WHEN JESUS GETS ANGRY Pt. 3

6. vs. 23-24 – What is the fourth woe? The Pharisees and teachers of the Law are faithful in their tithing, but they neglected to obey the spirit of the Law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness to their fellow man. Deuteronomy 14:22 - You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. God was referring to seeds that produced agricultural crops such as wheat, barley, grapes, olives, etc. The Pharisees practiced extreme seed tithing. They tithed the produce from small home garden seeds such as dill, mint, and cumin. Moreover, paying tithes with dill required that the seeds, leaves and the stems were to be used. Otherwise, the tithe would be rejected. The strict Pharisee would carefully strain his drinking water through a cloth to make certain he did not swallow a gnat, the smallest ceremonially unclean animal. But Jesus said that they had no problem swallowing a camel, one the largest unclean animals. The purpose of analogy – the Pharisees were faithful to strictly observe the Law to the “t” so that people could see how “clean” they were, but when it came to the spirit of the Law – justice, mercy, faithfulness to God and fellow man – they were “unclean.” Does the fourth woe exist today? Are there church attenders who are faithful in giving their tithe, read their Bibles everyday, can tell you the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism, explain the Holy Trinity, but when it comes to looking out for the needs of others – show justice and mercy – faithfulness - stand beside them through thick and thin – they are sorely lacking.

7. vs. 25-28. What is Jesus saying to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law in the fifth and sixth woes? Outwardly you appear clean, righteous, and spiritual to others with your phylacteries, tassels, tithing, praying, and works, but within you are full of greed, selfish, hypocrisy, and lawlessness. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law believed it was one’s ability to follow the Law and oral traditions that made a person “clean” or “unclean.” When in truth, it is what is in our heart that makes us “clean.” Read Matthew 15:10-20. Jesus really hurt the Pharisees with these two woes. They went to great lengths to keep their physical appearance clean. A speck of dirt on their clothes or skin made them “unclean.” Whitewashed tombs – Why were tombs painted white? A person who stepped on a grave was ceremonially unclean (Numbers 19:16), so graves were whitewashed to make them easily visible, especially at night. They appeared clean and beautiful on the outside but were dirty and rotten on the inside. Ex. Hollywood Cemetery. Do the fifth and sixth woes exist today?

8. What is the seventh woe? The Pharisees and teachers of the Law built themselves up in the eyes of the people by tearing down their ancestors. They said if we lived in the days of our ancestors we would not taken part in the persecution and murder of the prophets. We would have defended the prophets. We would have died with them. Jesus was like “OH PUHLEEZE!!!!!!!” You guys would have been right there with them in killing and persecuting the prophets. Why? Like Jesus did to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, the prophets, inspired by God, condemned the people of Israel and Judah for their hypocrisy. Read Isaiah 1:10-17. The reaction of the people (ancestors of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law) towards the condemning words of the prophets was– violence and murder. The Pharisees will respond the same way to Jesus and his followers. Read vs. 34. Does the seventh woe exist today? When you were younger, did you ever point your finger at the previous generation and say “I will never make mistakes they made!”? 20-30 years go by and you’re doing what you said you would not do.

9. vs. 37-39 – Who is Jesus speaking to and what did he tell them? Do his words ring true today? Jesus expands his final woe beyond the Pharisees and teachers of the Law to include all the people of Jerusalem. They were also guilty of violence and murder against the prophets. Despite their guilt, Jesus wanted to reach out to the people to protect them but the people rejected him. He pointed to the Temple and said “Look at your house that you take such pride in … that is so massive and beautiful! It is empty! God no longer lives there! I no longer live there! You reject me, you reject God! You will not see me again until you acknowledge me to be the Messiah, the Anointed One, your king and God!” Is Jesus crying out to millions of church attenders around the USA pointing his finger at their beautiful places of worship and saying “Look at your church that you take such pride in! It is empty! God no longer lives there! I no longer live there! You reject me, you reject God! You will not see me again until you acknowledge with your lips and your deeds that I am your one and only Savior and Lord!”