WEBVTT

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 Please open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 23.

00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:08.060
 For those of you who are new,

00:00:10.380 --> 00:00:12.160
 this is a very hard-hitting passage.

00:00:13.339 --> 00:00:15.599
 I didn't just decide one day, you know,

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 I really want to preach this passage to my church.

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 We've been going through,

00:00:20.179 --> 00:00:21.940
 although it has great things in there for us,

00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:24.300
 we go through the entire book of Matthew.

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 We've been going through it in order.

00:00:27.260 --> 00:00:28.460
 And this is where we are.

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 And we do it that way because

00:00:31.060 --> 00:00:34.480
 I believe, we believe as an eldership

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 that God knows better than we do what we need to hear.

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 So we don't skip passages, we go through the whole thing.

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 And we're in chapter 23, verses 1 to 36.

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 Let me pray

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 for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father,

00:01:02.620 --> 00:01:07.219
 even when it comes to following you,

00:01:08.260 --> 00:01:10.280
 worshiping you, obeying you,

00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.659
 left to our own devices,

00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:21.780
 we turn our obedience

00:01:21.780 --> 00:01:25.819
 into idolatry,

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 self-worship,

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 self-promotion,

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 self-advancement.

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 And we need your grace.

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 we need Christ

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 and your spirit

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 to renew us

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 and transform us

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 from the inside out

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 so we can offer you true worship.

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 So we ask for your help this morning.

00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:09.419
 Turn all,

00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:10.539
 everyone here

00:02:10.539 --> 00:02:12.859
 who finds

00:02:12.859 --> 00:02:14.199
 your commands

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 burdensome.

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 Everyone here

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 who has been religious

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 without

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 the freeing power

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 of the Holy Spirit

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 that you would make this a day

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 when it changes for them,

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 a turning point

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 where they live

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 in light of the power

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 of the gospel,

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 in the freedom

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 of the spirit.

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 Meet with us,

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 we ask in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Please stand,

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 if you are able,

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 to honor God

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 as we read from his word.

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 Matthew chapter 23,

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 verses 1 to 36.

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 Then Jesus said

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 to the crowds

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 and to his disciples,

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 the scribes and the Pharisees

00:03:09.620 --> 00:03:10.980
 sit on Moses' seat.

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 So do and observe

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 whatever they tell you,

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 but not the works they do,

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 for they preach

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 but do not practice.

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 They tie up heavy burdens,

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 hard to bear,

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 and lay them on people's shoulders.

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 But they themselves

00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:29.200
 are not willing

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 to move them

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 with their finger.

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 They do all their deeds

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 to be seen by others,

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 for they make

00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:39.159
 their phylacteries broad

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 and their fringes long.

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 And they love

00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:43.860
 the place of honor

00:03:43.860 --> 00:03:44.620
 at feasts

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 and the best seats

00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:46.840
 in the synagogues

00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:47.939
 and greetings

00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:48.920
 in the marketplaces

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 and being called

00:03:49.980 --> 00:03:51.280
 rabbi by others.

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 But you are not

00:03:53.200 --> 00:03:54.099
 to be called rabbi,

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 for you have

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 one teacher,

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 and you are all brothers.

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 And call no man

00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.780
 your father on earth,

00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:02.400
 for you have one father

00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:03.400
 who is in heaven.

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 Neither be called instructors,

00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:07.580
 for you have one instructor,

00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:08.420
 the Christ.

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 The greatest among you

00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:12.040
 shall be your servant.

00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:13.879
 Whoever exalts himself

00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:14.520
 will be humbled,

00:04:14.640 --> 00:04:15.759
 and whoever humbles himself

00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:16.780
 will be exalted.

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 But woe to you,

00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:21.339
 scribes and Pharisees,

00:04:21.979 --> 00:04:22.559
 hypocrites,

00:04:23.159 --> 00:04:24.739
 for you shut the kingdom

00:04:24.739 --> 00:04:25.199
 of heaven

00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:26.139
 in people's faces,

00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:27.899
 for you neither enter

00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:28.539
 yourselves

00:04:28.539 --> 00:04:29.519
 nor allow those

00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:30.079
 who would enter

00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:30.759
 to go in.

