Jesus the Prophet
Living Hope Presbyterian Church
~ Matthew 23 Jesus, as a prophet, condemns the Pharisees for their lack of integrity, sympathy, and humility.
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Matthew 23 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
ESV: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ©2011 Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Sermon Summary
The sermon delves into Matthew 23, focusing on Jesus as a prophet and his interactions with the Pharisees and scribes. It highlights Jesus’ warnings against the religious leaders’ lack of integrity, sympathy, and humility. The sermon emphasizes the importance of repentance, faith in Christ, and the heart of God to gather and protect His people.
Key Points
- Jesus takes on the role of a prophet in Matthew 23, addressing the Pharisees and scribes.
- The Pharisees are criticized for their lack of integrity, sympathy, and humility.
- Jesus warns against imitating the Pharisees’ behavior and emphasizes the importance of repentance and faith in Christ.
- The heart of God is portrayed as one of comfort, provision, and protection for His people.
Bible Verses Mentioned
- Matthew 23:1-39
Humor and Anecdotes
- The speaker shares a personal anecdote about growing up with brothers who loved to argue for the sake of winning, highlighting the futility of such arguments.
Key Quotes
- “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
- “Repentance and faith.”
Themes
- Hypocrisy and lack of integrity among religious leaders.
- The importance of humility, sympathy, and integrity in Christian leadership.
- The heart of God as one of comfort, provision, and protection for His people.
- The call to repentance and faith in Christ for salvation.
Discussion Questions
- How can we ensure that our actions align with our words to reflect integrity in our Christian walk?
- In what ways can we cultivate humility, sympathy, and integrity in our interactions with others, following Jesus’ example?
- Reflect on a time when you experienced God’s comfort and protection in your life. How did it impact your faith journey?
Metaphors and Stories
- Hen Gathering Her Brood: Jesus compares God’s desire to gather His people under His wings like a hen protecting her chicks, symbolizing comfort, provision, and protection.
- Car Hood Analogy: The speaker uses the analogy of opening a car hood to reveal what’s inside, likening it to Jesus exposing the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and lack of true righteousness.
This sermon analysis provides a deep dive into the themes, messages, and lessons conveyed in the sermon, offering insights for reflection and discussion on Christian faith and living.
An Essay about this Sermon
The Pharisee in the Mirror
Have you ever met someone who seemed to have it all figured out? Someone who always had the right answer, the perfect solution, the impeccable life? You listen to them talk, and you can’t help but feel a little inadequate. Maybe even a little envious.
But then you get to know them better. You see behind the facade. You realize that their perfect life is just that: a facade. Underneath, they’re just as flawed as the rest of us. Maybe even more so.
This is the picture Jesus paints of the Pharisees in Matthew 23. They were the religious elite of their day, the experts in God’s law. They were admired and respected by the people. But Jesus saw through their act. He saw their hypocrisy, their pride, their self-righteousness.
And he warns us not to be like them.
It’s easy to read this passage and think, “Well, I’m not a Pharisee. I don’t have a holier-than-thou attitude.” But the truth is, we all have a little bit of Pharisee in us. We all have a tendency to judge others, to focus on outward appearances, to be more concerned with being right than being loving.
The Pharisees were obsessed with the minutiae of the law. They tithed their spices, but they neglected the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They cleaned the outside of the cup, but inside they were full of greed and self-indulgence.
They were like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of dead men’s bones on the inside.
Jesus calls them “blind guides,” “hypocrites,” and “serpents.” He pronounces seven woes on them, each one a scathing indictment of their hypocrisy and self-deception.
It’s a sobering picture. And it’s a warning to us all.
We need to be careful not to fall into the same trap as the Pharisees. We need to be more concerned with our own hearts than with the outward appearances of others. We need to be more concerned with loving God and loving our neighbor than with being right.
The Pharisees were so focused on their own righteousness that they missed the Messiah standing right in front of them. They were so busy judging others that they failed to see their own need for salvation.
Don’t let that be us.
Let’s be honest with ourselves about our own flaws and shortcomings. Let’s be quick to forgive others and slow to judge. Let’s be more concerned with being humble and compassionate than with being right.
And let’s always remember that the only way to escape the judgment of God is to repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can make us clean on the inside. He is the only one who can give us true righteousness.
So let’s not be Pharisees. Let’s be followers of Jesus. Let’s be people of integrity, sympathy, and humility. Let’s be people who are more concerned with loving God and loving others than with being right.
That’s the kind of life that truly honors God.