Matthew 23:1-39 "Woe to you"

[김스데반]

Matthew 23:1-39

WOE TO YOU

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces.

You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to(13).”

   Today's passage is about Jesus’ warning against religious leaders, especially their hypocrisy. To be honest, I am so troubled to study this chapter. Listening to Jesus' rebuke, however, I would like to deliver this message with a repentant heart and learning mind about how to be a good, influential shepherd. I pray that not only I but also we all may kneel down and listen to Jesus' rebuke.

   1. Do not do what they do (1-12)

   In verses 1-12 Jesus indicates the problems of the religious leaders of the age, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. In any age religious leaders have a great influence. People respect them and listen to them only because they are religious leaders. Thus, if religious leaders are not right, their bad influence is severe. They could drive others down into hell or hurt their souls seriously. Religious leaders in Jesus' age had such a bad influence on people. That was why Jesus gave the religious leaders a warning in this chapter in order to protect people from them and to caution his disciples against following them. Then what were the contents of Jesus' warning?

   Look at verses 2-3. "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do." Here we can see Jesus respected the religious leaders' authority and role, because they were sitting in 'Moses' seat.' God granted Israel the law through Moses. The religious leaders were in charge of the interpretation of the law, the enactment of its subordinate regulations and the judgement and punishment by the regulations. Though the leaders were problematic, Jesus did not try to topple them from their position. Jesus did not blame or disturb them recklessly. Jesus said that people should do everything they told them, because their authority came from God and their teachings were right as dogma and their interpretation of the law was strict. But Jesus warned people not to do what they did, because their actions did not correspond with their strict teachings. Though they strongly pushed people to keep the law, they themselves did not keep it but fled from it by making a lot of exceptions. Their words and actions did not disagree.

   In a word, they were hypocrites. Their words and actions were inconsistent. Their actions before men's eyes were different from when they were alone. They did not practice what they preached. Look at verse 4. They put heavy loads on men's shoulders, but they themselves were not willing to lift a finger to move them. They were just good at speaking. Only their mouths deserved to go to heaven.

   When their leaders are false in word and deed, people get disillusioned with them. Jesus was different. Jesus did not just teach his disciples only in words. In the last supper Jesus washed his disciples' feet and said, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."(John 13:14,15) Jesus did not say, "I could do wrong, but you should do right." Instead, Jesus said, "Follow me." meaning "Imitate me." That was why even Judas who had betrayed Jesus did not find fault with him or blame him. Rather, he felt guilt for betraying Jesus and killed himself(Mt 27:5; ACts 1:18). Apostle Paul also said, "Join with others in following my example, brothers."(Phil 3:17). Leaders should be able to say this. But the Sadducees and the Pharisees carried fire in one hand and water in the other. They were hypocritical. Therefore, Jesus warned the crowds and his disciples not to follow their examples.

   Then what made the Sadducees and the Pharisees become hypocritical? In verse 5 Jesus said, ""Everything they do is done for men to see…" To show off their love for the law, they made their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long(5). To look like the ones with authority, they loved the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues. If the place or the seats were taken by someone, they cleared their throat loudly and if he would not move, they glared fiercely and then left. They also loved to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'O, Rabbi.'(7) To be greeted in the marketplaces, they might have gone to the market just to buy a small fish. In this way they tried to look more godly than they were and to be respected more than they deserved.

   Salesmen could puff up their products in regards to their price and quality. Politicians could pretend to be more capable and moral than they are. We can blink at their lies. But there is nothing more disgusting than the hypocrisy of religious leaders who just live before men's eyes. The essence of one's spiritual life lies in 'honesty.'

   He who tries to live honestly in the sight of God knows that God knows everything about him, so he dare not sin. Even if he sinned, he would neither hide it nor excuse himself. He just confesses it honestly and repents with a broken heart. So such honest men have freedom and peace of mind. They are simple and easy to be with. These kinds of men have a great personality and perseverance. If we get along with them, we find they have richer character and deeper personality than they look so we come to respect them all the more.

