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TODAY'S TEACHING
We live in a culture that often quotes ‘build-a-bear Jesus’, the version they like - the version that only loves and never judges - the contemporary version greatly distorting the authentic Jesus found in the Scriptures. “Jesus never judges”? Today we continue to study Matthew chapter 23 and see if this claim is legit.
We live in a culture that often quotes build-a-bear Jesus, the version they like - the version that only loves and never judges.
- So what do you do if you run into someone who says “Jesus never judges”? Well, here's an entire chapter you could have them read to see if the claim they made is true - Matthew 23.
Yes, Jesus judges. And yes, Jesus is more than a man, a great prophet, & a miracle worker. He is the sinless God-man who came to live among people He created (Jn 1:1-3, 14).
LAST WEEK'S TEACHING
Check out “Beware Hypocrisy”, where Jesus reminded His followers that while they were to do everything the religious leaders told them to do (as long as it doesn’t disobey God), they were NOT to DO WHAT THEY DO, because most of them didn’t practice what they preached. BEWARE HYPOCRISY
The Southern Steps of the Temple Mount
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were in attendance, along with an audience of acquaintances & the disciples of Jesus - as Jesus spoke inside or just outside the Temple Courts. Some scholars think this could have occurred on the Southern Steps at the Temple Mount. Here they’re are 30 steps, with every other step of different depth - one is 12 inches and the next is 35 inches, the next is 12 inches and the following is 35 inches - allowing places for people to sit and stand - a place where rabbis often taught. It could be here that Jesus unleashed this powerful judgement against His hypocritical enemies.
Judgement on Those who Keep Others Out of the Kingdom
[There is no verse 14 as the KJV used later manuscripts. As older manuscripts were found without this, it is a variant likely not originally in Matthew’s gospel, but added to harmonize Matthew’s text with Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.]
Jesus warns them of the impending judgement to come.
- The NLT translates woe as, “what sorrow awaits”.
- WOE is the language used by the Old Testament prophets to warn of impending judgement to their own people who are disobeying Yahweh.
Jesus warns of the judgment that is to come for those who keep others out of the kingdom.
You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to determine that Jesus is throwing some major jabs at these selfish shepherds, noting that they are not citizens of the kingdom, but children of hell. Further, they are leading other people there as well.
- Could there be anything worse on judgement day than for God to hold us accountable for keeping others out of the Kingdom?
Judgement on Those Making Finger-Crossed Oaths
Blind Guides. Imagine going on a sightseeing trip and you hire a guide online before you get there. When you arrive, you are shocked to find out that your guide is blind. Jesus gives an example of their blind hypocritical guidance: they have allowed finger-crossed oaths - promises people make which they intend to break.
What kind of manipulative mangled mess this is! Jesus is sick of these man-made traditions which allow people to dilute the truth.
- William Barclay: “We will regard all promises as sacred if we remember that all promises are made in the presence of God.”
Jesus expects His followers to be humble & honest, not conniving wordsmiths who make oaths that can’t be trusted.
- This does NOT mean we can never make oaths nor sign on the dotted line (loans, verbal covenant w/marriage partner, or telling others that you covenant with Jesus, to live the rest of your life for Him). The Scriptures DO speak about taking oaths before Yahweh found in Num. 30:2, & Deut. 23:21, & Lev. 19:12. Typically we shouldn’t have to swear to God or to some holy place that represents Him, to be bound by the truth.
- Instead, our WORD should be our BOND. According to Jesus earlier in Mt 5:3, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’…”
- Could there be anything worse on judgement day than for God to hold us accountable for being LIARS who claim to know the God of TRUTH?
Hear more on this from “Promise Keepers” (fom.life website or APP. Search by title.)
Judgement on Those who Give to God But Don’t Care for People.
Note: the New Testament does NOT teach 'tithing', but generous giving. See our teaching on Giving and the New Testament.
The Old Testament law required a tenth of garden produce like grain, wine, & oil, but the Pharisees had once again gone beyond what was required in the law to include mint & dill and cumin - small garden herbs, used to season food. So these men give to the the temple ministry - even giving small leaves that God doesn’t command be given - but they don’t care for the people who need to be shown justice, mercy, & faithfulness. It’s good to practice the former - give extra to GOD, but you can’t substitute that for the latter - showing justice, mercy, & faithfulness to PEOPLE.
They strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. This is a hilarious hyperbole demonstrating the ridiculousness of what they’ve been doing. Gnats and camels were considered unclean (cf. Leviticus 11:4, 23, 24, 41). Jesus uses an Aramaic wordplay as the words are so similar: gamla (“camel”) and galma (“gnat”).
The Pharisees would strain their wine using a thin cloth to make sure no small insects got into it (“strain out a gnat). They are more concerned about the LITTLE THINGS - giving more than what they are told to give rather than being concerned about the BIG THINGS - like treating people with justice, mercy, & faithfulness.
- Could there be anything worse on judgement day than for God to hold us accountable for giving to God but not caring for people?
Judgement on Those who Care More About What People See Than What God Sees
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Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.
- What does the word “woe” mean and why should it lead people to heed the warning?
- Read Matthew 23:13,15. What are some hypocritical actions that might cause us to keep others out of the Kingdom? Why should this concern us and challenge us to do something about it?
- Read Matthew 23:16-22. Why should we work hard to do what we tell others we will do? What impact might we have if we do/don’t do what we say? Why is it important that Christians are known for speaking the truth rather than breaking promises?
- Read Matthew 23:23. What are some practical ways that we can demonstrate justice, mercy, & faithfulness to others?
- Read Matthew 23:25-26. Throughout today’s teaching, there is a continual focus on being clean on the inside, not just on the outside. Take a few moments and share some practical steps to help ensure that your focus is on internal righteousness rather than external displays only meant for others to see.
- How might pointing others to Matthew 23 impact them, especially those who claim that ‘Jesus never judges’?
- What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?
- How can we pray for/care for one another this week? (Pray for one another.)
