[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 23
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12)
“But you are not to be called Rabbi, for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘Father’, for you have only one Father and He is in heaven” (Matthew 23:8-9)
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39)
SEVEN WOES (vs. 1-39)
Jesus told the people not to observe everything the Pharisees taught but only those teachings that were true to the Laws of Moses. Jesus exposed HYPOCRISY as their greatest sin.
DESCRITION OF THE PHARISEES (vs. 3-12)
- They do everything to let people see
- They do not practice what they teach
- They tie up heavy burden on people they themselves won’t do.
- They wore Phylacteries (boxes containing Scriptures) on their foreheads and arms and made the tassel on their garments long.
- They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogue
- They love to be greeted in the marketplace and to have men call them.
THREE TITLES MENTIONED IN VERSES 8-10:
- Master – signifies Christ
- Father – signifies the Father
- Teacher – signifies the Holy Spirit
No servants of God should be called “Master”, “Father” or “Teacher” to take the place of the Trinity.
THE SEVEN WOES IN CONTRAST WITH THE BEATITUDES IN MATTHEW 5:
- They are hypocrites who shut up the kingdom of heaven. They themselves cannot enter and do not allow people to enter (v. 13) – The poor in spirit shall inherit the kingdom of heaven (Mat. 5:3)
- They are hypocrites who devour widow’s house and made long prayers to cover up. They will receive greater condemnation (v. 14) – The mourners are comforted (Mat. 5:4)
- They are hypocrites who win converts and make them twice the son of hell (v. 15) – The meek shall inherit the earth (Mat. 5:5)
- They are hypocrites who are greedy for temple’s gold and altar’s gift, but they go away empty (vs. 16-22) – Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled (Mat. 5:6)
- They are hypocrites who neglect justice, mercy and faithfulness by their tenth of offerings (vs. 23-24) – The merciful shall obtain mercy (Mat. 5:7)
- They are hypocrites that are like white washed tombs, looking nice outwardly but inside are full of dead man’s bones. They appear righteous and religious on the outside but on their inside are full of greed, wickedness and self-indulgence (vs. 25-28) – The pure in heart shall see God (Mat. 5:8)
- They are hypocrites who build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous but they kill and stone the prophets that God sent – The Kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are persecuted because of righteousness for they will be rewarded in heaven (Mat. 5:10-12)
Note: Matthew 23:14 is missing in the NIV Bible. I search it at the NASB Interlinear translation of Greek Bible and verse 14 is : “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widow’s houses, even while for a pretense, you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation”
SUMMARY:
The word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word for the mask worn by an actor. Hyprocrites deliberately play a part for people to think that they are more holy, religious or spiritual than what they really are.
God condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Their religion is external to impress people and not to please God. They major on the minor details of man-made rules and traditions and ignore the great principles of the Word. God wants us to teach the truth and obey his commandments. Let us be honest with ourselves and surrender our lives to God.[:]