Re-Think Religion
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Intro
"Religion" can be dangerously deceptive, even for the sincere; therefore we must turn to God's Word to submit to what Jesus says.
Message
What the Religious Leaders Sought
Matt 23.4-12.
Deut 17:10-11; Rom 2:17-23; Matt 11:28-30; 1 Pet 5:5-6.
Matthew 23:1–12 (ESV)
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
the adherence of men - 4
the admiration of men - 5
the advancement of men - 6
the adulation of men - 7-12
worldly goal described - 7
worldly goal dismissed - 8-12
What the Religious Leaders Taught
Matt 23.13-22.
Jhn 9:39-41; Matt 5; Rev 3:17.
Matthew 23:13–22 (ESV)
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
Some manuscripts add here (or after verse 12) verse 14: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
the hypocrisy of their preaching - 13
the hypocrisy of their prayers - 14
the hypocrisy of their proselytes - 15
the hypocrisy of their precepts - 16-22
folly expressed - 16-19
folly exposed - 20-22
What the Religious Leaders Thought
Matt 23.23-28.
Ps. 33:5; Jer. 5:1; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 7:9; Matt 15:11-20.
Matthew 23:23–28 (ESV)
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
a false concept of religion - 23-24
developing minor matters
devaluing major matters
a false concept of respectability - 25-26
a false concept of righteousness - 27-28
What the Religious Leaders Wrought
Matt 23.29-36.
Lk 19:41-44.
Matthew 23:29–39 (ESV)
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
their fearful mistake - 29-31
their full measure - 32-36
Close
Preach one thing practice another
Do not be content with the approval of God
Assert your superiority over others
Practice a sense of self-centeredness
Focus on the outside more then the inside
Concern yourself with biblical minutia rather then practical ministry
Hinder people from pursuing/receiving salvation
Group Questions
"Religion" can be dangerously deceptive, even for the sincere; therefore we must turn to God's Word to submit to what Jesus says.
Where in your life do you preach one thing practice another?
How have people hurt you who have done this in the past?
How do you think this effects your family? Your co-workers?
Are you content with the approval of God?
In what area do you struggle with most for this?
What scripture can help you with this?
When are you most likely to assert you superiority over others?
How often are you concerned with your sense of self? Self-centered?
Where in your walk do you tend to focus on the outside more then the inside?
What habits need to be broken to stop this? What habits need to be formed?
Where do you see this most in our church? What suggestions do you have to help stop this?
How do you concern yourself with biblical minutia rather than practical ministry?
What parallels and contrasts do you see in Matt 23; Luke 11:37–12:3; and Matt 5?
How do you articulate the difference between religion and relationship?
Can you tell a persons relationship without the practice of religion?