Matthew 23:1-39 "Hypocrisy Grieves God"

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Please turn in your Bibles to Matt 23 today. We are covering all 39 verses of Chapter 23 today.

Some background of where we are… Jesus is in Jerusalem for Passover, in His third and final year of earthly ministry.

These are some of Jesus’ final ministry moments before the cross. Final teachings to His disciples and the great multitude of Jews gathered in Jerusalem for Passover. Thus, our larger them has been, “The King’s Ministry in Jerusalem” which we observe until the end of Chapter 25.

In this Passover week, one morning as Jesus entered the Temple and taught the people… various groups of religious and political parties (scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians)… took turns questioning Jesus… questions designed to trap Him… but He answered all their questions with divine wisdom, and the people marveled and the questioners were silenced… and while they would not glorify Him with their mouths… their very silence stood in testimony of Him.

Now we enter, Chapter 23 where Jesus speaks to many Jewish pilgrims and His disciples denouncing the scribes and Pharisees. Earlier in Jesus’ ministry in Luke 12:1-2 Jesus also spoke to a crowd of people and said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”

In this passage today, Jesus is fulfilling these words.

The title of today’s message is, “Hypocrisy Grieves God.”

Let’s pray!

Matt 23:1-3 “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.” 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”

Jesus begins this teaching speaking about the importance of respecting the scribes and the Pharisees position…

Scribes Gk. grammatĕus means “a writer.” They were copyist of the Jewish law, and experts in the law. Sometimes called “lawyers.”

And, Pharisees- the orthodox and conservative religious sect of Judaism.

They sat in Moses’ seat… they were the leaders… they sat in the seat authority over the nation spiritually, as Moses once did.

In the many synagogues throughout the nation, there literally was a seat for the Pharisees and Scribes. One such “Moses Seat” was discovered in the synagogue in Chorazin (and I have a slide of that seat). This seat is stone, but it seems they could also be wooden seats as depicted in this next image. This painting pictures Jesus pronouncing Woe’s upon scribes and Pharisees… who are on wooden seats.

The main point is the seat was designated for the person, and that person held authority.

Some interesting etymology with the word seat. In Greek, this word is kathĕdra which is a root word for our English word “Cathedral.” And, by definition, A cathedral is a church that contains the cathedra (Latin for 'seat')… the place of a bishop… thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. (Wiki)

So, again… even with the modern word Cathedral… it points to the seat of authority of the person who held the position.

And, Jesus’ instruction is because of the position they held… because they sat in Moses’ seat. V3 “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”

The scribes and Pharisees instructed people concerning scripture… on the Mosaic Law and the prophets… the people were to observe (lit. “to keep watch upon”) and do what the scripture says.

Good advice for us today.

However, Jesus also instructs “do not do according to their works...” and indicts the scribes and Pharisees, “for they say, and do not do.”

“Do what they say, don’t do what they do.” There was an inconsistency between their works and their words.

We have many sayings to describe this inconsistency:

"Practice what you preach.” “You’re all talk.” “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?”

The scribes and Pharisees were guilty of this. Of “High talk, and low walk.”… “Talkie talkies”, not “walkie talkies.”

God expects us to be above this...

In James chapter 3, James cautions us on the words we speak… especially for teachers. James 3:1 states, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” That’s sobering for me.

James also points out, there is an expectation for the student… James 1:22 states, “...be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” So, we’re all accountable.

So, Jesus cautions the people to do their part. Listen and obey, but don’t fall into the hypocrisy that the scribes and Pharisees are living out by not following their own instruction.

In the military, there’s a saying, “Salute the rank, not the person”... and that could apply here in Matthew.

I praise God when my actions and words are consistent. But, there are times when I fail… we all fail at times. There’s a element of hypocrisy in all of us… there are times when our words and actions don’t align well.

In those moments, I don’t condemn myself… I fall on His grace. I know my sin is against Him, and I follow what 1 Jn 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

And, that’s what I do… I pray for forgiveness and ask for the Lord to teach me through my failures… and to empower me through the Holy Spirit to not fail again.

