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“Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors”

“Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors”. MATTHEW 23:23,24

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“Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors”

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  1. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” MATTHEW 23:23,24 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier [matters] of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “

  2. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” Introduction: • Years back I did some house building and remodeling and went to sit down with a couple to discuss the construction of the their new house and no sooner than we sat down, they presented a list of things they wanted to be sure to discuss. We had not even looked at blueprint, but they had decided the color of paint, the light fixtures, coordinated carpet, kitchen cabinets, faucets, and some other “minor” things in the grand scheme of things. However, when I asked to see what the floor plan of the house looked like they looked at each other and said – “what floor plan?” • While the things they were talking about were important, what was more important was the selection of the House they were going to put all this stuff in.

  3. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 3.Let’s make some observation’s Our text - • "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,-”a. The Audience is identified- i. The religious people of the day, a group of the Jewish leaders, the scribes and Pharisees. ii. Party representing the religious views, practices, and hopes of the kernel of the Jewish people….. They were accordingly scrupulous observers of the Law as interpreted by the Scribes, in accordance with tradition. Believed in the resurrection of the dead. iii. They represent for our learning those of the Church today who, for what ever reason, follow in their footsteps, their pattern of behavior. There is something we need to learn by observing them and the Lord’s response to them.

  4. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 4. Jesus began a long treatment of what was wrong with the Pharisees' religion with the following words: "The Scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore, all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them." (Matthew 23:2,3). Right away, we see something drastically wrong here. When Jesus spoke of the Pharisees having sat themselves down "in the chair of Moses",

  5. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” - He was simply saying that when they instruct you from the writings of Moses, listen to and obey those instructions. - Just because it is a rascal who is speaking the truth does not mean that is an excuse to reject the truth. - During His lifetime, Jesus taught His disciples to obey the Law of Moses. This was God's covenant with them. Soon would come a new covenant that would replace the first one. We are now under the covenant of Christ (Hebrews 8:6-13; 9:15-18; Galatians 3:23-27; 5:1-6).

  6. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 5. Something else we notice here; the Pharisees expected others to obey the Law but always found reasons as to why they did not have to themselves. Jesus said that "they say and do not." They were great at excuse-making. They were more interested in appearing that they were righteous than in really living righteously. B. This is why Jesus calls them hypocrites. This is why we want to be sure that our religious life is not like that of the Pharisees!

  7. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” • Observe that Jesus does not say that the “lesser” things should be left undone. 7. He is pointing that they (WE) need to focus on the “more important” things First. A. Things that are of “eternal consequence” and then deal with the rest.

  8. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” A. LEAVING COMMANDS OF GOD UNDONE... 1. They left undone the "weightier" matters of God's law - Matthew 23:23-24 a. They stressed tithing, but neglected justice, mercy, faith b. Thus they would strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel

  9. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 2. We can be guilty of the same thing a. By stressing "lighter" matters, and leave "weightier” matters undone – (MANY THINGS DON‘T MAKE THE “LIGHTER” LIST BUT THEY BECOME THE “MAJOR” WE DWELL ON?) b. Also by stressing "weightier" matters, and leave the "lighter” things undone -- Jesus said we should do both, leaving neither undone, for all of God's commandments are important! - MATTHEW 5:19 “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches [them], he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

  10. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 3. We need to honor and obey all of God’s commandments (Matthew 28:18-20). The idea is not to focus all of our attention on those commands that seem more important to us and then neglect those we do not think are very important. - In this case the weightier matters of the law had been neglected. 4. The story is told of an old preacher whose wife told him of an old saying that I believe applies here. “God’s Word is not a buffet.”With a buffet one might fill his plate with one or two of his favorite things, and then neglect the other things that would give him a well balanced diet.

  11. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” II. REAL LIFE APPLICATION OF MATTHEW 23:23, 24 A. Stop and think about it for a minute – 1. What do we get concerned about here at Anderson? Are we Majoring in minors and Minoring in majors? 2. Are they things that mean a difference in our or someone else’s eternal condition?

