Matthew 23
by Pastor Mark Hudson

Remember to read the passage and reflect and make your observations on the text first.

At the end of the gospels, the tension is rising. Jesus cleanses the temple in Matt 21:12. In verses 23 the following, the chief priests and elders directly challenge Jesus authority and because Jesus sees through their hypocrisy, He exposes them and refuses to answer their question.
His parables are directed to them and they know it, “. . . they (Chief Priests and Pharisees) perceived that he (Jesus) was speaking about them. Jesus calls them “hypocrites” in 22:18.
Jesus tells them they are wrong in 22:29.

Now in chapter 23, Jesus directs his strongest rebukes to the scribes and Pharisees. If you ever thought it is not right to publicly rebuke someone, Jesus shows there is a time and a place to name names and expose others. These are blistering words but truthful.

These castigating rebukes go to the heart of the differences between Jesus and the Pharisees. But notice how Jesus transitions from stern, full-throated exposures to the most tender loving lament. Jesus is not out of control in his rebuke. He is not shaking with anger spewing anger and shaking his finger at them. Rather, his stern words are full of love and rebuke. Jesus compares himself to a mother hen who gathers her chicks under her wings. Jesus is still in love with his people who reject Him.

Instead of recounting the meaning of his words which are rather plain and hard to misunderstand, I can’t help but ask, what if? What if the Pharisees (or even one) questioned Jesus by asking, “Do you mean that we are actually opposing God? Do you mean that we, as religious leaders, are actually leading people away from God? Please forgive me. Forgive us.”

Have you ever though what would have happened if an Ezra 9-10 (radical repentance) or a Jonah 3 (city-wide repentance) would have happened? It is hypothetical but doesn’t it make you wonder? What about when the Holy Spirit puts His finger on your sin? Do you act like the Pharisees? Do you work harder at covering up your sin, accusing others, going to whatever extreme as long as you are not admitting any guilt? The religious leaders took this to such an extreme they did not just get angry with Jesus, didn’t merely disagree with him, nor did they want him silenced. They actually succeeded in killing him.

When you read the Bible, do you picture yourself as the innocent one or the guilty one in his stories or parables? It might help you to grow closer to Christ to see yourself as the Pharisee rather than the most saintly person in the parables. It may help you to realize that you have the same tendencies, motives, and desires as Pharisees. Not that you are a Pharisees at all times and in all places, but we are closer to the Pharisees than Jesus. This is exactly why we need Jesus.