Matthew 23

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Ross Bowring

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1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Two truths for you…

In this room, sitting right here at these tables, are the men of Living Hope Dublin. And…

When men act like men, everything goes better. Amen?

Some people say that all real deep seated emotional pain, outside of the death of a loved one, is caused because a man didn’t do his job. Somewhere in the family tree, some man failed.

Men, Paul gives a challenge in the New Testament that I love. He says:

‘Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.’

Rhythm (how a Greek reader would say it)

Γρηγορεῖτε — στήκετε ἐν τῇ πίστει — ἀνδρίζεσθε — κραταιοῦσθε.

gree-go-RAY-teh —

STAY-keh-teh en tay PEE-stay —

ahn-dree-ZES-theh —

kra-tai-OO-stheh

It has a very strong cadence,

These are battlefield commands.

Which makes sense because Paul is essentially saying:

Stay alert. Hold the line in faith. Be men. Be strong.

It’s a call to courage. It’s a call to conviction. It’s a call to real faith.

We are at war. Obviously physically. But spiritually as well. We have an enemy hitting us from all sides. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy us to prevent us from our God given calling to stay alert, hold the line in faith, be men, and be strong. Amen?

But tonight in Matthew 23 we see the opposite example.

Jesus confronts a group of men who looked spiritual on the outside… but inside something was very wrong.

They had the titles. They had the reputation. They had the appearance of faith.

But they didn’t have the heart. They weren’t men.

And Jesus speaks some of the strongest words in the entire Gospel to them.

Jesus is essentially saying:

“This is what fake spiritual leadership looks like.”

Paul in Corinthians is saying:

“This is what real men of faith look like.”

So tonight the question isn’t about the Pharisees…It’s about us.

Are we men who merely look faithful…

Do we wear the costume…

or are we men who actually stand tall and act like men?”

Prayer

Father, thank You for bringing us together tonight. Thank You for the brotherhood in this room and for the opportunity to open Your Word. Lord, we ask that You would give us humble hearts as we study Matthew 23 tonight. Help us not just to understand Your Word, but to allow it to examine our own hearts. Shape us into men who follow Jesus with sincerity and truth. Ava Bowring…if it be your will Lord we ask for your healing touch. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

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