  12. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” • 3. Will it determine whether or not Christ presents this congregation as His Bride to his Father in the Day of Judgment? Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, Eph 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, Eph 5:27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

  13. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 4. Fathers– are we providing for our families – I TIMOTHY 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” - Are we training up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord EPHESIANS 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” - This includes providing for their spiritual well being. A Father may be a great provider, and work very long hours and neglect his duties of training his children in the Lord.

  14. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” - The reverse would be true also. He could be a great teacher who does not provide for the family. Also, I know of Fathers that will travel far and wide to support their children in developing them in sports and will not crack open a Bible, encourage Bible study, set a God like example, or train them in the Lord - Deuteronomy 6:1-6 .

  15. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” Deuteronomy 6:1 Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, 2. that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 3. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you--'a land flowing with milk and honey.'

  16. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 4. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD [is] one! • You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. • "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.”

  17. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” • Mothers– Are to love their children TITUS 2:4. “that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,” - In the very same verse we see they are also to love their husbands. - These commands are to compliment one another. Some mothers may focus all their attention on the children and neglect their husband. Others may focus completely on their husband and neglect the children. - I have seen both mothers who end up being enemies of their children and others who become enemies of their husbands. God wants a mother to love both her children and her husband.

  18. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 6. Wives– Wives are to submit to their husbands EPHESIANS 5:22 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” “ …Love your Husbands…” ( TITUS 2:4) 7. Husbands–They are to love their wife as Christ loved the Church , cherish, nourish, and be patient with her and always faithful Ephesians 5:25, 28-29,“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,… 28. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord [does] the church.” - What are we majoring in with regard to our Marriages?

  19. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” • Young People – School Work, College, etc are important things in this life. However, YOUNG PEOPLE Need to do their BIBLE lessons and Bible readings (2 Timothy 2:15). But they not only need to learn the gospel, but they need to be putting into practice the gospel in fleeing youthful lusts and sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18-20,2 Timothy 2:22), being honest (James 5:12), honoring their mom and dad (Ephesians 6:1-3), respecting authorities (Romans 13:1, 1 Peter 5:5), and treating the older with respect (1 Timothy 5:1-2). • Young Christians who study and read their Bibles, but do not put the gospel into action will not be shining the light of Jesus to the world.

  20. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 10. Brethren – Christian brethren are to love and care for one another’s needs (Galatians 6:10) and we also need to correct those who have fallen away (James 5:19-20). Galatians 6:1 puts the love and the correction together. One without the other leaves a very important command undone.

  21. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 11. Members of a congregation – Many will assemble as we are commanded to do in Hebrews 10:24-25. But there are some who fill the pews every Sunday and Wednesday and do not grow in the Lord (Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Peter 2:1-5). It is indeed very important to assemble, but we also need to make the most of these times. One way we can do this is by privately studying our Bibles and being prepared for class (Acts 17:11, 2 Peter 3:17-18).

  22. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” 12. Read Matthew 23:23 one more time. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier [matters] of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “ Jesus teaches a principle that that we are to keep all of His commandments. The Pharisees had focused so much on tithing that it caused them to neglect the very important matters of justice and mercy. Jesus gives us the solution. “These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Let us make all of God’s commandments a priority and not neglect the ones we would rather not do. One more example and then we will close.

  23. “Majoring in Minors and Minoring in Majors” • Jesus teaches a principle that that we are to keep all of His commandments. The Pharisees had focused so much on tithing that it caused them to neglect the very important matters of justice and mercy. Jesus gives us the solution. “These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Let us make all of God’s commandments a priority and not neglect the ones we would rather not do. • One more example and then we will close.

  24. What MUST You Do to Be Saved? • Hear The Word Of God Romans 10:17 • Believe His Word Mark 16:16, John 8:24 • Repent of your sins Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38 • Confess your belief Romans 10:10, Acts 8:37 • Be Baptized Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38 For the Remission of Your Sins Acts 22:16 Galatians 3:26, 27 • Live Faithfully Titus 2:11-14

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