Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:25-28.
The call of a believer in Christ Jesus is a call to live a life of higher standard above every other people, tribes, colour and nations of the world who are not under the covenant of grace. Is a believer not like a city built on the hill which cannot be hid? Is he not called to set the pace – to lead the way in doing everything by good examples that others from the world might see to follow? To shine as light in the midst f a crooked and perverse generation? These are parts of the things that accompany his salvation (Hebrews 6:9) towards the fulfilment of his high calling of God in Christ Jesus, and representing, while manifesting by walking and practices of the righteousness of Christ who now dwells in him in the world. Galatians 2:20.
I am one of you, the Lord re-affirmed to his brethren. Moses wrote and spoke about me while you were at the wilderness. Do you not belived Moses words and writings? John 5:45-47. He was the savior of the church who were under the law in the wildreness and I am the Saviour of the church of the first born which are written in heaven, saved by grace; for he says, The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. Deuteronomy 18: 15,18-19.
Well, because of the manner of Christ entrance into the world, his place of birth, and for his poor background on earth as one born into a cappenter’s family, many of the Jews hardned themselves against Christ to reject the testimony of God’s substitute and ransom for the past trangression to bring them into a better covenant of better promises of the everlasting righteousness which is by faith in Christ Jesus: rather, they go about and seek to establish their own righteousensss before God: but this is what the scriptures says concerning this – For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Romans 11:25.
Although born in Bethlehem, according to Matthew and Luke, Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a village in the Galilee. John 7:41. Jesus was a Galilean from Nazareth, a village near Sepphoris, one of the two major cities of Galilee. Well, because of the manner of Christ entrance into the world, born into humble or disadvantaged circumstances (Luke 2:7), his boyhood home at Nazareth (John 1:46) and for his poor background on earth as one born into a cappenter’s family (John 6:42), many of the Jews (Pharisees, Saduccess and Scribes) hardened themselves against the light that came into the world, the true light that gives light to every man that comes into the world. They rejected the testimony of God about his son.
They chose and prefered to wear a filthy garment for righteousness (righteousness of the law with its condemnation. Isaiah 64:6) instead of a white garment of righteousness brought and offered by Christ through his righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) thus, they rejected the testimony of God’s substitute and ransom for the past trangression to bring them into a better covenant founded on better promises of the everlasting righteousness which is by faith in Christ Jesus: this is what the scriptures says concerning this – For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part (against trhe righteoeusness of God by faith in Christ Jesus) is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Romans 11:25.
I will introduce you to get my book ‘The purposes of the cross’ which you can get from amazon to know more concerning the two kinds of rightoeusness – law and faith, but in this article, I will not write profondly on the rightoeusness of the law but on certain practices and lifestyles of the Pharisees in regards to the righteousness of the law which the Lord is callling our attention to do better and surpasses those that we might enter into the kingdom of heaven according to the text before us this morning.
Here, Christ established his authority as the eternal and unchanging word of God, saying, I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.
The listening crowd will say, never man spoke like this! John 7:46. But this is the incarnate word which became flesh to dwell among us. This is the Son who has come to make the Father and his will known unto us. John 1:18. This is the Son who will always speak whatever he hear from the Father – ne never speak on his own, but whatever the Father speak, he utters out. John 12:49. This was he, of whom the Father says, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am wel pleased, hear ye him. Matthew 17:5. This is the word of eternal life of which Peter protested that there is no other place to go than to go or other person to approach than to continue with Christ. John 6:68-69. This is he who promised to go and prepare a place for us in heaven (John 14:3), saying and declaring, I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.
This is the curse and destruction of the Pharisees hypocrites before God – to what purpose are we calling upon the Just God, but are not doing what is just and eqaul before him by whom actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:3.
Pharisees, though they believed in resurrection (Acts 23:8), none of them will attain unto the ressurrection of the just (the first ressurrection – Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ. Revelation 20:6) because they are not doing what is just and what the Lord required of them to do justly and love mercy and to walk humbly before him. Micah 6:8.
