisaic hypocrisy. There are eight “woes” here: they “shut up the kingdom of heaven against men,” and aren’t going in themselves (v. 13). They “devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers” (v. 14). They do everything they can to convert others, but when they do, “you make him twice as much as son of hell as yourselves” (v. 15). They actually believed that the “gold” in the temple was more valuable than the temple itself (v. 16). They were scrupulous in their tithing, even going so far as to donate one of every 10 leaves of their mint, anise, and cummin bushes, but ignored “the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith” (v. 23); Jesus adds a rather humorous analogy, though I don’t think He was laughing and I’m sure the Pharisees weren’t: “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel” (v. 24). The Pharisees made sure the “outward” man was clean, but did nothing for the inward (v. 25). Does this sound familiar, as in “blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God”? (Matt. 5:8). “You are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness” (v. 27). The final “woe” is perhaps the worst of all: they claim to honor and laud the prophets, “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” (v. 30). And yet, they were about to kill God’s Son: “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt” (vs. 31-32), which again they would do by crucifying the One Whom the prophets spoke of. And then we have what is probably the strongest condemnation by Jesus anywhere recorded: “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (v. 33). Folks, this is what got Jesus crucified, not “love one another.” Not only would they kill Jesus, but His messengers as well (vs. 34-36).

“Behold, YOUR house is left unto you desolate” (vs. 37-39)—In verse 37, Jesus expresses a tender lament over the city: “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.” The Jews had had their chance. God had been so merciful to them for 1,500 years and they rebelled against Him constantly; remember the parable of the vinedressers in Matthew 21:33-44 about the servants being beaten and the son killed. And indeed, now they were about to do the latter. What else could He have done that He did not do? Their condemnation is just: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” (v. 38). The temple. And notice, it’s not God’s house any more. The Lord is coming (and it’s a temporal judgment), but it will be too late then (v. 39).

All of this sets the stage for one of the most misunderstood chapters in the Bible, Matthew 24.