Matthew 23

There are things that I am not absolutely certain of but one thing I know without a doubt.......I never want to be one of the self righteous! We need to be very careful about judging others especially those outside of our circle. 

We will know true followers of Christ by the love they show to others, not just other Christians, but especially those that are not! Others are drawn to Christ by that love and it is God’s desire that no one perish, NO NOT ONE, and we are to be about His Father’s business. 

Everyone loves those who love them and that they love BUT how do we treat those that are different or unknown by us? Christ said to love your enemies and do good to those that mistreat you...Christianity Christ’s way! He also said if we love God above anyone or anything and LOVE our neighbors as we love ourself then we would fulfill the Law and the Prophets.....we need to think before we speak! 

The Pharisees and scribes could never fairly be accused of being lazy, but they were clearly misdirected and dangerous to the cause of God. 

The scribes and Pharisees were meticulous about tithing tiny seeds, but they failed to be obedient in more significant matters such as ensuring that all their actions were governed by justice and mercy and faith (see Mic. 6:8). Similarly, we can become so preoccupied with external rules and regulations in the church that we forget the principles behind them. Sometimes those who most loudly protest the sins of others are secretly guilty of those or worse sins themselves.

Matthew 23:15_23-28

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. 

²³ “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! 

²⁵ “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. 

²⁷ “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.