We are not differrent from them, if we are not living in a better and higher standard than them by example, nor shall we escape the damnation of hell though saved by grace but live and act like them: shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord. Jeremiah 22:15-16.
The Lord pronounced eternal curse on the Pharisees actions – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Note: long prayer is not condemned by him who always wake up early before the cock crow to pray during the days of his life on earth, but the wrong motivation of it, to be seen by men is condemned. He that does all to be seen does nothing to the purpose. When you pray, to go your bedroom and pray to your Father which sees in secret who will reward you openly. Pray without cesaing. We should be men and women filled with the spirit of intercerssion and supplication and to continue instant in prayer, but not to become arrogant, showy, cruel and oppressive under a cloak and pretence of religion.
They exploit the vulnerable and weak to enrich themselves: rob the poor of their right, and widows are devoured and spoils, and the orphans their prey: this is the treasure of wickedness which profits not, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 10:2.
Christ called those who are born again through the righteousness by faith in him not to do like the scribes and Pharissess, but to do better and greater: to do what is just and equal in the sight of God for everyone: to judge and defend the cause of the poor, plead in favor of the widow and fatherless; take no advantage of the poor and widow to enrich yourself, but to speak in favour of the voiceless in the society, that they might enter into the kingdom of heaven. Exodus 22:22-23. Matthew 23:14.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 23:15.
In the natural world as well as in the kingdom of God, likes begat likes, a disciple is not above his master. If your way of life in the kingdom is not according to the gospel of Christ, do you not think it will affect the lifestyles of your converts or spiritual children in the Lord? If we are not immitators of Christ, how can others who came into the kingdom immitate Christ in us? How possibly we enter heaven and those who have come to Christ by our testimony of faith? This is another curse and condemnation of the Pharisees hypocrites which the Lord denounced because they speaks, but never acted on thier words: though the Lord affirms that what they speak are right, yet he encouraged to obey their teachings, but warned never to live after their misleading and bad examples. Should not the believers in Christ Jesus speak and do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty if they hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven? James 2:12.
In the natural world as well as in the kingdom of God, likes begat likes, a disciple is not above his master. If your way of life in the kingdom is not according to the gospel of Christ, do you not think it will affect the lifestyles of your converts or spiritual children in the Lord? If your life is a stumbling stone and rock of offense to others in the kingdom, do you not know that you are under the same condemnation of the Pharisees though you are under the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus? Matthew 18:6. 1 Corinthians 8:13.
If we are not immitators of Christ crucified, what kind of Christ shall our converts immitate in us? 1 Corinthians 11:1. How possibly can we enter heaven and those who have come to Christ by our testimony of faith f we do not take heed to the word of God and our lifestyles according to the word and to continue in them? 1 Timothy 4:16. This is another curse and condemnation of the Pharisees hypocrites which the Lord denounced because they speaks, but never acted on thier words: though, the Lord affirms that what they teaches are right; he encouraged to obey their teachings, but warned never to live after their misleading and bad examples. Matthew 23:3.
Hypocrites fancy themselves heirs of heaven, but, in the judgment of Christ, the children of hell. The rise of their hypocrisy is from hell, and the tendency of their hypocrisy is toward hell where they belong to; they are called children of hell because of their character which was not rooted in Christ burt has semblance of Satan in nature – you are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44. Should not believer speak and do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty if they hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven? James 2:12. Are we not deceiving ourselves if we only hear the word and not living by it? James 1:22. What kind of believers or fruits are we going to beget for the Lord (1 Corinthians 4:15), to make them and us ready for heaven or hell? And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. Isaiah 5:3-7.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Matthew 23: 23-24. Note: money answers all things (Ecclesiastes 10:19), and the instruments of the altar and the ministers working in the temple to minister to the people must be maintained that he may have food for his household (Nehemiah 13:10-13) but religion is not about gain (1 Timothy 6:5), it is not always about money someone can still perish to hell with their money spent on God. Acts 5:3.
Each of these woes against the scribes and Pharisees are never causeless but has a reason annexed to it containing a separate crime charged upon them, proving their hypocrisy, and justifying the judgment of Christ upon them.
