Matthew: The Stories of Jesus' Ministry: Matthew Chapters 23 to 28

By Dennis Herman

This book is the most passionate book in the series. As I was writing the conclusion to this series I began to see a pattern emerging. The disciples seemed to have one foot in the world, and one eye on Jesus. I wondered if Matthew explained how the disciples made a full commitment to Jesus and God's plan of salvation. What happened between the cross and Pentecost? What changed the disciples? What impact did the parables, miracles, and life of Jesus have on them? How can their experiences lead us to a closer more dedicated walk with Jesus? This book explores the fundamentals of the new birth experienced in the lives Jesus personally touched. It is a great book to read when you want to learn to draw closer to Jesus on a new level.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781300429265

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Matthew: The Stories of Jesus' Ministry: Matthew Chapters 23 to 28

Matthew the Stories of Jesus’ Ministry

Matthew Chapters 23 to 28

Written by Dennis Herman

Copyright © 2012 Dennis Herman

All rights reserved

ISBN 978-1-300-42926-5

Content ID:13408866

Published by: Lulu.com

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Bibles:

KJV King James Version

MKJV Modern King James Version Sovereign Grace Publishers

GNB Good News Bible Thomas Nelson Publishers

NLTse New Living. Translation®. SECOND EDITION Tyndale House Publishers, Inc

Chapter 1

Matthew 23:1-15 They Do Not Practice What They Teach

Matthew 23:1-15 NLTse  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,  (2)  The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.  (3)  So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach.  (4)  They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.  (5)  Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.  (6)  And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.  (7)  They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi.'  (8)  Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.  (9)  And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.  (10)  And don't let anyone call you 'Teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.  (11)  The greatest among you must be a servant.  (12)  But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.  (13)  What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces. You won't go in yourselves, and you don't let others enter either.  (15)  "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!

The entire day was spent teaching in the temple courtyard.  No one noticed they had not eaten all day as Jesus told one parable after another, while  preparing to teach more.  The priests questioned Him about taxes, the Sadducees about marriage and the resurrection, the Pharisees asked Him what the greatest commandment was.  It seemed like a long day, but it was only the beginning.  It was now time for Jesus to teach a number of plain and simple lessons.

Jesus motioned for the crowds to gather close around Him.  He looked up at James and John at the gate.  The look in His eyes, and the movement of the crowd told them their presence was required at the feet of their Teacher.  Once everyone was gathered and settled, Jesus said to the crowds and his disciples,   The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.  So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach.

Each of the disciples began to think of things they had seen the priests and Pharisees do that did not seem quite right.  As the disciples thought about the way they had been treated by the religious leaders, they also began to relate other examples.   The way they dressed was one thing that came to mind.  To Peter, Andrew, James, and John, it appeared the religious leaders went out of their way to dress in a fashion to announce they were too good, too important to work for a living.  They presented an attitude their work was more important than what most people did to earn a living.  As they thought about this, they looked at Jesus, remembering how He went out of His way to answer each and every question a person asked Him. 

The disciples looked at one another scattered throughout the crowd.  They looked at the little children quietly seated with their mothers in the front.   This reminded them of the synagogues Jesus taught in.  The priests and Pharisees sat in the choice seats in the front reserved for them, and the privileged wealthy class.  They remembered the times Jesus had healed the most needy in the synagogue, and the commotion that caused. 

Some of the disciples remembered the times Pharisees questioned Jesus’ authority to teach and heal, while the poor and needy sang praises and worshipped God. 

While one example after another drifted through their minds, Jesus continued His Lesson.  They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. 

This brought a low key chuckle from the crowd.   Everyone present had been repressed by the priests and Pharisees firsthand.  The disciples remembered how Jesus had traveled and taught on the Sabbath.   He and His followers were ridiculed for not keeping the tradition of the Sabbath by picking and eating grain on the side of the road.  The priest and Pharisees used this tradition to turn them away from Jesus by attempting to cast guilt on His followers. 

Everyone knew how the priests ran the sacrificial system.  There seemed to be little reason to bring your own sacrifice.   No matter how carefully anyone inspected it themselves, the priest would always find some defect and pronounce it unacceptable.  As a convenience they would offer a price next to nothing to buy the animal, while offering to sell an acceptable sacrifice at an inflated price.  Everyone suspected the unacceptable animals went right into the bin of cattle pronounced clean to be resold, but no one could prove it.  The cost of a clean sacrifice was always set at a very high fee, barely affordable for common people. 

Jesus moved forward in His lesson.  Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.  And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.  They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi.'

The disciples listened to Jesus’ description of the priests, looked at them across the court, then back at Jesus.  They looked at one another.  The stark contrast was forever engraved in their minds.  They were beginning to recognizee the difference between how and what Jesus taught compared to the priests and Pharisees.  They had not realized the connection between Jesus’ dress, actions, and His compassion, the way He reached out to common people every moment.  They once again glanced back to the priests.  There was nothing there to attract them.  Looking back at Jesus, they finally realized, there is nothing in this world more dearer to them then the company and words of their savior.  

