Series - The Road to the Resurrection - Message 5 - All Talk, No Action - Seeking Fame instead of laying up Fortunes

Introduction

Good morning Church. Today, we are moving right along in our study of the Book of Matthew and today, we are picking up in Chapter 23.

Now this is a continuation of Chapter 22 and we pick up this morning where we left off last week. If you will remember, The Pharisaic disciples had come with the Herodians and they tried tripping Jesus up over taxes.

After silencing them, then you had the Sadducees come and try to trip Jesus up with a question about the resurrection. Again, Jesus silenced the cynics.

And lastly, after having silenced the two other groups, the Pharisees decide they’ll try their hand at tripping Jesus up but they too underestimated the fact that Jesus truly was the Messiah and had the answers to any question they might pose to Him.

After silencing all three parties, Jesus poses to them a question that no man had an answer to and Chapter 22 closed with this statement…neither did any man ask Him any more questions from that day forward.

After silencing the cynics, Jesus decides to take it one step further and rebuke the ones who were trying to trip Him up by bringing to light who these people really were.

Chapter 23 is dedicated to bringing to light that which had been hiding in plain sight.

The reality is this though, by doing so, He would bring about the fate He had come to accomplish. Hearts would be hardened. Minds would begin turning. Blood was about to begin boiling. Anger would become the driving force that would bring about the crucifixion of the one and only Son of God who had come to take away the sins of the world.

And it all starts with this final confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders here in Chapter 23.

With no further ado, if you have your Bibles turned to Matthew 23, would you say, Amen.

The Position of Their Power — (Vs. 1-3a)

When Jesus says here that the Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat, what He is speaking of is their positions as teachers of the law.

This goes all the way back to the days of Ezra.

If you will remember, the people had been under the bondage of Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzer for 70 years when Cyrus the King of Persia overthrew them and allowed the Jews to return to their homeland.

The issue was, they had been in bondage for so long, there were some who did not know the traditions of the Jews and the laws of Moses.

This is where the Scribes came in. They would expound the laws to the people upon their return and teach them the ways of their ancestors and most importantly the ways of God.

We can see this in the Book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 8:1–8 NKJV

1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

This was the true role of the Scribes and Pharisees to share the Law of Moses with the people but down throughout the ages the position had changed.

Here in Nehemiah, you see a desire to help the people understand. A genuine caring for the spirituality of the people but somewhere along the way, the Scribes and Pharisees began to add their own laws to the laws of God as if God’s laws weren’t enough and not only this, but you see a transition from the genuine caring for the people to almost a pompous condemnation of the people.

It’s as if they felt they alone were good enough to keep the laws. They alone were the supreme authority.

The hearts of the religious leaders changed from a spirit of humility to spirit of pompous piety!

Nevertheless, Jesus says to the people here, because they sit in Moses seat, follow the laws they teach just don’t follow them which brings us to our next section...

The Problem with Their Power — (Vs. 3b-4)

Look what Jesus says here in the second part of Verse 3 & Verse 4… “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.”

Basically, Jesus says here… “down through the ages they have come up with all these laws and they have become a burden to the people instead of being edifying to the people and the reality is they’re good at telling you what to do but they themselves won’t do it!”

This is not how these positions were originally intended to be.

Going back to Ezra’s time listen to what the Bible says about Ezra...

Ezra 7:10 KJV 1900

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Ezra wanted to know the law of the Lord, he wanted to practice the law of the Lord and he wanted to teach the law of the Lord.

Ezra’s position as a Scribe was a far cry compared to what the position had become in this day and time.

Ezra wanted to know it so he could teach it but most importantly he wanted to know the law of the Lord so he himself could do it!

Don’t miss the progression of the verse here.

He prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it.

Ezra’s first priority in knowing the law of the Lord was so that he in turn could follow it. That was most important.

Then,…it was so that he could teach it to the Children of Israel.

To teach is to imply that you have a desire to help someone learn, right?

From what we read about these Scribes and Pharisees, it seems to me that there was no desire to help anyone but themselves.

They were worried about following the law themselves and teaching “their” disciples but for the ordinary man out on the street, unlike Ezra, I don’t feel as they had a desire to teach them or help them learn.

Ezra had a heart for the people. The Scribes and Pharisees of this day and time did not. They only had a heart for themselves!

Jesus says here that they, “bind heavy burdens hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders.”

I didn’t want to move on without giving you an idea of some of these heavy burdens Jesus was talking about here.

John Phillips says:

According to the scribes an ordinary sabbath-day’s journey was limited to two thousand cubits (about one thousand yards); however, on Friday a man could place enough food for two meals at the boundary of that distance, thus theoretically extending his house that far so that on Saturday he could continue walking for another two thousand cubits. On the sabbath a tailor was not permitted to go out with his needle; neither was ascribe permitted to go out with his pen. No ingredients could be added to a solution unless they would be completely dissolved before the sabbath. Wool was not to be dyed unless the whole process could be completed before the sabbath. Rabbis argued over how much guilt a person would incur if in blowing out a candle on the sabbath its flame happened to light another one. One rabbi forbade a man to throw hot water over himself on the sabbath in case the floor were to be cleaned as a result. A person could not drag a chair on the sabbath since he might create a rut in the ground. A woman was not permitted to look in a mirror on the sabbath because she might see a gray hair and pull it out, which would be work. Likewise a person could not put in false teeth on the sabbath. It was considered work to tie a knot, undo a knot, sew two stitches, sow two seeds, pluck a blade of grass, or pick a piece of fruit on the sabbath. To write two letters of the alphabet or to change one into another on the sabbath was sinful, but to write one big letter in the space of two smaller ones was not. To climb a tree or clap hands was to break the sabbath.