Well, back in Matthew, Jesus continues, now describing the failure of the scribes and Pharisees… indicting them for hypocrisy and for pride.

Matt 23:4 “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.”

This is hypocrisy. Jesus describe the scribes and Pharisees as binding (lit. “to put in chains”) the people… the heavy burdens are “hard to bear” by def. “oppressive.” And, they put these heavy loads on men’s shoulders… weighing them down.

A load these scribes and Pharisees were not willing to bear themselves… they wouldn’t even attempt to help… not even to extend a finger to help.

Be weary of a leader who lays a heavy trip upon you, and then won’t help you… or follow themselves.

So, what is this heavy burden? Is it the word of God they were teaching? Certainly not!

1 John 5:3 states, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

In Matt 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I believe the burden the scribes and Pharisees were laying upon the people was NOT scripture, but tradition… man made rules… religion.

While Jesus does not specifically state this… historically, this seems consistent.

Besides the Hebrew Bible… the Tanakh… what we call the OT...

Jews also adhered to a number of oral traditions and commentaries by various Rabbis over the years. This book is called the Talmud… which has 2 major components… the Mishnah (oral tradition) and the Gemara (analysis and commentary of the Mishnah).

And, while these books were not completed and published until several hundred years after Jesus (350-500 A.D.), the oral traditions were alive and well in Jesus’ day, and I believe these are the heavy burdens being laid upon the people.

Jesus continues in V5 describing the motives of the scribes and Pharisees…

Matt 23:5 “But all their works they do to be seen by men. [Pride / Approval] They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.”

The Phylactery is a prayer box… a small leather box worn on the head or left arm of Jewish men… still to this day… and I have a slide of Jewish men wearing their Phylacteries.

The idea comes from 4 scriptures… Exo 13:9, 16, Deut 6:8, 11:8 and inside the Phylactery are small scrolls of these four passages. (take a look at this 2nd slide). These boxes served as a ritualistic “...reminder of the covenantal commitment to keep the law of Moses and to thank God for His many blessings.” (Lexham Bible Dictionary)

Exo 13:9 reads, “It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.”

“The borders of their garments” pointed to the tassels on the corners of their outer garments (Num 15:37-41; Deut 22:12).

Num 15:37-39 reads, “Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 38 “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. [Blue is the heavenly color… a reminder of holiness]. 39 And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined...”

The world says, “Follow your heart.” God says, ‘your heart is inclined to unfaithfulness.’ You decide who you trust more.

The Jews took these verses literally and could give biblical justification for Phylacteries and tassels.

But, notice what Jesus said. They made their “phylacteries broad” (which I have another slide of… notice the larger phylactery).

And, they would “enlarge the borders of their garments.” The word “enlarge” is quite appropriate… Gk. mĕgalunō meaning “to make (or declare) great.”

And, that was the heart of the issue with the scribes and Pharisees… bigger boxes… magnified tassles… “Look at me… look at how holy I am.”

And, many modern churches are not too far behind. I was reminded in a conversation this week about how spiritual gifts, especially tongues and prophecy, are being displayed like a show at some churches.

If you love that open display on Sunday mornings, there are plenty of churches that embrace those displays. We embrace the word of God and being led by the Holy Spirit.

In His perfect timing, He will give us a word of knowledge, a prophecy, a healing or whatever spiritual gift we need.

But, we’re not going to force it, because forced spiritual gifts put on display are often only that… a display to be seen by men. A broadened phylactery.... enlarged tassels.

Pride and shameless self-promotion was the heart of the issue… look at VSS 6-7...

Matt 23:6-7 “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’”

It’s all pride. Religious show. Self-indulgence. Attention seeking.

They loved seats of honor… the title “Rabbi” meaning “master or teacher”… implying they were a scholar, and in a place of position above the commoner.

Pro 16:18 states, “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty [or arrogant] spirit before a fall.”

Now, in V8, Jesus gives instruction to His disciples and the multitudes...

