Bible Study: Matthew 23

Bible Study: Matthew 23

Commentary on Matthew 23: Are you a Pharisee?

1. The Pharisees didn’t obey the laws. They gave the laws and broke the laws; Jesus came to teach people not only to believe the law, but to practice the law. Verse 2-3

2. Pharisees increased the burdens of the people. But Jesus came as a burden bearer and yoke breaker. Verse 4

3. Pharisees played to the gallery, sought self-glory, and dressed flamboyantly to gain public attention. Jesus lived a life of piety, humility, and meekness while on earth. Verse 5

4. Pharisees were attention seekers and reserved grand and special seats for themselves; while Jesus lived a life of lowliness. Verse 6

5. Pharisees liked to be publicly addressed with double barrel and high sounding titles, while Christ was meek while on earth. Verse

6. Pharisees were hypocrites; as they hindered the spread of the gospel why pretended to be children of God. Verse 13

7. Pharisees worshipped God with their lips, not their hearts, whereas Jesus taught that worshippers must worship God in the spirit and truth. Verse 3

8. Pharisees liked to be introduced with flattering titles- great men of God, anointed men of God, God’s general, etc. Whereas Jesus did not carry any title in front of his name. Verse 8

9. Pharisees encouraged people to look unto them rather than unto God, they took the glory that belonged to God by encouraging people to call and treat them as ‘father’. Whereas Jesus said there is only one father, which is God. Verse 9

10. Pharisees oppressed, exploited, and robbed the very people, including widows they are supposed to help. Verse 14

11. Pharisees are pretentious, as they sought to be honored by saying long prayers in the streets. Verse 14

12. Pharisees were foolish for they honoured the gold that decorated the temple, more than the temple; they honoured the cover of the bible more than the word written. Verse 17

13. Pharisees were religious but not merciful. They faithfully paid tithes but failed to practice the acts of faith, mercy, holiness, and righteousness. Jesus preached that we must not only pay tithes but also practice the spirit of the law. Verse 23

14. Pharisees were full of iniquity and sin. They were physically beautiful but spiritually ugly. Verse 25

15. Pharisees made themselves lord and master over their congregation. Whereas Jesus preached that the leader should serve the followers. Verse 10

16. Pharisees were great satanic evangelists, as they ended up converting people into hell rather than heaven. Verse 15

17. Pharisees were materialistic, greedy, and fattened themselves through spiritual exploitation and manipulation. Verse 25

18. Pharisees were cunny, deceitful, crafty, and dishonest. Jesus described them as vipers and serpents. Verse 33

19. Pharisees gathered members, not souls. They gathered a crowd not a kingdom. They doubled the hurdles, sinner needed to overcome to enter heaven. Verse 13-15