The rabbis endlessly debated such issues. According to Edersheim, twenty-four chapters of the Babylonian Talmud (156 double pages of folio) are devoted to the sabbath laws. He wrote, “Matters are seriously discussed as of vital religious importance, which one would scarcely imagine a sane intellect would seriously entertain.”[37] Far from accepting the Lord’s rebuke, the scribes and rabbis went on adding intolerable burdens for centuries.

John G Butler said — These hypocritical leaders were unmerciful with their rules and regulations and would not allow exemptions in any case. As an example, a sick person was not to be attended to for healing on the Sabbath—they fussed with Christ when He mercifully healed people on the Sabbath. They could not tolerate the least show of mercy, if it conflicted with their rules.

Aren’t you glad this morning we’re not under that same law?

Can you imagine how burdensome that must have been for those trying to live right?

William Barclay said — Here is the test of any presentation of religion. Does it create wings to lift people up, or a deadweight to drag them down? Does it bring about joy or depression? Are people helped by their religion or are they haunted by it? Does it carry them, or have they to carry it? Whenever religion becomes a depressing affair of burdens and prohibitions, it ceases to be true religion.

Jesus brings to light here in the midst of the crowds the problem with the Scribes & Pharisees power and then He takes it a step further and begins to speak on The Primary Purpose of Their Position.

The Primary Purpose of Their Position — (Vs. 5-7)

What does Jesus say here was the primary purpose of the Scribes and Pharisees of this day and time?

To be seen of men!

A position that had started out with such noble intentions had deteriorated to nothing more than a position of status and standing.

Jesus says here, “they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.”

Phylacteries — Prayer boxes that Jewish men wear on their foreheads or left forearms as a devotional aid during statutory times for prayer.

Phylacteries contain copies of the four biblical passages upon which their usage is based: Exod 13:9, 16; Deut 6:8; 11:18. They serve as a ritual reminder of the covenantal commitment to keep the Torah of Moses and to thank God for His many blessings (1QS 10.10; Segal, 160–64). — Lexham Bible Dictionary

Exodus 13:9 KJV 1900

9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.

Exodus 13:16 KJV 1900

16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 6:8 KJV 1900

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Deuteronomy 11:18 KJV 1900

18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

Then you have the borders of their garments or fringes.

Fringes — In OT times fringes consisted of tassels (Heb ṣîṣiṯ) or twisted threads (Heb geḏilîm) and were worn by the Israelites on the four corners of their garments to remind them of God’s commandments (cf. Nu. 15:37–41; Dt. 22:12). — The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Numbers 15:37–41 KJV 1900

37 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: 39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, these things were commanded so why is Jesus making such a big deal of it here?

The problem was the extent to which they took it. They made broad their phylacteries and they enlarged the borders of their garments.

Once again, what God had commanded was not good enough. They had to take it a step further and the reason they did was to let the world know how “holy” they were.

It was all about the pomp and not about praising God!

It was about me, myself and I and not Him! (Jesus)

And that was the issue at hand.

Everything they did was because of pride and Jesus calls them out on it here!

They wanted the best places at the feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, they enjoyed being greeted in the marketplaces like they were some big to do and they enjoyed being called “Rabbi” which means “Master” by men.

It was all about the fame to these people when instead, they should have been worried about the fortunes they were laying up in store in heaven.

The Primary Purpose of Their Positions was Pride and Jesus calls it for what it is here.

Can’t you just imagine the atmosphere of the area at this very moment in time?

Tensions are so thick you could probably cut it with a knife!

Jesus can feel the heat of the moment intensifying but instead of stopping, He just continues to lay it on thick!

He can feel the anger of their hearts burning more and more with every word He says but the truth needs to be told no matter the cost!

He knows His outcome either way and He’s ready for it!

He set His face like a flint toward Jerusalem for such a time as this!

The disciples are standing there awe!

The crowd sits in silence at the words leaving His lips! Never before has a man done what Jesus is doing....putting the religious elites in their place!

And the Scribes and Pharisees sit there in silence for they know they have no rebuttal!

The fact of the matter is, every word that leaves His lips is true but…sometimes the truth can be a hard pill to swallow!

The pride and pomp of the Scribes and Pharisees has been exposed and now Jesus is going to give the crowd a Proper Perspective of the Position!

The Proper Perspective of the Position — (Vs. 8-12)

Call no one “Rabbi” or “Master” for Christ alone shall be your Master.

John 13:13 KJV 1900

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

When Jesus says don’t call anyone here on earth your Father he’s not speaking of your earthly biological father but rather those who set them up in positions of power and request to be called your Father in a spiritual sense.

There is a certain sect of religion who calls all of their priests “Father so and so” and it don’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who I’m talking about.

They must not have this verse in their Bibles or either they blatantly disregard it.

There is one spiritual Father and that is our Father in Heaven.

And then Jesus goes on to say, “he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

This was a challenge to the Pharisees and probably a bit of an insult because they were too busy being served instead of serving.

He gives them a lesson in true piety!

John 13:12–17 KJV 1900

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Close

All talk, no action — seeking fame instead of laying up fortunes.

That was our title this morning.

Jesus said in...

Matthew 6:19–21 KJV 1900

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Where are you laying up your treasures this morning?

And this morning are you like Ezra?

Ezra 7:10 KJV 1900

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Have you prepared your heart this morning?

To seek God’s law and to do it?