SECTION 10: THE REJECTION OF JESUS
CHAPTER 53
A WARNING AGAINST RELIGIOUS RULERS
OR
HYPOCRITES BEWARE
Scripture To Consider:
“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge their borders of the garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi.'”
“But you, do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23.1-12
A Few Words Of Warning:
In no other gospel is the guilt of rejecting Jesus made any more prominent. In no other is the cruel opposition of His enemies more emphasized. And no other writer records more severe condemnation uttered by Jesus against the hostile so-called religious rulers. These rebukes reach their climax later in Matthew chapter 23. For now, Jesus has vanquished His opponents in argument, and He then publicly warns His followers against them.
Further on in chapter 23 Jesus pronounced upon them a series of eight solemn woes. The essence of His rebuke is embodied in the repeated term, hypocrite. It is the hypocrisy of the Pharisees which Jesus so severely condemned both then and now. It has always been made clear that the most bitter denunciations of our Lord were addressed to the men whose outward lives appeared to be respectable and whose religious professions were the loudest.
We are therefore, to be on our guard against concluding that open vise and flagrant sin are better or worse than selfish and proud morality. We are to be warned, also, that religious privileges and exalted positions always involve large responsibilities, and that immorality and sin are especially repulsive when they accompany proud claims of spiritual leadership.
The hypocrisy of the Pharisees is stated in the first words of warning which Jesus spoke to His followers. He was careful however, to distinguish between the office of those false religious teachers and their actual practice. He recognized that they were worthy of being heard, so far as they upheld the Mosaic Law. They were said to sit in Moses’ seat; that is, to have been acting in his place and were to proclaim his laws as teachers of the revealed will of God.
Something To Consider:
It was the practice of these hypocritical religious leaders, however, which were to be avoided, especially their failure to follow their own precepts. While guilty of moral faults, they also were to be condemned for adding to the requirements of the law, minute and countless rules, most of which they had received by tradition, which together formed a very wearisome and confusing round of ritual observances and bound the conduct of men, women, and young people every hour of every day and in every act of life.
Jesus even declared that these rules constituted a burden which was intolerable and which the Pharisees made no effect to relieve. Such leaders, lacking in sincerity and sympathy, were neither to be trusted nor followed, least of all they were not to be imitated. Jesus further warned against their motive and desire to impress.
According to Jesus, “All their works they do to be seen by men.” Jesus gave two examples of this pretentious ceremonialism. “They make their phylacteries broad…” This was a reference to the cases of leather which were bound upon their arms and foreheads, in which were certain Scriptures. Jesus also declared, “And [they] enlarge the borders of their garments.”
Something Else To Consider:
Jesus also warned against pride and the love of praise, as some who desire the chief places at feasts and the most sought-after seating during worship, as well as the delight in public recognition as religious leaders. As mentioned earlier in these studies, the old saying is still true; the more some things change, the more they really stay the same.
In warning His followers against these Pharisees, our Lord specifically emphasized the last point. His warning is applicable in the present day. When Jesus insisted, that no man is to be called “Teacher” or “Father”, some believe the terms are not to be interpreted too literally. Some believe these very words might be used as titles of respect or to indicate definite duties and positions of responsibility and trust. But the warning is needed today which is implied in the prohibition which our Lord here gives.
There has always been danger in the church arising from the love of place, position, and a desire for special recognition and the longing to be regarded as superior to other followers of Christ. Our Lord does remind us of our equality as believers and that in the truest sense, He alone is our Teacher. He alone is to be regarded with reverence. He alone is Teacher, Master, and Lord.
In contrast with the spirit of the Pharisees and their past, present, and future religious but not spiritual relatives, the true follower of Jesus is to be humble, the greatest among others taking part in servant-style lowliness which is the true path to biblical spiritual exaltation. For according to Jesus, “But he [or she] who is greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Something More To Consider:
According to Jesus, these religious rulers were hypocritical in that they taught one thing, and acted upon another. According to Jesus, these religious leaders heaped heavy burdens upon others, but they themselves would not consider lifting a finger to do what they commanded. And yet, what they were willing to do, they did to be seen by others as religious or spiritually above the average individual.
Also according to Jesus, these warned against religious leaders of then and now, even distinguish themselves as the spiritual elite with the wearing of special clothing, such as long flowing robes, collars, crosses, or the latest brands of sought after trending shoes and etc. Those who think highly of themselves also seek the best seats at feasts and at so-called worship services, again, to be seen by the multitudes of those considered beneath them spiritually. They also desire the special titles given them that mark them as spiritual whether they truly are or not.
A Few Final Words:
In essence, Jesus’ message was, “Hypocrites Beware!” The same message applies for today’s 21st century so-called religious pretending leaders, “Hypocrites Beware!” A cursory reading of the New Testament easily reveals an equal infiltration of human nature into the religious ranks of the early centuries of church leadership. The flawed picture of religious leadership being served by the laity is no different than the evolved misconception that politicians are to be served by the common populace.
And so we must admit that human kind is flawed. And yet, our true example of lowliness and spiritual humility rushes forth from the pages of all four gospels, as seen through the sacrificial life and death of Jesus. Therefore, we must refuse to accept the appearing normal of Jesus’ day; as well as of this 21st century so-called established religious leadership that seeks to be served by others.
In Closing:
But rather, let us heed the warning of Jesus, “Hypocrites Beware!” And if the shoe fits, we may want to put on the footwear of repentance by seeking God’s forgiveness. Whether we choose to believe it or not, we are engaged in spiritual warfare while alive on planet earth. And the closer we approach the end of this evil earthly age we will be required to heed the warnings of Jesus and others who have been proven to be like-minded!
Let’s Pray:
Our Father in heaven, may we heed all the end time warnings of Jesus and others. May we be found seeking Your forgiveness if it is that which our lives are in need of. Let us not be named in the end as religious hypocrites, but rather as among the faithful few seeking Your kingdom and Your righteousness and the holiness demonstrated by Jesus our soon coming Lord and Savior of our souls. In Him Always, Amen!
Let’s Pray:
Our Father in heaven, thank You for the warning against evil religious hypocritical leaders of our day and age. Teach us to be willing to die to self and seek the humbleness of heart that Jesus displayed while here on planet earth. Help us in remaining faithful to the call of our following Jesus Christ, as both Lord and Savior. In Him Always!
According to Jesus 