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 Woe to you,

00:04:32.459 --> 00:04:33.699
 scribes and Pharisees,

00:04:33.819 --> 00:04:34.299
 hypocrites,

00:04:34.719 --> 00:04:35.639
 for you travel

00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:37.099
 across sea and land

00:04:37.099 --> 00:04:38.779
 to make a single proselyte,

00:04:38.899 --> 00:04:39.819
 and when he becomes

00:04:39.819 --> 00:04:40.500
 a proselyte,

00:04:40.539 --> 00:04:41.599
 you make him twice

00:04:41.599 --> 00:04:42.539
 as much a child

00:04:42.539 --> 00:04:43.559
 of hell as yourselves.

00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:45.920
 Woe to you,

00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:46.920
 blind guides,

00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:47.339
 who say,

00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:48.560
 if anyone swears

00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:49.300
 by the temple,

00:04:49.420 --> 00:04:50.000
 it is nothing.

00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:51.439
 But if anyone swears

00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:52.819
 by the gold of the temple,

00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:54.220
 he is bound by his oath.

00:04:54.780 --> 00:04:55.980
 You blind fools,

00:04:56.139 --> 00:04:57.280
 for which is greater,

00:04:57.720 --> 00:04:59.360
 the gold or the temple

00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:00.040
 that has made

00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:00.879
 the gold sacred?

00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:02.540
 And you say,

00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:03.779
 if anyone swears

00:05:03.779 --> 00:05:04.480
 by the altar,

00:05:04.579 --> 00:05:05.160
 it is nothing.

00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:06.300
 But if anyone swears

00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:06.980
 by the gift

00:05:06.980 --> 00:05:07.800
 that is on the altar,

00:05:07.899 --> 00:05:09.360
 he is bound by his oath.

00:05:10.180 --> 00:05:11.360
 You blind men,

00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:12.920
 for which is greater,

00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:14.500
 the gift or the altar

00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:15.879
 that makes the gift sacred.

00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:18.120
 So whoever swears

00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:18.840
 by the altar,

00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:19.819
 swears by it

00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:20.960
 and by everything on it.

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 And whoever swears

00:05:21.840 --> 00:05:22.580
 by the temple,

00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:23.439
 swears by it

00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:24.140
 and by him

00:05:24.140 --> 00:05:25.080
 who dwells in it.

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 And whoever swears

00:05:26.340 --> 00:05:26.980
 by heaven,

00:05:27.140 --> 00:05:28.379
 swears by the throne of God

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 and by him

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 who sits upon it.

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 Woe to you,

00:05:32.840 --> 00:05:33.840
 scribes and Pharisees,

00:05:33.960 --> 00:05:34.480
 hypocrites,

00:05:35.420 --> 00:05:36.560
 for you tithe mint

00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:37.580
 and dill and cumin

00:05:37.580 --> 00:05:38.600
 and have neglected

00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:39.759
 the weightier matters

00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:40.280
 of the law,

00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:42.340
 justice and mercy

00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:43.579
 and faithfulness.

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 These you ought

00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:45.919
 to have done

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 without neglecting

00:05:47.099 --> 00:05:47.560
 the others.

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 You blind guides,

00:05:49.719 --> 00:05:50.899
 straining out a gnat

00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:52.619
 and swallowing a camel.

00:05:53.739 --> 00:05:54.399
 Woe to you,

00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:55.579
 scribes and Pharisees,

00:05:55.679 --> 00:05:56.159
 hypocrites,

00:05:56.259 --> 00:05:56.859
 for you clean

00:05:56.859 --> 00:05:58.120
 the outside of the cup

00:05:58.120 --> 00:05:58.639
 and the plate,

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 but inside they are full

00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:00.959
 of greed

00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:02.099
 and self-indulgence.

00:06:02.679 --> 00:06:04.299
 You blind Pharisee,

00:06:04.559 --> 00:06:05.959
 first clean the inside

00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:06.599
 of the cup

00:06:06.599 --> 00:06:07.319
 and the plate,

00:06:07.479 --> 00:06:09.139
 then that outside

00:06:09.139 --> 00:06:10.159
 also may be clean.

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 Woe to you,

00:06:12.400 --> 00:06:13.560
 scribes and Pharisees,

00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:14.160
 hypocrites,

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 for you are like

00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:16.780
 whitewashed tombs,

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 which outwardly

00:06:18.140 --> 00:06:19.000
 appear beautiful,

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 but within are full

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 of dead people's bones

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 and all uncleanness.

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 So you also

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 outwardly appear

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 righteous to others,

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 but within you

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 are full of hypocrisy

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 and lawlessness.

