WHEN JESUS GETS ANGRY Pt. 2

vs. 5: “broad phylacteries” and “long fringes” – The Pharisees and teachers of the Law went out of their way to let everyone know how godly/holy they were in the way they dressed. Phylacteries were boxes containing Scriptures [Exodus 1:9; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21] worn on forehead and arm. According to Jesus, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law wore larger than normal phylacteries. Why? To hold more of the Scriptures for the purpose of gaining public acclaim. Purpose of the tassels – outward remembrance of God’s commandments/God’s deliverance. They were a symbol of holiness [Numbers 15:37-41] According to Jesus, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law wore longer than normal tassels. Why? Same as the phylacteries. Gain public acclaim.

Does this mind-set exist today? Do church attenders associate clothing and/or physical appearance with being a “true” Christian? Give examples. Should it exist? Read Acts chapter 15.

vs. 6-12: The Pharisees and teachers of the Law loved the “perks” that came with their position in Jewish society. If someone did not show them the “respect” owed to them, they were insulted and let everyone know you insulted them. Jesus made it clear to the crowds and his disciples that only God and His Son were deserving of the “respect” the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law demanded. Does this mind-set exist today? Do church attenders crave the respect/honor/glory/limelight? Do they regard serving God as a means to build themselves up? Give examples. Grove Hill MP church. Should it exist? Read James chapter 2.

WHEN JESUS GETS ANGRY Pt. 2

Read Matthew 23:13-36

1. What is a hypocrite? A person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. The Greeks associated the word with actors.

2. vs. 13 – What was the first woe Jesus directed at the Pharisees and teachers of the Law? They denied people access to God. The slam the door shut so that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven, not even themselves. How? The Pharisees and teachers of the Law can’t enter because of their unrighteousness and hypocrisy. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law deny others entry into the kingdom of heaven by a) placing upon them the heavy burden of the oral laws and traditions that the people could never live up to and b) The hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law turned people away from entering the kingdom of heaven. Does the first woe exist today? Explain. What is a main reason, if not the number 1 reason, why nonbelievers reject Christianity/visit church? Churches are full of hypocrites. How do nonbelievers make that judgment? They see how church attenders act Monday-Saturday and it is not the same as church attenders act on Sunday.

3. vs. 15 – What was the second woe Jesus directed at the Pharisees and teachers of the Law? They will do whatever it takes to convert someone to their beliefs. When they succeed, that person becomes spiritually worse than they are. That person becomes brainwashed. It is nearly impossible to convince that person to reject the lie they believe to be truth and/or accept the truth they believe to be a lie. Does the second woe exist today? Explain.

4. vs. 16 What does Jesus call the Pharisees and teachers of the Law? Blind guides. Why? They are teachers who have no clue where they are going. They think the path they are teaching/leading leads to heaven when in fact they are leading people to hell.

5. vs. 16-22 - what is the third woe? What is the purpose of taking an oath? A solemn appeal to something sacred to witness one's determination to speak the truth, to keep a promise, etc. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law differentiated between which oaths were binding and which were not. This allowed for evasive oath taking. Example – The Pharisees and teachers of the Law taught that if you made an oath by the temple, it was not binding; however, if you made an oath by the gold found in the temple, you had to fulfill you’re oath. Jesus condemned this deceitful behavior. He insisted that people tell the truth with no conditions. Does the third woe exist today? Explain. The word of a Christian should be trustworthy.