Christ never came to abolish the law but to magnify and fulfils it. Believer’s finacial obligations and dues are a not abolished by Christ teaching, but he expantiate on the nature and soundness of the spirit life of the giver to avoid his offering and tithes been counted useless and of not value before heaven, that both the offering and he that gives should not be an abomination before God and be cast away to hell at judgement. Thus you also, when you may have done all the things having been commanded you, say, we are unworthy servants; we have done that which we were bound to do. Luke 17:10.
Today, there are many false preachers, believers and unbelievers who sabotage the principle of tithing, and fighting against the economy of the church, dissuading worshippers not to give tithes. Those who are Abraham’s children by faith in Christ Jesus should alwo walk after the steps of his faith if they are to blessed with Abraham’ s blessings. Jesus told the story of two men praying in the temple from the book of Luke chapter 18 verses 9-12; and he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
The spiritual failure and problem of this man singing his own praise was his ignorance of the scriptures that we are not saved by our good works, lest any man should boast as he was found to boast in the temple, but that, first, we should be saved by grace through faith as the gift of God in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10.
Unlike the arrogant and blind Pharisees, genuine spiritual men are always clothed with, live and walk in humility, knowing that God dwells on high with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. The fulness of God in man increases as much as any can empty themselves before him. Consecration has its place on how much we make ourselves available before him, but humility will be the deciding factor on how much of power, treasures and spiritual resources to be invested in his servants by God – except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it stays alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. John 12:24.
Christ never condemned the obedient and fulfilment of spiritual obligations of the Pharisee man who was praying in the temple, who was not extortioners, unjust or adulterers. He fast twice in the week, give tithes of all that he possess: but his arrogant spirit and behaviour, his boasting over others, his meanness, judging and condeming the publican, though he appears spiritual in his own opinion, he was condemned by the Lord – A hypocrite -ungodly man with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. Proverbs 11:9.
In the kingdom of God, tithes is a must while offerings should be given according as God spirit put it in our heart to give. Because our righteousness is expected to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and of the Pharisees, we should not give tithes and offerings from stealing from others to pay God – proceeds from ungodly trade, sexual immorality or unrighteous gain from stealing of any kind – Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. Zachariah 5:3-4.
Today, how many so called believers in the name prosperity gospel are swindlers? How many so called Christians goes to supermarket and cheat ? How many so called Christians don’t fully decalred their tax ? How many so called pastors has embezzeled church’s and other’s money or believers breach trust on money or other issues to betray brotherly love? But except you do more and better than the Pharisees hypocrites, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.
Finally, I will speak a little about the fast of the Pharisee in the temple, he fasted twice in the week. Check for the article on the NEW TESTAMENT FAST ON THE WEBSITE FOR DEEPER TEACHING ON THE SUBJECT.
Certain spiritual yokes and burden cannot be removed and broken if we don’t give oursleves to constant fast.Matthew 17:21. If health problem is not involve, fasting is a way of life in the New Testament believers, and there is no better remedy against sickness like fast – and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you. Isaiah 58:8.
The disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast often according to the scriptures, while the disciples of Christ eat daily while he was with them and they were accused of not been spiritual. But the Lord set the record straight that when he shall be taken away from them to heaven, in those days, they shall fast. Luke 5:33-35.
The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but rightoeusness, peacer and joy in the Holy Ghost. Roamns 14:17. The practices of righteousness in the kingdom consist of fasting, prayers, giving of alms, tithes and offering and abstain from sin – fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. – Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 1 John 3:7.
Christ says, when you fast, when pray and when give; but he never says, if you fast, pray and give. Matthew 6:1-6. The word ‘when’ denote duty. How often do you fast to set yourself apart for God, pray to commune with God daily, and give to lay up treasure for yourself in heaven? As for fast, if the Pharisee who was without the help of the spirit of God could fasted for two days in a week, why should you not be able by the grace of God fast every week for three days? Why should you not be able to pray and give more than the Pharisees? Remember the word of the Lord which says, except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.