By the expressions on the faces looking at Him, Jesus could tell He had presented His point, and their minds were on every word He spoke.  Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.  And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.  And don't let anyone call you 'Teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.  

The disciples instantly understood Jesus’ lesson.  The priests and Pharisees separated themselves by placing their position above their followers in dress and demeanor.  Jesus dressed, talked, ate, and slept under the same roof and stars as His followers.  Everything began falling into place for the disciples.  They began to see the Kingdom Jesus was going to share with them was much different than the world they had known.  Much different than what they had first expected.  To be like Jesus, they had to learn to be equals with all His followers. 

Jesus knew His disciples were considering the details they needed to improve their own lives.  He did not want them to dwell on the defects of others, but avoid the mistakes others have made.  The greatest among you must be a servant.  But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.   What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces. You won't go in yourselves, and you don't let others enter either.  What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!

Jesus knew His ministry would soon pass to the people in front of Him.  There was a reason God had waited to gather all three religious factions together on this day.  He wanted Jesus’ followers to see how the priests, Pharisees, and Scribes misinterpreted the scriptures, God’s love, and the plan of salvation.  The disciples did not know or understand the plan of salvation at that moment, but Jesus knew they would never forget the lessons He taught.  They would soon be adding this knowledge to the scenes they were about to witness.  Soon the disciples will witness the greatest act of love the world would ever see.  Actions speak louder than words, and God was about to put His plan into action.  God was ready.  The Holy Spirit was ready.  Jesus was preparing for the final act.  Were the disciples prepared?  Once the plan was revealed to them, were they ready to carry the message in the manner Jesus had taught them?  If the disciples relied on any of the methods used by the priests, Pharisees, and Scribes, all could be lost.  The fate of the world would soon depended on the small group in front of Him.

Matthew 23:16-23  Blind Guides

Matthew 23:16-23 NLTse  Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear 'by God's Temple,' but that it is binding to swear 'by the gold in the Temple.'  (17)  Blind fools! Which is more important--the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?  (18)  And you say that to swear 'by the altar' is not binding, but to swear 'by the gifts on the altar' is binding.  (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.  (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.

As Jesus continued teaching in the temple court, His heart sank as He pointed out the path followed by the religious leaders standing their ground on the opposite side.  Did they understand any of the doctrines they held in such high regard?  Jesus prayed for a moment.  If only they could see the preparations His Father put into the harvest of the world. 

Earlier Jesus shared three parables, each describing how people ignored gifts they were offered, refusing to accept them.  Two sons saw very little value in the vineyard their father had nurtured for years, even though they both were in line to inherit a share.  Tenants given a vineyard, along with everything to fulfill their needs, plotted to gain total ownership and control.  Guests considered everyday life too important to share in the joy their king had for the marriage of his son.   In each case worldly influences around them filled their hearts with greed.  The priests and Pharisees knew the spiritual meaning of the parables pointed to them as greedy sons, tenants, and ungrateful guests.   Zeal hid their guilt.  They wore their pride like the colorful robes that covered them.  Their interpretation of the laws and doctrines were as wide spread and boastful as the borders and hems adorning their garments. 

After praying Jesus regained His thoughts.  Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear 'by God's Temple,' but that it is binding to swear 'by the gold in the Temple.'  Blind fools! Which is more important--the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?  Everyone listening to Jesus knew He was referring to their love of money.  They knew the garments they wore were designed to bring attention to themselves.  This was an example of an unnecessary expense they were proud to announce.  The religious leaders promised special gifts and blessings to those paying tithe in gold.  Gold identified the social circle the priests associated with.  The poor people seated in front of Jesus could never hope to pay tithe in gold. 

Jesus continued placing a special emphasis on the temple.  And you say that to swear 'by the altar' is not binding, but to swear 'by the gifts on the altar' is binding.   How blind! For which is more important--the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?  The poor people in front of Jesus lived in a world where status ruled, and they were on the bottom.  Everything about their lives separated them from the elite, clothing, gifts, and sacrifices.  The priests used every opportunity to remind them they were in a different class, and their poverty created a gulf between them and God’s love and concern.  While the elite were praised for their sacrifices of bulls, rams, and sheep, the poor were considered less than acceptable for their meager offerings. 

Not a single head turned to look at the priests.  Every eye remained focused on Jesus as He said, When you swear 'by the altar,' you are swearing by it and by everything on it.  And when you swear 'by the Temple,' you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.  And when you swear 'by heaven,' you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.  The look in Jesus’ eyes told them they were all equal in God’s eyes.  They knew Jesus was teaching them, their gift was acceptable.  The God they served would never erect an alter meant to divide people.  Each sacrifice  offered from the heart was acceptable in God’s eyes.  They had been waiting all their lives for someone to tell them, God sees you, hears you, and is concerned about you.  Many of them had come to the temple to draw closer to the God they felt separated from.  Jesus’ words told them, God was there, ready to listen to them, no matter what their social status, or gift was. 

Jesus raised His voice as He called out to the religious leaders across the courtyard.  "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