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The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us ?

The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us ?. Matthew 23:1-36. The Scribe s, Pharisee s, and Us ?. This reading should be broken into two distinct segments: Vv.1-12 , Jesus warns the multitude and His disciples against the scribes and Pharisees; and

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The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us ?

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  1. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us? Matthew 23:1-36

  2. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us? • This reading should be broken into two distinct segments: • Vv.1-12, Jesus warns the multitude and His disciples against the scribes and Pharisees; and • Vv.13-36, He speaks directly to the scribes and Pharisees in the condemnation of eight woes, vv.13,14,15,16,23,25,27,29. • In both sections, Jesus’ point is the exposing of, and warning against, the religious corruption of hypocrisy and legalistic self-righteousness.

  3. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us? • The warning of Jesus is against: • Scribes- These were a group of scholars who studied the Law. During the Babylonian exile, when the Jews were removed from their land and the Temple, renewed emphasis was placed upon what they still had- the Law. This group developed from that impetus with the aim of spelling out the rules and regulations of the Law for Israel. • Pharisees- This division of Judaism dates back to the time of John Hyrcanus (135-105 B.C.), and were originally known as Chasidim (the pious ones). Pharisee (separated) was a name given them due to their determination to remain unspotted from any and all defilement. To this end, they developed a set of rules as a “hedge” around the Law, lest they get too close and violate it. Over time, the line between the rules they devised as a “safe zone” and the Law were blurred to the point that their rules, in their eyes at least, became Law, cf. Matt.12:2 > 15:2. • Thus, these two groups had “seated themselves in the chair of Moses;” v.2; they had assumed the position of law-giver for God.

  4. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us? Characteristics of the Scribes and Pharisees we should avoid: • Adding to the Word of God, vv.2-4 • If we understand at all the perfection and completeness of God’s law, Jas.1:25; 2Tim.3:16-17; then • We would never want to add anything to it, Gal.1:8-9; Rev.22:18-19.

  5. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us? Characteristics of the Scribes and Pharisees we should avoid: • Making a show of our religion, vv.5-10 • Phylacterieswere small boxes/pouches that were worn on the wrist and forehead which contained portions of scripture; tassels/fringeswere put on the hem of the garment and used somewhat like Catholic rosary beads- fingered and counted to keep track of repetitious prayers. • Thus, their dress(1Tim.2:8-10), seating arrangements(Jas.2:1-8), and titles of address were designed to draw attention and create prestige, Matt.6:1-7,16-18.

  6. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us? Characteristics of the Scribes and Pharisees we should avoid: • Shutting off the kingdom of heaven, v.13 • How so? The problem was not hypocrisy- merely pretending to be religious but inwardly knowing different, these people truly believed they were championing the Lord’s cause, 13:14-15. • Therefore, because of their legalism (15:1-14), false teaching (5:21,27,31,33,38,43), and self-righteous traditionalism (15:6-9; 5:20), they not only didn’t enter themselves, but also prevented others from seeing and entering the true kingdom, 15:14.

  7. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us? Characteristics of the Scribes and Pharisees we should avoid: • Devouring widows’ houses, v.14 • This verse is not included in some of the earliest manuscripts, but is included, at least in brackets, by most reputable translations. • Instead of protecting and providing for the weak and/or vulnerable (Jas.1:26), they preyed upon them (Matt.15:4-6; 2Pet.2:14; 2Tim.3:5-6). • Whether doctrinally or financially, beware of those who prey upon the vulnerable.

  8. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us? Characteristics of the Scribes and Pharisees we should avoid: • Making proselytes, v.15 • A proselytewas a convert, in this case, a Gentile convert to the particular brand of Judaism the scribes and Pharisees taught. • Having already noted the spiritual condition (5:20) and leadership capabilities (15:14) of the scribes and Pharisees, how could anyone converted by them be any more than they were? The taught wrong don’t do right! • The problem was (and is) that they were aggressively converting people to their particular brand of religion, rather than to God, cf. 1Cor.1:10-17; Acts 4:12. Today, converts must be to Christ, not to a denomination or even the church (the result of conversions, not the object).

  9. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Us? The text continues, but it will have to wait for another time. • What have we learned? If our righteousness is to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, then we must not: • Add to the Word of God. • Make a show of our religion; individually or collectively. • Shut off the kingdom through false (+/-) teaching, bad attitudes, or hypocritical actions. • Prey upon the vulnerable, who we should be protecting, and for whom we should be providing. • Make proselytes to our brand of religion instead of converts to Christ.

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