Bro. Jeff continues his examination of the “woes” our Savior directed toward the Jewish leaders. Learn more about the hypocrisy of their missions, the hypocrisy of their guidance, and how important it is for us to not be pretenders.
I. The Warning – vv. 1-12 (Sunday 4/30 AM)
A. A Warning That Revealed a Lifestyle
1. They Did Not Practice What They Preach
2. They Did Not Lift What They Loaded
B. A Warning That Exposed Their Love
1. The Garments That They Loved to Wear
2. The Gatherings Where They Loved to Appear
3. The Greetings Which They Loved to Hear
C. A Warning That Included Some Lessons
1. A Lesson About the Praise We Must Avoid
2. A Lesson About the Position We Must Assume
3. A Lesson About the Paradox We Must Apply
II. The Woes – vv. 13-39
A. The First Woe: The Hypocrisy of Their Religion (Sunday 4/30 PM)
1. They Were Separated From the Kingdom
2. They Were Shutting up the Kingdom
B. The Second Woe: They Hypocrisy of Their Ministry (Sunday 4/30 PM)
1. The Purpose Behind Their Widows Ministry
2. The Pretense of Their Prayer Ministry
3. The Punishment Coming From Their Ministry
C. The Third Woe: The Hypocrisy of Their Missions
Matthew 23:15-16 (KJV)
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
1. The Reach of Their Missions
2. The Result of Their Missions
D. The Fourth Woe: The Hypocrisy of Their Guidance
1. Their Blind Guidance on Swearing by the Temple
Matthew 23:16, 17, 21
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Matthew 15:14
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
2. Their Blind Guidance on Swearing by the Altar
Matthew 23:18-20
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
3. Their Blind Guidance on Swearing by Heaven
Matthew 23:22
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Matthew 5:33-37
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.