“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.” (Matthew 23:1–7 (ESV)
In the immediate aftermath of Jesus’ discussion with the Pharisees and the Sadducees, He spoke to the crowds and His disciples. The masses may refer to unbelievers. Disciples refers not to only the twelve, but perhaps also to others who followed Him (Acts 1:12-15; I Cor. 15:1-7).
Most of the masses esteemed the Pharisees. Jesus knew the crowds faced condemnation if they followed these teachers and their behavior. Therefore, the Lord continued to confront the hypocritical Pharisees after dismantling their understanding of Psalm 110 (Matt. 22:41–45). Seeing that the people are intensely listening to Him (v. 46), Jesus began warning them, including His disciples, of Pharisaic hypocrisy. He set for the following principles as perpetual warnings for true believers against false teachers.
First, be observant of religious hypocrisy. False teachers may speak truth, but their behavior reveals their true character and standing with God. “2The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.” True believers in Christ are to practice what they believe, insofar as it is in harmony with the Word of God.
Second, false teachers love to enslave people to their legalism. They establish rules and regulations beyond Scripture to determine and evaluate spirituality. What you wear, where you go, what you do and not do are evaluated, and most likely condemned, by the religious leader. Ironically, the leader is never evaluated. He, or she, alone condemns. “4They 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.”
Third, false teachers love the limelight. They love attention and honor. Their goal is self-exaltation and their opium is pride. They parade themselves, and their family, as examples of biblical behavior. More often then not, their religious façade falls like a house of cards. “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.”
“The rest of Matthew 23, Jesus plainly condemns the Pharisees for not practicing the laws that they preach. As legal experts, they should know to help their fellow Jews (Lev. 19:18), but many Pharisees are more concerned with appearances and will not aid those who fail in trying to keep the Pharisaic traditions (Matt. 23:4),” explains R. R. C. Sproul. “Why would they help people get back on the straight and narrow if others’ failures made the Pharisees look better in comparison?”
May each believer in Christ live lives Coram Deo (before the face of God), before a watching world and a sovereign God. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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