Matt 23:8-12 “But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. [This is not instruction against calling your earthly Dad “Father.” The word “father” is used over 1600x in the Bible, and predominately for an earthly father or ancestor, so Jesus isn’t speaking about earthly fathers. “Father” was a common title of respect for a teacher… Elisha called Elijah “father” in 2 Ki 2:12; Joash called Elisha “father” in 2 Ki 13:14. Paul called himself a father 1 Cor 4:15, Phil 2:22.... all with the idea of a teacher in mind]. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. [The greatest among them was Jesus… the suffering servant]. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The main point is Jesus is cautioning against pride that often accompanies titles, and encouraging humility.

In V8, Jesus let’s His listeners know “you are all brethren”… it’s a level playing field. Don’t elevate one above you as your teacher more than Christ.

The Christ/ Jesus (listed twice in these verses) and the Father are One and He is the One to look to… not an earthly Rabbi, father, or teacher. Look to Jesus… please don’t put me on a pedestal. Paul said, 1 Cor 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Know the source… Look to Jesus…

In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth (which was a letter of correction)… Paul said it this way, 1 Cor 3:3-7 “For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? [They were claiming allegiance to men… which was wrong]. 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers [Gk. diakŏnŏs. Deacons by def. “servants”] through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."

And, look… don’t be confused. This passage is not an absolute condemnation against titles. It a warning against the problem when a person with a title lords it over others in pride, and form a following. Christ should be center, not any person.

Elsewhere in scripture, titles ARE given. Here’s a few examples…

Eph 4:11 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers...”

Paul called himself a teacher: 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11.

1 Timothy chapter 3 specifically gives detailed qualifications of bishops and deacons.

So, titles are not evil… they bring order, but the person with the title must be of Godly character and humble.

In the body of Christ… we all have been given roles (read 1 Cor 12). The body of Christ is a group of people with many diverse gifts… and a body that is to be unified… hands and feet working together… mourning together… celebrating together… all for the common cause of Kingdom work in us, and in the world around us… and done so in love and humility.

And, in Matt 23, Jesus gives this instruction in contrast to the scribe and Pharisees. These religious leaders were supposed to be ‘the light of the world’, but were in compromise… feeding their fleshly desires… lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life.

Thus, in these next verses Jesus pronounces 8 “Woes” upon the Religious leaders. Woes that reflect Jesus’ heart… a mix of anger and grief.

‘Woe’ by def. is “an expression of grief or denunciation.” And, we will see at the end of this chapter Jesus laments over Jerusalem. The state of the nation was heartbreaking to Him. Thus, our title today, “Hypocrisy Grieves God.”

8 ‘woes’… 7x as the phrase “woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”… and 1x as “Woe to you, blind guides.”

They stand in contrast to the 8 beatitudes in Matt 5:3-11. A good side study.

Notice, Jesus does not denounce the Sadducees and Herodians here, and I suspect because they openly lived for money and politics… they were not pretending to be something else. Whereas the scribes and Pharisees claimed to live for God, but desired the world and it’s accolades… true hypocrites.

It’s not surprising that Matthew gives a greater detail of this account then any other Gospel writer. I suspect Matthew witnessed much hypocrisy in his upbringing and is quick to make note. The word “hypocrites” appears 15x in Matthew… 4x in Luke, 1x in Mark, and not at all in John.

The word hypocrite in Gk. hupŏkritēs means “an actor, a stageplayer.” I have a slide of the happy/sad masks… the hypocrite would wear these masks.

I have another slide of a depiction of an ancient Greek play. The actors from scene to scene would change their masks, because the mask was part of the show… but, it wasn’t reality… it’s wasn’t the true person under the mask.

And, the religious leaders were just like this… “two faced”… hypocrites.

And, as we read these ‘woes’, we must examine ourselves… how do we measure up? I pray that if there is any hypocrisy in us that God would reveal it and help us through it.

