Woe to you teachers of the law & Pharisees

Matthew 23:13

“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.”

This is the first of many passages where Jesus yells at the Pharisees. Let’s picture a modern day Pharisee. Imagine a person in your church who is a Biblical scholar – they could probably recite the Old Testament from beginning to end if you asked them to. They know every commandment, law, and teaching of God. They follow these rules without mistake. Not only that, they point out when other people are breaking them! In fact, many people have decided not to come to your church anymore because they’re sick of all of their sin being pointed out!

Jesus despised these kinds of people. In an effort to carry out the law, they were actually breaking the greatest law of all: to love one another. Jesus came to tell them that no longer is the way to heaven through the law, but through him.

Reflection

1. What does the word hypocrite mean? Do you know someone in your life that has been hypocritical?
2. Have you ever been hypocritical? Ya know, said one thing and did another?
3. Have you ever done that to someone regarding church? Saying you love them, but instead pointing out their sins and not your own?

Take the Next Step

Though they don’t have a title, Pharisees are still around today. There are “Christians” who judge other people, while saying that they themselves are perfect. Watch for that, see if you can see it around you. Would Jesus have done that?