Woe To The Pharisees
Matthew 23:
Attention
1. The Pharisees were one of the religious parties among
the Jews in Jesus’ day, the best known party today.
a. Everyone loves to hate the
Pharisees and their self-righteous, hypocritical, legalistic ways.
b. But many make false
assumptions about the Pharisees; they weren’t conservative, they were liberal!
2. The Pharisees interpreted God’s law very loosely, adding
to and taking from it as they saw fit.
a. They gave oral traditions of
men the same status as God’s written law; they substituted one for the other.
b. The Pharisees were
hypocritical and self-righteous, but some were also converted and sincere.
[Proposition] God seeks true piety in people, so we must
learn the importance of sincere, humble righteousness.
I.
The Sins of Wannabe Saints (1-36)
A.
General Criticism of the Scribes and Pharisees (1-12)
1.
Their Hypocrisy (1-4)
a)
We might be tempted to think that everything the Pharisees did and said
was wrong.
(1)
But actually, much of what they said was correct; they just didn’t
personally apply it.
(2)
The scribes and Pharisees taught the law, and the law was to be heard and
obeyed.
(3)
The Pharisees bound some unnecessary traditions, but their main sin was
hypocrisy.
b)
Hypocrisy is not weakness; it is not a sinful past; it is not trying to
do right but failing.
(1)
Hypocrisy is pretending to be something you’re not; it is dishonest
showmanship.
(2)
A hypocrite has a higher standard for others than himself; he does not
judge himself.
c)
Application: Would we listen to a hypocrite and obey what he
taught if it was true?
(1)
A hypocrite can tell us the truth, but his hypocrisy tempts us to
discount him entirely.
(2)
This is not to justify hypocrisy, but we need to hear the message, not
the messenger.
2.
Their Pride (5-12)
a)
The Pharisees loved to be seen and honored by men; they loved to be
regarded as great.
(1)
They wanted their work to be noticed; they were outwardly very pious and
religious.
(2)
They delighted in positions and titles of honor; they sought praise from
men.
b)
Jesus described a radically different approach to greatness; greatness is
humility and service.
(1)
We are not to use titles: Rabbi, Father, Teacher;
these are titles for God, not men.
(2)
This does not preclude terms of respect in the proper context.
(E.g. Ac. 26:2, 25)
(3)
We must be careful not to elevate ourselves, but to seek God’s praise and
honor.
B.
Specific Criticism of the Scribes and Pharisees (13-36)
1.
First Woe: They Rejected and Obscured The Truth (13)
a)
What an awful indictment, that a person not only rejected God but caused
others too as well!
b)
The scribes and Pharisees actively worked to oppose the truth of the
gospel.
c)
Ultimately we are individually responsible for accepting or rejecting the
gospel.
(1)
But our example and actions can be a powerful influence on the decisions
of others.
(2)
Where does this leave men who change the words of scripture to suit their
ideas?
2.
Second Woe: They Piously Exploited the Needy (14)
a)
Some older manuscripts do not contain this verse; it agrees with the
charges of hypocrisy.
b)
These men made a show of long prayers while they exploited needy widows
in Israel.
c)
Teachers will receive a stricter judgment; consequently, these had
greater condemnation.
3.
Third Woe: They Corrupted Proselytes (15)
a)
Judaism was a national religion, not an evangelistic one, though men
could convert to it.
b)
The Pharisees were very evangelistic, however, but the result was
perverted converts.
c)
Jesus was not politically correct in denouncing them; they were sons
of hell. (cf. Jn. 8:44)
4.
Fourth Woe: They Perverted Oaths (16-22)
a)
This section illustrates how twisted and complex the Pharisees ethics had
become.
b)
Through complicated, manmade rules, they completely perverted God’s law
on oaths.
c)
It was as though religion had become a game; they forgot God’s role in it
all.
5.
Fifth Woe: They Neglected the Weightier Matters (23-24)
a)
The point was not that spices should not be tithed; no part of the law is
to be neglected.
b)
The roof of a house is important, but how useful is it if the foundation
is rotted and unstable?
c)
The Pharisees neglected the foundational principles that gave meaning to
the rest of the law.
6.
Sixth Woe: They Were Superficially Concerned (25-26)
a)
The Pharisees only cared how they looked; they were fixated on
appearance, not substance.
b)
Jesus recommended reversing the order: first clean the inside then the
outside will be clean.
c)
We must focus on the heart to truly change our lives; habit responds to
priority and interest.
7.
Seventh Woe: They Were Inwardly Corrupt (27-28)
a)
The external appearance of piety disguised the internal corruption of the
Pharisees’ hearts.
b)
God looks at the heart; He judges what men cannot see, what is on the
inside.
c)
We may fool men, but we cannot fool God; God looks for a pure heart, not
pious habits.
8.
Eighth Woe: They Were Guilty of Blood (29-36)
a)
It’s easy to say we would have done better than our forefathers, when we
are just like them.
b)
The Pharisees continued the tradition of rebellion; they too persecuted
God’s messengers.
c)
A final accounting for the historic violence against the prophets came on
that generation.
C.
Practical Applications from the Scribes and Pharisees
1.
We need to learn the importance of
Humility.
11-12
a)
It is not the one who exalts himself, but the one who God exalts that
will be honored.
b)
God calls great those who are humble and serve others; pride has no place
in the kingdom.
2.
We need to learn the importance of
Honesty.
3, 14
a)
We must practice what we preach and be genuine in what we say and do.
b)
Hypocrites are play-actors; we mustn’t play at serving God; we will be
sincere or be lost.
3.
We need to learn the importance of
Honoring
God’s
Whole Law. 16-24
a)
Faithfulness in one area cannot atone for unfaithfulness in another; good
can’t outweigh bad.
b)
Sunday service can’t make up for Saturday sin; we can’t pick and choose,
just obey.
4.
We need to learn the relationship of
Our Heart and Our Habits. 25-28
a)
Changing our habits is helpful, even vital; but it is only meaningful if
connected to the heart.
b)
Cultivate interest and desire in spiritual growth; habits that change
thus will last and bless.
II.
The Sorrow of a Willing Savior (37-39)
A.
Jerusalem’s Deeds (37a)
1.
Jerusalem was the city where God had placed His name in His Temple; they
had rejected Him.
2.
The Jews persecuted the prophets, rejected God’s revelations, and would
murder the Messiah.
B.
Jesus’ Desire (37b)
1.
Jesus’ anger at the sins of the Pharisees is matched by His anguish over
Jerusalem’s judgment.
2.
He wanted to save them, to protect them, to shield them from harm; but
they were unwilling.
C.
Jerusalem’s Disaster (38)
1.
Consequently, God would abandon the city and the Temple and leave them
for destruction.
2.
God would remove His name and His presence from His people; they would be
desolate.
D.
Jesus’ Determination (39)
1.
The Jews have no hope or promise of national or political prosperity and
power.
2.
Their only hope is to receive Jesus as the Christ; they can be saved, on
the same terms as we.
Action
1. Matthew 23 is a scathing criticism of the hypocrisy and
wickedness of the scribes and Pharisees.
2. Jesus did not give religious leaders a pass; He expected
them to live up to what they required of others.
3. Leadership includes power and privileges but with it
comes great responsibility.
4. The Pharisees abused and corrupted their position; we
must learn from their judgment, or share in it.