Matthew - Week 72

More Important 

READ 

Matthew 23:19-22 

19 “How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. 21 And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. 22 And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.” 

Jesus was not finished scolding the religious leaders and Pharisees. They were making distinctions the Old Testament did not make. They thought they could sound more authoritative if they took an oath based on some religious item. This reveals how insecure they were in their relationship with God. 

REFLECT 

Do you sometimes say something like, “I would swear on a stack of Bibles that this is true”? Jesus would not want you to do that.  

RESPOND 

Visit with a fellow believer about not taking oaths to make your statements sound stronger as you talk to people. Read James 5:12 in this regard.  

To Swallow a Camel 

READ 

Matthew 23:23-24 

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. 24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!” 

The religious leaders and Pharisees were scrupulous about tiny things but overlooked bigger and more serious things. Jesus called them both “hypocrites” and “blind guides.” They were not responsible spiritual leaders and others should not follow their example. Tithing was an Old Testament principle and referred to in the New Testament only in referring back to the Old.  

REFLECT 

What is your attitude about tithing, which is giving 10 percent? What about the other 90 percent?  

RESPOND 

Talk with another Christ-follower about the matter of giving by using New Testament guidelines. See what the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 and 2 Corinthians 8:10-15 about giving. Notice that nothing is said about a particular percent of giving; it was in proportion to what one has.  

Clean on the Outside Only 

READ 

Matthew 23:25-26 

25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.” 

Here again Jesus distinguishes the inner person from the outer person. Some who act so spiritual about small things seen by others have corruption in their hearts. Once the inner person is changed this will be reflected in his or her outward expressions.  

REFLECT 

How is it with you? Are you as particular with your inner person as in your outward acts? 

RESPOND 

Visit with someone about the importance of being careful about what one watches and reads. Consider Proverbs 4:23 and James 1:13-15. 

Whitewashed Tombs 

READ 

Matthew 23:27-28 

27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. 28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.” 

When people would come to Jerusalem the grave sites would be whitewashed so no one would accidentally touch one and become unclean. In the sunlight these graves could be glistening white and beautiful. Jesus referred to such a scene as He told the religious leaders and Pharisees that this was what they were like outside and inside.  

REFLECT 

Think how serious it is for a person to look handsome or beautiful on the outside, but still be corrupt on the inside.  

RESPOND 

Concerning those coming to Jerusalem for their festivals, read Exodus 23:14-17 and 34:23. All males were required to appear before the Lord at these times. This explains so many coming to Jerusalem and in danger of touching a grave on the way.  

Tombs of the Prophets 

READ 

Matthew 23:29-30 

29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. 30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’” 

It is typical of people to say they would not be as bad as previous generations had they been living then. Many times the leaders of Israel had been charged with killing prophets during Old Testament times. Stephen did this, as seen in Acts 7:51-53 as he reviewed Israel’s history before the religious leaders. His accusations so outraged them that they killed him.  

REFLECT 

Admit that you have the same inherited sin nature as others even if you have not expressed it as they have. Thank the Lord that forgiveness of sin and eternal life is available to anyone who will believe in Jesus.  

RESPOND 

Talk with another Christian about the truth that all people have received a sin nature at birth and because of this all die, as Romans 5:12 says. People today may express their sin nature differently than those in the past, but all are potentially guilty of the same acts.