Avoid the Woes! (Part 1)
Hypocrisy is a problem for many, but it doesn’t have to be. When Jesus confronted the religious leaders in Matthew 23:13-33, He revealed how to avoid the woes by declaring the opposites of integrity. First, be an example
of righteousness—“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (v. 13) They taught others to do as they do, hindering those who seek the Lord. By their self-righteousness and legalism, they obscured the narrow gate to life. Second, be a sincere minister to those in need—“You devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” (v. 14) This verse is not found in many of the early Matthew manuscripts: but it is in Mark 12:40. They took advantage of those who had little resources, and then pretended to be spiritually mature. Third, be a witness to Christ for new believers—“You travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” (v. 15) They worked hard to get others to follow them, and then caused them to be more sinful than they were themselves. In a Peanuts comic strip, Lucy and Linus are looking out the window as the rain was falling. Lucy said, “Boy, look at the rain. What if it floods the whole world?” Linus confidently replied, “It will never do that. In the ninth chapter of Genesis, God promised Noah that it would never happen again, and the sign of His promise is the rainbow.” With a relieved smile, Lucy responded by saying, “You’ve taken a great load off my mind.” Linus then stated, “Sound theology has a way of doing that.” Your call as a believer is to disciple new converts to follow Jesus Christ, not yourself. Stay tuned to this passage—there are seven of these declarations!
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
