Matthew 23:1-12
The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart.
They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Exodus 13:2-10; 13:11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21.
They want to be noticed by people and thought of as a zelously religious people.
Jesus point out that there is only one that deserves highest respect and praise from people is God. He is the greatest because He was humble himmself to come down to this earth from the Heavenly throne as a human to suffer and die to save us from the eternal comdomnation. Who can be greater than He?
Matthew 23:13-33
The scribes and Pharisees were enemies to the gospel of Christ, and therefore to the salvation of the souls of men. It is bad to keep away from Christ ourselves, but worse also to keep others from him.
They were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the law, but careless and loose in what is more important and valuble.
While they would seem to be godly, they were neither sober nor righteous. We are really, what we are inwardly. Outward motives may keep the outside clean, while the inside is filthy; but if the heart and spirit be made new, there will be newness of life; here we must begin with ourselves.
2 comments:
what an excellent reflection, kwijung! you explain this passage so clearly and so well. we may well apply these seven woes to the standard of our own lives and see how we measure up. are we half-hearted about our faith in Christ as shown by the evidence of our lives, but unhelpful and poor examples to others who are earnestly seeking Him? are we concerned mainly with outward appearance but take little care to cultivate the inward righteousness and right relationship with Christ that are the true marks of salvation? if any of these, among others, are characteristic of our lives, Jesus is justly and rightly denouncing our lives along with those of the pharisees of His day. this should make us stop seriously and consider, as Jesus made very clear how fearful the day of judgment would be for "religious" people such as these.
beautifully put Kwijung! i enjoyed reading your reflection
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