Sunday, June 3, 2012 am
Attitudes – Acceptable and Unacceptable (2)
Matthew 23
i.
NOTE: Some early
manuscripts do not contain this verse (hence the clarification in the
NASU, etc.). However in Mark
and Luke’s account of this event we find this statement and the next –
Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47.
ii.
This was about greed –
one of the prime factors behind their motives was their material gain.
There were many who put their material things over anything else.
James 2:5-7 describes how often it is the rich that oppress the poor and
drag them into court.
Greed stands in the way of so many good things – 1 Tim. 6:9-10 describes
the plight of those who desire to be rich and the snare they fall into.
iii.
They also failed to show
compassion and mercy – which were demanded in the Law.
Exodus 22:22-24 – read this!
Zechariah 7:8-11 – condemnation for this very reason.
Psalm 109:16 is in the midst of a psalm of judgment against wicked
accusers. It says, “Because he did not remember to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and
needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.”
iv.
Jesus said they would
receive a “greater condemnation” as a result of this.
We must remember mercy and compassion as well.
James 2:13 – Judgment is without mercy…
i.
NOTE: This expression is
also not found in early mss.
However, it is in Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.
ii.
Concerning their prayers
Jesus describes it as pretending – whether they thought God was pleased
is unknown, but their corruption DID cause God to be disgusted with them
iii.
Jesus also addressed
this in Matt 6:5-6 where He described how they loved to be seen by men.
And in essence He summarize their condition by saying, “They have
their reward.” This is
followed by beneficial instructions for us in prayer – go to your
“closet” and pray in secret – which involves humility.
iv.
We know that for prayers
to be pleasing to God they must be submitted in humility and
righteousness – consider the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke
18:9-14.
1 Peter 3:12 says, “For the eyes
of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their
prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
i.
The point being that
they would search far and near to find someone to teach, but in reality
they were looking for was one who would accept their self-righteous
traditions unconditionally, rather than the TRUE Law of God.
In other words they were looking for those who would VALIDATE
their personal beliefs and religions.
Anytime you find someone who will follow you, “hook, line and
sinker” it is empowering.
ii.
TWICE as much a son of hell as yourselves.
How is that possible?
In reality – as to the place of torments, it is not.
However, as to the chance of being delivered – it is twice as
difficult. Often times when
one blindly follows a “spiritual leader” (i.e. consider those who follow
cults), he is more dangerous than the leaders – because not only is he
zealous for the cause, but he is also ignorant – blindly doing what he
is told. That is a
DANGEROUS combination.
An example: Do you notice how Islamic suicide bombers are usually not
the leaders? They are
“recruits” who have been brainwashed to do the dirty work of their
terrorist leaders.
NOTE: I am not saying
iii.
We MUST be careful to ensure that what we teach others is God’s word and
not our own ways and traditions. Note Paul’s
grief with his Jewish brethren – Rom. 10:1-4 – they had a zeal for God,
but not according to knowledge.
It was their own self-righteousness.
i.
This is an example of
how they had distorted God’s laws.
His law said nothing about swearing by the temple or anything
else.
IN FACT, the Law was very specific about keeping oaths – Eccl. 5:2-6 is
straightforward in carrying out oaths.
Also consider, Deut. 23:21, “When
you make a vow to the YOU’RE YOUR God, you shall not delay to pay it;
For the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin
to you.” (cf. Lev.
19:11-12, Num. 30:1-2)
However, they had created a “loophole” with which they could distinguish
their Jewish brethren from the heathen or their own Jewish brethren who
were ignorant of their wording and took them at their word.
IT was a matter of wording.
Obviously they had set a rule for certain things to be binding, while
others were not. To swear by the gold of the temple you had to keep it,
but if only by the temple – you were not obligated.
This way they could “swear” to Gentiles by something they THOUGHT
was important – but it was a lie.
It is the equivalent of one promising with his fingers crossed –
as if that makes it non-binding.
ii.
This goes contrary to
everything Jesus and scriptures teach about honesty.
Rev. 21:8, “all liars shall have
their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.”
Jesus Himself said, “Let your yes be ‘yes’ and you no be ‘no’” – Matt
5:33-37. We need to be
careful that we do not manipulate our words to deceive others.
SAY WHAT YOU MEAN!
Eph. 4:25 says, “Therefore,
putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor’
for we are members of one another.”
iii.
We should not use
“technicalities” to evade responsibilities OR TRUTH!
Yet it happens all the time in our world.
That is why contracts are so long and technical – to close the
“loopholes.” We ought to be
able to do business on a handshake!
Consider this also with the manipulation of the word of God.
An example that comes to my mind is Mark 16:16 which says, “He
who believes and is baptized shall be saved.
But he who does not believe shall be damned.”
Have you ever heard someone completely disregard the positive
statement of command by saying, “But it doesn’t say, he who is NOT
baptized shall be damned”?
Are they not manipulating the text to for a “loophole” to get out the
command to be baptized?
iv.
Something could also be
said here about “situation ethics” which means, that the end justifies
the means. There are some
who reason that it is acceptable to lie so long as you are doing it for
a good reason. That is
dangerous and it is unscriptural.
In so doing you are setting aside the plain teachings of God.
Yet that is what many do today in their beliefs.