Matthew 23:23-36
“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel!
“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may become clean too!
“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up then the measure of your ancestors! You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
“For this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things!
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! Look, your house is left to you desolate! For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
COMMENT & QUESTIONS
Jesus continues his ‘woes’ to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. The Pharisees would donate 10% of their herbs/spices (mint, dill, cumin) to God, but they forgot the most important parts – justice, mercy and faithfulness. What do you think Jesus is talking about when he says they strain out a gnat and swallow a camel?
Jesus is trying to point out how we often make a big deal out of small things but we ignore big and important issues.
Do you think we are ever guilty of making a big deal of small issues and forgetting the most important parts of our faith?
Think about what you consider to be the most important parts of your faith. How well does this align with what Jesus cared about?
Jesus finishes this blunt and honest speech by calling out to Jerusalem in love. He wishes that He could protect Jerusalem from the danger that is coming. The danger is coming through the destruction of the city in a few decades. Specifically, Jesus is warning about the year 70AD. We will learn more about this next week.
PRAYERS
Pray that we can not be offended by the words of Jesus, but that we can change our lives because of His instructions Pray that we can focus on the most important things Thanks that God protects us from danger