   Living before men's eyes is the most tiring thing in the world. When we see those who fall into problems without spiritual growth and turn away from the faith, it is not because they have some great skepticism or encounter serious hardships and persecution. Mostly, they are just too tired of having lived before men's eyes or suffer from their hidden sins. To grow strong and mature in faith, we should learn to live in the sight of God, rather than find favor in others' eyes.

   Up to now Jesus has warned against the hypocrisy of the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Now in verses 8-12 Jesus tells his disciples about what to do not to become hypocrites.

   First, do not like being called Rabbi, father or teacher. Not only the Sadducees and the Pharisees but also people care a lot about how they are called. Today many people like to be called 'Doctor.' So there are many of them who even buy a Ph.d. Why then do people regard their title as important? It is because their title brings them some glory, authority and even practical benefit. For example, if we get a title which ends with 'Sa(士)', we could be in a better position for marriage and also make more money. That is why modern people make desperate efforts to get such titles.

   However, a title has some deceptive elements to make us feel as if we already became worthy of that. A good example is one could feel as if he really became a shepherd when others call him Shepherd continually, even though he does neither prepare a bible study nor go fishing. So in verse 8 Jesus said to his disciples, "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi.' He also said, "And do not call anyone on earth 'father.'"(9) "Nor are you to be called 'teacher.'(10) Men are all sinners. No man can be Rabbi or Teacher. The one who deserves to be Rabbi and Teacher is only Jesus who has no sin(10). Man cannot be higher or lower than others. No one can teach or rule over others. Of course, there are a lot of titles in our church and other organizations. But these titles just refer to each position and do not mean to admit any rank or class.

   Therefore, what should we do not to deceive ourselves or to be hypocritical? We should not care about how we are called. Instead, we should learn from Christ Jesus, our true teacher, and obey him, rather than try to find favor in others' eyes or teach them. Then Jesus himself will teach our flocks through us.

   There are some juniors among us who complain that their seniors do not set a good example. How good it would be if seniors always set a good example for their juniors! But men are all sinners. Therefore, junior shepherds should first understand, love and pray for them, rather than require their senior shepherds to be Rabbi, teacher or even the Christ. They themselves should struggle to learn from Jesus, rather than depend on their seniors much and demand this and that.

   Second, learn self-sacrifice and humility. Look at verses 11-12. "The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Jesus repeated this word whenever he taught his disciples about good leadership. The Sadducees and the Pharisees thought sitting in a high position and getting splendid titles would make them great. But Jesus said true greatness lies in self-sacrifice of serving others and humility of humbling themselves. Self-sacrifice and humility are basic requisites for being a leader.

   We should be all the greatest. We should also have a good influence on others. For this, I pray that we may learn how to live truthfully in the sight of God rather than find favor in others' eyes and also learn self-sacrifice and humility rather than seek a high position or a splendid title.

   2. Woe to you (13-39)

   In verses 13-36 Jesus repeats the word, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!" Jesus had never rebuked them so severely. "Woe to you…" This word reveals Jesus' burning anger against us. At the same time, it contains his strong pity for the religious leaders who would be subjected to God's judgement and for the people who would perish along with them. Jesus rebuked them with a trembling voice by his burning anger and with tearful eyes by his sorrow, "Woe to yo…" Then in what sense were the religious leaders provoking God's wrath?

   First, they shut the kingdom of heaven. Look at verse 13. They were the ones who had the key to the kingdom of heaven, but they themselves did not enter, nor would they let those enter who were trying to. The Pharisees taught the law and Jewish traditions but they did not teach what the law truly said, that is, believing in Christ. To enter the kingdom of heaven, people should have faith in Jesus, but the religious leaders only tested him and plotted to trap him in his words. They hindered Jesus in his work and persecuted those who accepted him. Verse 15 says they did the same thing not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. They traveled over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he became one, they taught only garbage things and set a bad example, making them sons of hell. They had to teach ignorant people and lead them to salvation, but they were doing such horrible things.

   Today many leaders teach people about God's blessing and joy, but do not talk about repentance toward God, faith in Christ Jesus, mission to carry out and the sufferings of the cross. Spiritual life lies in repentance and faith. Carrying out our mission and enduring sufferings grant us joy and fruits in our life. But because teaching about them is a burden, they do not talk about them. Sheep are the ones who listen to their leaders and shepherds. Because their shepherds do not teach them about the way of life, however, sheep cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.

