Part 3: Obstacles to Christian Maturity: Legalism, Part 2

1. Legalism Majors in the Minors (v.23-24)

Matthew 23:23–24 NASB95

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

Does not know how to discern between the more important things; it makes mountains out of molehills.

Inability to Discern:

Doctrine from Preference

Essential from Non-essential

Sinful from Non-sinful Actions

application

Discipleship does not major in the minors. A true disciples of Jesus has learned and is learning the difference between doctrine and preference; essential from non-essential; sinful and non-sinful actions

2. Majors in Outward Appearance (v.25-26)

Matthew 23:25–28 NASB95

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

May Look Good

But is Dead

3. Majors in Lip Service (v.29-33)

Matthew 23:29–33 NASB95

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ “So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. “Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

Praises the Saints

Acts as their Enemies

We are wasting our time on all these things when we should be focused on being a student of Jesus Christ.