MATTHEW LESSON 45

     We will begin this lesson in Matthew 23:1 "Then spake Jesus to
the multitude, and to his disciples," Matthew 23:2 "Saying, The
scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:" Matthew 23:3 "All
therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, [that] observe and do; but
do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not."

     This is very interesting. These scribes and Pharisees knew the
letter of the law. They have learned the law of Moses with no
exceptions. They are quick to preach that everyone had to keep the law.
There was just one catch to all of this.  They preached against the very
things they did themselves.   They were without excuse, because they sinned
with full knowledge that it was wrong.  Jesus said it was okay to listen
to them, but don't pattern your life after theirs.

     Matthew 23:4 "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be
borne, and lay [them] on men's shoulders; but they [themselves] will
not move them with one of their fingers."  Matthew 23:5 "But all their
works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their
phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,"

     These scribes and Pharisees were much like the leaders of many
religions today.  They put needless burdens on others and bare no
burdens themselves.   With them, their religion was just a formality.
It really had no real meaning to them.  It really was just a front put
up to make others conform to the way they wanted things.  You really
could not call this true belief, it is just religion.  This religion
that they were practicing was just so others could see them.   In the
Sermon on the Mount, this type of religion was described as, they
loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.  The word
"phylacteries" had to do with the little cube worn on the head or
under the left arm that had sections of the law written on it.  This
area spoken of as "enlarging the borders of their garment" were
tassels worn at the corners of the garment.  They were made of blue
and white thread to remind of the miracles of God.  This religion had
much pomp and show.  They were more eager for the praises of men, than
of God.

     Matthew 23:6 "And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the
chief seats in the synagogues," Matthew 23:7 "And greetings in the
markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi."

     "Rabbi" means my master.  These positions in the community and
at special occasions were fought over,  because if you sat in this
position, you were thought of as someone with great authority.  Jesus
told us in another Scripture, to not think of ourselves too highly.
Pride and arrogance have been the downfall of many.   This attitude of
wanting the community to look up to you, like they wanted position
here, had nothing to do with worshipping God.  Most people who go to
church for this reason, get very little out of church.  God loves an
humble spirit.  In many cases,  people who want great positions in
churches are not in church to worship God.  They are there to be seen
by their neighbors.

     Matthew 23:8 "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master,
[even] Christ; and all ye are brethren."  Matthew 23:9 "And call no
[man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in
heaven." Matthew 23:10 "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your
Master, [even] Christ."

     Here, again, we see that we should not try to elevate ourselves to
the position of God the Father, or God the Son.  We must not try to
bring them down to our level or try to push ourselves up to Their
level.  Let them be God, and us Their followers.

     Matthew 23:11 "But he that is greatest among you shall be your
servant." Matthew 23:12 "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be
abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

     A good example of the above, is that the head,  or pastor, of the
church is called a "minister".   He, or she, is to minister to the needs
of the people.   It is a little bit like a balloon.   If you blow
yourself up too much,  the balloon will burst.  That is what happens
to people as well.  Let someone else build you up.   Do not get to
thinking too highly of yourself.   When you do you are riding for a
fall.

     Matthew 23:13  "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye
neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering
to go in."  Matthew 23:14 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites!  for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make
long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."
Matthew 23:15 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for
ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye
make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."

     A hypocrite is someone who says one thing, and does something
totally different.   He shows the world one face, and lives an entirely
different life at home.  This, perhaps, could be why so many preachers'
children turn away from the church.  They see their parent showing the
church world one face, and they are totally different with the family.
Many youngsters who are raised in a strict church environment, turn
away when they get old enough to make their own decisions.   The
"phonies" in the church do more to harm Christianity than to help it.
Leaders, who do not live what they preach, will have to answer to God.
Sometimes, I believe,  the reason some ministers want to get someone
saved is so they can brag about it, as if it is a trophy.  Truth in
ministry is what is needed;  a true caring for those who are lost.

     Matthew 23:16 "Woe unto you, [ye] blind guides, which say,
Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever
shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!"  Matthew 23:17
"[Ye] fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple
that sanctifieth the gold?"

     First of all, it is wrong to swear by anything.  The Creator is
to be worshipped, not His creation.  Wrong emphasis is put on wealth
in the church, as it is in the world.  If we could forget what money
(gold) is, and just think of it a tool that helps us accomplish tasks
for God, we would be much better off.  A tool is only as good as the
person using it.  Gold (money) is only as useful as the person who
possesses it will allow it to be.  There is too much emphasis on money
in the churches and not enough on soul winning.  God will provide the
money for the church, in some miraculous way, if we will be about His
business.

     Matthew 23:18 "And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is
nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is
guilty."

     The altar should be holy. Those who touch the altar are truly
reaching out to God.  Gifts are not to be worshipped, by the
congregation or the minister. In many churches today, offices or
positions in the church are determined by how much a person gives.
This is not correct.

     Matthew 23:19 "[Ye] fools and blind: for whether [is] greater,
the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?"  Matthew 23:20
"Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all
things thereon." Matthew 23:21 "And whoso shall swear by the temple,
sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein."

     Anything at all that we took an oath by, would be actually
swearing by the Almighty God;   because it all belongs to Him.   You
can see as this continues on that all of creation belongs to the
Creator.

     Matthew 23:22 "And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the
throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon."

     In conclusion to this lesson, if we have learned anything, it is to
get our eyes off the material things of this earth, and worship God.
Material things that have been dedicated to the temple, become part of
the temple.  The more we try to separate them, the more we know they
are one.  We must worship the Creator, not His creations.

     We will begin next lesson in Matthew 23:23.














                         Matthew 45 Questions

1.  Jesus stated the scribes and Pharisees sat where?
2.  Should the multitude listen to them?
3.  Should the multitude follow them?   Why?
4.  What wass the catch to their preaching?
5.  What did the scribes and Pharisees lay on men's shoulders?
6.  Why did they work?
7.  What was Phylacteries associated with?
8.  Whose praise were they seeking?
9.  What does "Rabbi" mean?
10. Why did they want the chief seats?
11. What two things have been the downfall of many?
12. What kind of spirit does God love?
13. Who alone should be called Father?
14. Who is our master?
15. Positions of importance are of God. what should we not try to do
    with Jesus?
16. What should we be happy being?
17. Why is the leader of the church called a minister?
18. When you get to thinking too highly of yourself, what is about to
    happen?
19. What is it ok to swear by?
20. What should we think of money as?
21. What makes it useful?
22. Besides calling the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, What did He
    call them?
23. Which is more important, the altar or the gift on the altar?
24. In all actuality, anything we swear by is swearing by ________.
25. When you swear by heaven, what are you really swearing by?