   Second, they were concerned only about material and indifferent to spiritual things. Verses 16-22 show they were not concerned about the content of the oath people make in the sight of God but about the gift they brought. Their concern was not their prayer but their money. Also, verses 23-24 show they appeared to serve God well by giving a tenth of trifles faithfully but they had justice, mercy and faithfulness which God truly wanted them to. Their greatest concern was to fill their materialistic desire.

   Third, their outside was different from their inside. On the outside they were as clean as washed cups and dishes. They were as beautiful as whitewashed tombs. But on the inside they were full of greed, self-indulgence, hypocrisy and wickedness. They built tombs for the prophets and decorated the graves of the righteous. They appeared to feel sorry for the sin of their ancestors who had killed the prophets and to pay respect to the dead prophets. In actuality, however, they rejected John the Baptist and nailed Jesus on the cross and persecuted believers. The blood of having hated the righteous and persecuting the prophets was flowing in their veins.

   Look at verses 37-38. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate."

   To save them from God's judgement, Jesus had longed to help them repent with his supreme love just as a hen gathered her chicks under her wings. But they were not willing. Jesus' heart was painful, because he knew not only they would perish due to their hypocrisy but also Israel, God's chosen people, would be destroyed and left desolate. Indeed, forty years later their house, that is, the temple was left desolate as the Roman army invaded Jerusalem. In anticipation of such judgement, Jesus was rebuking and warning them against their hypocrisy with a broken heart.

   Conclusion

   Up to now we have studied Jesus' rebuking the spiritual leaders of the age. If they had sat in Moses' seat, now we, Christians, are sitting in the seat. God entrusted his word into our hands and gave us the mission to save souls in this age. If we do not teach God's word, people in the world cannot know the way of salvation and the path to the kingdom of heaven. Also, if they see us living a hypocritical life, they would not follow God. Even if they follow God, they would perish along with us. Whether we want it or not, we, Christians, are supposed to have a grave influence on others and bear a grave responsibility for their souls.

   As we studied about Jesus' rebuking spiritual leaders, we cannot help having a fearful, heavy heart. Because we lack many things, we might think just giving up on our faith could lessen our possible bad influence, not hindering salvation work. Indeed, the influence of today's Christians is not good so we feel more heavy in our hearts. But in fact we did not become Christians and sit in the position of spiritual leaders of this age because we were good and perfect. It was because God chose us. We cannot forsake this mission and privilege.

   Then what should we do? In reality, we are lacking a lot in our behavior and faith. We cannot have a good influence. But let's read verse 26 together. "Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." Jesus teaches us that if we clean the inside of ourselves, the outside will also be clean. When we seek to clean the outside of ourselves, we become false and hypocritical like the Pharisees and we become more evil and defiled on the inside. If we just make outward show to have a good influence on others, we would just make them feel disgusted. Good influence does not come from the decoration of the outside but wells up from the inside. If the inside is dirty, the outside can never be clean.

   But if the inside is clean, the outside also will be clean, correcting our behavior and naturally having a good influence on others. In our young days, we are supposed to be sensitive to others' praise and popularity because there is nothing piled up inside of us and we lack life experiences. We could fall into just keeping up appearances to show off. But making mistakes in our young days is acceptable. Though we may make some mistakes before others, being honest in the sight of God and cleaning the inside are the way we should do as a young man.

   Then how can we clean the inside? First of all, we should make an honest confession. Apostle John said in 1John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." No matter how much we may make outward show and make an excuse, our sin does not go away. Only by confessing our sins honestly can our sin be forgiven by Jesus and we will be cleansed out of all unrighteousness.

   To be clean we also should fill our hearts with the word. Psalm 119:9 says, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word." If we confess our sins honestly and fill our hearts with the word daily, then the Holy Spirit will work in our hearts and cleanse the inside and outside.

   Lastly look at verse 10. "…you have one Teacher, the Christ." We should always struggle to imitate Jesus, our true leader, and discover ourselves in him to live honestly, rather than mimic others. Then I believe that despite our shortcomings and sins we would serve as a shepherd of good influence in this age, leading the world to salvation.