Matthew 23: Warnings and Woes (7)
Pray Psalm 52.8, 9.
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it is good.
Sing Psalm 52.8, 9.
Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise
But as for me may I be seen in God an olive ever green!
Ever in God, most kind and just, shall I with joy and gladness trust!
Thanks evermore to our Savior be raised! His faithfulness be ever praised!
Here with Your people, loving God, I wait upon Your Name, so good!
Read and meditate on Matthew 23.1-39.
Why is an “outward” faith not enough for Jesus?
Prepare.
1. How did Jesus classify the religious leaders in this chapter?
2. Where did that leave the nation and people of God?
Meditate.
In Matthew 23, Jesus publicly and unflinchingly declared what all the people already knew but would not dare to speak: Their leaders were frauds—hypocrites, blind teachers, unreliable priests. Jesus waited throughout the entire course of His earthly ministry to unleash this torrent of criticism in the last days of His earthly sojourn. Why?
In just a few short days, the leaders would prove the truth of what Jesus declared in this chapter. True to their heritage, they would condemn and murder the Lord’s Messenger, His Son, the King of David’s kingdom. And the crowds, who seem so often to have hung on His every word, would join their leaders in calling to see Him hung on a cross.
True faith begins on the inside, where we keep our souls clean through confession and repentance, and where the Word and Spirit of God work for our sanctification. Christian faith is not a patch-on religion. It is a religion of the whole person, beginning from within, where in heart, mind, and conscience we are devoted to Jesus; then issuing in good works of love for God and our neighbors.
The scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and lawyers of Israel knew nothing of such faith. Everything was about outward appearances, to effect outward deference, respect, and obedience on the part of the people. Did the crucifixion of Jesus serve to prove His assessment? And did seeing the way these leaders conspired to murder Jesus provoke and prepare the hearts of the multitude who came to faith in Him on the first Christian Pentecost (Acts 2)?
We can’t know. But the lesson for us is clear: Guard against merely outward appearances! Love, serve, and follow Jesus from the inside-out, and we will know the reality of full and abundant life in Him.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The reality of the full and abundant life in Christ is based upon what He did for us,
and then how we respond to His amazing grace and love.
“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD!”
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!”
“They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.”
“With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments.”
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
“Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.”
“I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.”
“Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.”
“Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.”
“Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statues continually.”
“I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.”
“Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.”
“I cry out with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes.”
“I cry out to you: save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.”
“LORD, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments.”
“I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You.”
(Ps. 119.1-3, 10, 11, 17, 32, 73, 88, 117, 125, 134, 145, 146, 166, 168)
Each of these verses from Psalm 119, has us responding to God’s goodness, by keeping His Law.
There is a point to being saved, but it has nothing to do with resting on our laurels in the hope of heaven.
Eternally thankful for heaven, yes indeed. But our thank you note to Jesus is Kingdom work—
which looks a lot like following God’s Law (Matt. 22.37-40).
In Matthew 23 we get a clear picture of how Jesus feels about hypocrisy. Woe to you!
But we also get a clear view of His love and approval for those who are sincere in their talk and walk.
And for those who are great in His opinion—those of His who are humble servants to others.
“Observe” and “Do” His commandments (Matt. 23.3) and your house will be the opposite of desolate (Matt. 23.38). It will be populous, cultivated, protected, cherished, full, teeming, and productive.
“For this very reason, giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance,
to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness,
and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these things are yours and abound,
you will be neither barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1.5-8).
Not desolate but jam-packed with God’s goodness.
Reflect.
1. What must we do to keep from becoming hypocritical in our faith?
2. How can we help one another in this effort?
3. What are you doing to make sure your inside is moving your outside in the right ways?
Tell me, hypocrite, if it is so good to be good, why do you not strive to be truly what you only appear to be? And if it is so bad to be evil, then why do you allow yourself to be in truth what you would never want to appear to be? What appears to be ugly is even uglier in truth, but what is beautiful in appearance is much more beautiful in reality. Therefore either be what you appear to be or appear to be what you are. Anonymous, Incomplete Work on Matthew, Homily 45
Pray Psalm 52.1-7.
Pray that the Lord will be your strength throughout this day. Wait on Him to show you any sin in your life, then confess and repent accordingly.
Sing Psalm 52.1-7.
Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise
Why do the mighty boast in sin? God’s love endures, it knows no end!
They with their tongues vain boasts repeat, and like a razor, work deceit.
Men more than good in evil delight, and lies prefer to what is right.
They utter words, both harsh and strong, with their devouring, deceitful tongue.
God will forever break them down, uproot, and cast them to the ground!
He from their safety tears them away, no more to know the light of day.
The righteous see and laugh and fear, and say, “Behold, what have we here?
Such are all who at God conspire, and wealth and evil ways desire.”
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues a series of readings about St. Patrick from our book, Patrick: A Devotional History. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column, begins a new study of “Everyday Christianity”. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