Starting in V13, Jesus gives His assessment of the scribes and Pharisees… we will see, repeatedly, that Jesus describes and inconsistency between the exterior and interior of the scribes and Pharisees…

Matt 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

The religious leaders failed to recognize the kingdom of heaven was at hand. They didn’t recognize Jesus as King. Thus, in rejecting Him they did not enter the kingdom of heaven. We would call them “unbelievers.” They were not saved.

And, as bad as this was, what was worse is they stood as a barrier to others in getting saved.

Jesus said something similar in Matt 18:6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

God will judge harshly upon the person who stands as a barrier between people and Himself.

V14...

Matt 23:14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour [or consume] widows’ houses, and for a pretense [for appearance sake] make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.”

This verse is not found in every ancient manuscript, thus some modern translations omit this verse. It may have been inserted by an over-zealous copyist, but the parallel accounts in Mark and Luke, say the exact words of V14 (Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47), so V14 is a valid concept.

The idea is the religious leaders appear holy with long public prayers to look good, but then financially took advantage of widows… perhaps even taking their homes under religious pretense.

And, there are many verses (OT and NT) that speak about how widows are a protected group before God.

Thus, we read, “Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” And, this greater condemnation could also apply to V13… when they stand before God, there will be a stricter punishment.

This is one of those verses that suggests… degrees of punishment and judgment for unbelievers… justice dealt equitably based upon actions in this lifetime.

In heaven, various rewards at the Bema Seat and in hell, degrees of condemnation.

V15...

Matt 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”

Many scholars attest that first century Jewish religious leaders were missionary zealots to reach non-Jews… and there is no rebuke from Jesus for their efforts.

The rebuke is once they win one proselyte… a word meaning “one who has arrived”… specifically a gentile who has arrived or converted to Judaism...

Once they win the gentile to Judaism… the convert becomes twice the Pharisee… twice as zealous for oral traditions and religion, but a son of hell because they are not saved.

They get steeped in a work based theology of salvation and they don’t come to God in faith.

V16...

Matt 23:16-22 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.”

The scribes and Pharisees seemingly developed a system of complex oaths intertwined with loopholes… and in the end it was deceptive. They justified not honoring oaths because someone missed one of their complex distinctions.

They were like children making promises with their fingers crossed behind their backs. Making promises they didn’t intend to keep.

And sadly, they elevated the gold and the gift (the materialistic things that caught their eye) above the temple and the altar (the things of God), and Jesus condemns them for this as well.

An oath is an oath, and once it leaves your lips it is made before God and should be honored.

James said in James 5:12 “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.”

Just be a man or woman of your word. Jesus said similar words in Matt 5:34-37.

Next Verse, V23...

Matt 23:23-24 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

The scribes and Pharisees were majoring in minors. They were careful to give 10% of their spices and to not accidentally swallow one of the smallest of unclean insects (observable behaviors for the praise of men)…

But they failed to observe weightier or more important matters: justice, mercy and faith… and by that they made a large and obvious mistake… pictured as swallowing a camel (one of the largest unclean animals).

While all of these examples should have been observed according to the law... priority should have been given to what the law stood for, not minor details of the law.

V25...

Matt 23:25-26 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

Ever go to a restaurant and find something floating in your water? At that point, who cares if the outside is clean?

The scribes and Pharisees looked superficially good… religious on the outside, but inside they were corrupt…

Extortion in V25, by def. is “the act of plundering; robbery”… probably related to V14… “devouring widows’ houses.”

Self-indulgence means “excess.” V6 gave good examples of this… “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues.”

And, if any form of hypocrisy is relevant to our society and perhaps in our hearts… self-indulgence is it.

V27...

Matt 23:27-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

During Feast weeks, tombs would be whitewashed… by def. “to cover with lime, plaster over.” So, either the tombs were bleached or painted white. The reason was so pilgrims didn’t mistakenly touch them and become ceremonially unclean and miss temple sacrifice and partaking in festivities.

The Mount of Olives is considered the holiest grave site for the Jews… some 70,000 Jews are buried there as they believe they will be the first to be resurrected upon Messiahs return, as this will be the location of His return according to Zech 14:4.

