Read Matthew 23:1-12
Setting: Jesus is at the Temple.
1) Who is listening to Jesus? The crowds, the disciples. And if you read the previous two chapters, Pharisees and the teachers of the Law.
2) How does Jesus characterize the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law in these verses? Egotistical, narcissistic, prideful, arrogant, knowledgeable,
vs. 2: “sit on Moses’ seat” – symbolized a position of authority. The Pharisees regarded themselves as the authorized successors to Moses. In other words, we have a monopoly on God. The only way to God is through us. John the Baptist and Jesus are heretics. Does this mind-set exist today? Give examples. Should it exist? Read Mark 9:38-40
vs. 3: Do what the Pharisees and teachers of the Law say but not what they do. They do not practice what they preach. Jesus expounds on this later.
vs. 4: “Heavy burdens” – reference to the thousands of oral laws that the Pharisees regarded as having equal authority with the Scriptures. They taught the people that if you want to be righteous …if you want to know God’s blessing and not God’s curse/wrath … you have to know and follow all the oral laws as well as the Scriptures. Read Matthew 11:28-30: The “labor” and “heavy laden” Jesus is referring to are the oral laws taught by the Pharisees. Rather than give people joy and hope, the oral laws made them miserable and hopeless. They couldn’t remember the thousands of oral laws. If they could not live by the oral law, they were condemned by God according to the Pharisees. Does this mind-set exist today? Do church attenders place additional conditions on being a Christian beyond what the Scriptures say? Give examples. Should it exist? Read Romans chapters 14 and 15.
vs. 4: “they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger” – Pharisees and teachers of the Law have no problem placing burdens on the people; however, they are not willing to place it upon themselves. The Pharisees did not hold themselves accountable to obeying the oral laws the way they did the people. They had no problem judging/condemning others who did not follow the oral laws traditions they taught, but rarely if ever did they judge themselves. Who judges/condemns the Pharisee or the teacher of the Law for failing to abide by the oral laws? No one. They regarded themselves to be above everyone else. Does this mind-set exist today? Do church attenders pass judgment on others and yet fail to live up to the standards of perfection they have set for others? Give examples. Should it exist? Read Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 3:23
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