Don t Be Like The Pharisees! Matthew 23:1-15

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1 Don t Be Like The Pharisees! Matthew 23:1-15 Message by Michael J. Barnard May 31, 2015 Teaching Aim: To demonstrate the hypocrisy of pretending to be religious while not having a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. To understand true religion is not about what we get, it is about loving God, loving our neighbor and what we give to the glory of God. To realize false religious leaders will be judged by God for the people they lead astray. DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: Listen to the Scriptures, but don t live like the Pharisees (Matt. 23:1-4) 1. What topic does Jesus choose to speak on for His final public sermon (vv. 1-3)? Why was it so important for Jesus to teach the multitudes on this topic? How should you examine those teaching you spiritually today? 2. What was the seat of Moses (vs. 2)? Was it a symbolic seat or a literal one in ancient synagogues? What did the seat symbolize? How was the seat of Moses connected to the scribes and Pharisees? What is the equivalent of this seat today? 3. What warning does Jesus issue to the masses in verse 3? Why? What did Jesus mean when He said, whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do? (See Commentaries) What can we learn about the spiritual walk of the scribes and Pharisees from verse 3b? How does this warning apply to us today? 4. We tend to look down on the scribes and Pharisees for being phony in their religious lifestyle, but what are we portraying to others by the way that we live our lives? What are we telling our children and grandchildren when Christian couples live together out of wedlock? How about when Christians lie and cheat, demonstrating little difference from the ways of the world? (See 1 Cor. 6:9-10) What about those who live the high life financially yet refuse to help brothers and sisters in genuine need? In such cases are we being hypocritical in our own religion? 1

2 5. What kind of heavy burdens did the scribes and Pharisees bind on the people (vs. 4)? (See Mark 7:10-13) How did the teachings of Jesus contrast that of the scribes and Pharisees? (See Matt. 11:28-30) Part II: True religion will give the honor to God and not be an outward show for men (Matt. 23:5-12) 1. According to verse 5, how were the scribes and Pharisees being hypocritical? What are phylacteries and what was the real purpose behind them (vs. 5)? (See Exod. 13:9-10; Deut. 6:8) Are phylacteries still worn by some orthodox Jews today? Tassels with blue cords were attached to the four corners of a man s garment; today many orthodox Jews still wear them and tie 613 knots on the strings, why? Why do you think the scribes and Pharisees enlarged the borders of their garments? 2. According to Jesus, what were the scribes and Pharisees doing in verse 6 that was inappropriate? Do some Christians still claim their favorite seat for themselves today? 3. According to verse 7, what did the scribes and Pharisees covet when in public? Why is this so wrong? What is the meaning of the word Rabbi? (See Dictionary) In the Hebrew mindset, to repeat a word twice spoke both of intimacy and the importance of the subject. What word is repeated twice in verse 7? What does this teach us about status of the religious leaders at the time as compared to that of the common person? 4. How does Jesus counter the desire for this kind of attention and special favor in verse 8? According to Jesus, who is the only One who should get the glory as the Teacher? What is the Hebrew meaning of the Greek word Christ? (Hint: Look for it on your web browser.) What was the significance of Jesus saying, and you are all brethren (vs. 8b)? How does this illustration relate to people in the church today? 2

3 5. In verse 9, when Jesus instructed the multitudes, Do not call anyone on earth your father, was He forbidding us from calling our dads father? (See Exod. 20:12) What was Jesus really teaching? What are some of the most inappropriate spiritual titles being used by spiritual leaders today? Why is this wrong? 6. Is Jesus actually forbidding people from identifying other people as their teacher in verse 10? (See Eph. 4:11-13) What is He forbidding? 7. The scribes and Pharisees were looking for status and special privilege through their so- called religious acts. What amazing truth did Jesus reveal to the multitudes in the temple courts that day (vs. 11)? How would Jesus demonstrate this principle to His disciples in the next day or two? (See John 13:1-17) 8. According to the words of Jesus in verse 12, what will happen to anyone who exalts him or herself over others? (See Prov. 11:2; 16:18; 29:23) What will happen to believers who humble themselves (vs. 12)? What are you doing to serve others in ministry today? When it comes to church, are you a consumer or a servant? Part III: Woe to the scribes and Pharisees for they live like hypocrites! (Matt. 23:13-15) 1. Two specific kinds of oracles taught in the Bible are oracles of weal ( blessing ) and oracles of woe ( curse ). Which kind of oracle does Jesus use at the beginning of His public ministry (See Matt. 5:1-11)? Which kind of oracle does He use at the end (vs. 13)? Who are the oracles of woe issued against? What does Jesus call the scribes and Pharisees in verse 13? How would you define this word? (See Dictionary) 2. According to Jesus, what were the scribes and Pharisees being hypocritical about (vs. 13)? What can we learn about the spiritual state of most scribes and Pharisees from verse 13? How about people who follow their hypocritical teachings? 3

4 3. Verse 14 is not found in many of the main manuscripts, but it is found in some and is also in Luke 20: What should the scribes and Pharisees have been doing with the widows? (See Isa. 1:17; Zech. 7:8-10; Mal. 3:5) What were they doing? Do we still see this happening in some religious circles today? What does Jesus promise will happen to these charlatans? 4. Today we don t hear much about the Jews evangelizing others into the Jewish religion; for the most part they have chosen the path of isolation. What can we learn from verse 15 about the evangelistic tendencies of the scribes and Pharisees in the days of Jesus? How hard did they work at reaching others? What were the Pharisees evangelizing their converts to? 5. According to verse 15b, where were the scribes and Pharisees leading their converts to? Do we see the same thing happening today with the false world religions and cults? 6. When it comes to religion, what alarming trend do you see happening in American society today? How is media saturation of tolerance affecting religious beliefs? What are some practical steps you can take to make a greater impact for Christ personally? Are you a religious consumer or are you actively serving the Lord in your church today? What is the motivation of your heart in serving or not serving? 7. Have you yielded your life to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord yet? If not, why not do so in prayer right now? MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! We should examine the words and the lifestyle of those who teach us spiritually. Christians should do works not to impress man, but to glorify God. It is wrong for Christians to use religious titles that foster pride and make an individual seem more spiritual than other believers. No Christian should be placed on a pedestal, we are all sinners saved by grace. Not only were the scribes and Pharisees unsaved themselves, they were leading others to hell by their hypocritical religious teachings. The only way to be saved today is by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone! (See Eph. 2:8-9) We are not saved by good works, but unto good works. (See Eph. 2:10) 4

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