But, like the last woe, Jesus rebukes them for their outward show, but inward corruption… this time indicting them for hypocrisy and lawlessness (they were not upholding the law they gave their lives to).

V29...

Matt 23:29-36 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. [The scribes and Pharisees would honor ancient prophets and condemn the actions of their ancestors for killing the prophets, but they were about to repeat history by killing Jesus, most of the Apostles, and many of His disciples]. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. [God tolerates sin to a point, but then He gives the person over to that which they want… darkness… a debased mind… and the religious leaders had reached this point]. 33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, [and this is prophecy] indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”

This last woe is one of the strongest, and some of the most sobering words Jesus would speak to the scribes and Pharisees before they committed their treachery.

One last attempt for them to repent and turn to God. The nature of God is love, therefore we must assume that Jesus loved these men and would rather them in relationship with Him versus rejecting Him.

Sadly, Jesus prophesied of the religious leaders being like their forefathers… who murdered the prophets…

Even worse they took on characteristics of Satan. In John 8:44, Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning...”

And now, in Matthew 23:33 Jesus called them, “Serpents, a brood of vipers…”

And, these scribes and Pharisees would soon repeat history by shedding righteous blood, and they would stand in judgment along with their forefathers accountable for the blood of all the prophets…

From the first… Abel… to the last Zechariah. And, while in our bible, Malachi is the last book of the Minor Prophets… in the Hebrew Bible, Chronicles is the last book and Zechariah’s story is towards the end of Chronicles.

Gen 4:10 records Abel’s blood cried out, and 2 Chr 24:22 records Zechariah’s final words as he was killed by Joash the king. Zechariah said, “The LORD look on it, and repay!” He asked for his blood to be remembered.

And, we see here in Matt 23, Jesus indeed remembered the righteous blood that was shed.

And, in a final lament, Jesus said starting in V37…

Matt 23:37-39 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ ”

The desire for God is that all would come to Him.

I have chickens, and chicks nuzzle under the hen’s wing for warmth and protection. This is natural. Jerusalem was not willing to come to Messiah, and this was unnatural.

Jesus desired to care for Israel, and in love sent them prophets to let them know when they were falling into idolatry… when they were straying from Him.

True love speaks truth even when it’s not popular. And, the message from God through the prophets was not popular… and they killed and stoned the prophets.

V37 is an accurate depiction of the USA and much of the world today, and I pray that V38 will not be our reality… that our house will not be left to us desolate for forsaking the Lord, just as the nation of Israel rejected Him and was left desolate in 70 A.D.

And, in V39... again Jesus prophesies… looking forward to His 2nd coming… a glorious time when the nation of Israel will look to Him in acceptance, sounding off the words of Ps 118:26, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”

The Lord is not done with Israel yet. They are part of His eschatological plan.

And, these final statements of Jesus will lead to a major eschatological discussion called “The Olivet Discourse”… Matthew Chapter 24 & 25 where we will pick up next week… unless the Lord returns between now and then… Maranatha!

Let’s pray!

Today, we looked Jesus’ grief and anger as He denounced the Religious Leaders. God is love, and true love speaks truth in love.

The message of God historically has not been the most popular, but ‘popularity’ and ‘truth’ and not mutually exclusive.

As you go out in the world this week, side with truth, but exercise grace and love.

Communion Reading: 1 Cor 11:23-29

“...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

Please distribute the elements...

As the communion elements are being distributed, please take a moment to praise Jesus…remembering His broken body and shed blood for you on the cross. And, examine yourself…take communion in a worthy manner. Is there anything you need to confess privately to God and ask forgiveness for?

Once you have prayed, go ahead and take the communion elements, when you are ready. Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer.

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If you are not saved, if you have never confessed Jesus is your Lord, you have a couple options, either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion -or- the better option... accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today. Pray to God and tell Him you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and then take communion. If you pray that prayer today, if today is your day of salvation, tell us that great news afterwards.