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 Woe to you,

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 scribes and Pharisees,

00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:35.620
 hypocrites,

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 for you build

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 the tombs of the prophets

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 and decorate the monuments

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 of the righteous,

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 saying,

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 if we had lived

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 in the days of our fathers,

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 we would not have

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 taken part with them

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 in shedding the blood

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 of the prophets.

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 Thus you witness

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 against yourselves

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 that you are sons

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 of those who murder

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 the prophets.

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 Fill up, then,

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 the measure

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 of your fathers.

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 You serpents,

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 you brood of vipers,

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 how are you to escape

00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:01.359
 being sentenced to hell?

00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:02.579
 Therefore,

00:07:02.859 --> 00:07:04.319
 I send you prophets

00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:05.079
 and wise men

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 and scribes,

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 some of whom you will kill

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 and crucify,

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 and some you will flog

00:07:09.460 --> 00:07:10.300
 in your synagogues

00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:11.199
 and persecute

00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:12.180
 from town to town,

00:07:12.340 --> 00:07:14.000
 so that on you

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 may come

00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:16.340
 all the righteous blood

00:07:16.340 --> 00:07:17.379
 shed on earth,

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 from the blood

00:07:19.280 --> 00:07:20.300
 of righteous Abel

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 to the blood

00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:22.280
 of Zechariah,

00:07:22.400 --> 00:07:23.580
 the son of Berechiah,

00:07:24.080 --> 00:07:24.840
 whom you murdered

00:07:24.840 --> 00:07:25.860
 between the sanctuary

00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:26.580
 and the altar.

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 Truly,

00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:28.680
 I say to you,

00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:30.080
 all these things

00:07:30.080 --> 00:07:31.319
 will come upon

00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:32.680
 this generation.

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 This is God's holy

00:07:34.840 --> 00:07:35.939
 and authoritative word.

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 Please be seated.

00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:41.819
 I'm sure you've heard

00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:43.740
 the critics of religion

00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:46.220
 say that religion

00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:47.860
 makes people

00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:50.280
 insufferably overbearing,

00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:52.340
 self-righteous,

00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:53.980
 legalistic,

00:07:54.780 --> 00:07:55.399
 sectarian,

00:07:56.439 --> 00:07:57.680
 persecutory,

00:07:57.680 --> 00:07:58.699
 to the point

00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:00.100
 of religious violence.

00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:02.879
 Think of the Crusades

00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:05.259
 or the Islamic terrorism.

00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:08.139
 Of course,

00:08:08.340 --> 00:08:08.879
 they're wrong

00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:09.819
 in thinking that

00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:10.500
 religion

00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:11.980
 is the root issue.

00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:13.460
 Think of the aggressively

00:08:13.460 --> 00:08:14.500
 atheistic

00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:15.980
 Khmer Rouge regime

00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:16.500
 that caused

00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:17.500
 the Cambodian genocide,

00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:18.639
 killing up to

00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:19.819
 three million people.

00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:22.060
 Humans of all stripes,

00:08:22.280 --> 00:08:23.100
 regardless of religion,

00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:24.100
 are capable

00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:26.040
 of such atrocities.

00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:27.560
 And that's because

00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:28.720
 at the core,

00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:29.300
 at the root,

00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:29.980
 in our hearts,

00:08:30.080 --> 00:08:30.540
 we are sinners.

00:08:31.900 --> 00:08:32.420
 However,

00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:33.340
 what these critics

00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:34.259
 do get right

00:08:34.259 --> 00:08:35.560
 is that sometimes

00:08:35.560 --> 00:08:36.899
 when people

00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:38.240
 are fully convinced

00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:39.220
 of the absolute

00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:40.080
 truth claims

00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:40.840
 of religion,

00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:42.600
 they do become

00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:43.259
 sometimes

00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:44.220
 insufferably

00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:45.019
 overbearing,

00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:45.980
 self-righteous,

00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:46.779
 legalistic,

00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:47.440
 sectarian,

00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:48.740
 and persecutory

00:08:48.740 --> 00:08:49.159
 to the point

00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:49.960
 of religious violence.

00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:53.019
 Jesus says

00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:53.580
 to himself

00:08:53.580 --> 00:08:55.980
 in this very passage,

00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:58.299
 and sometimes

00:08:58.299 --> 00:08:58.959
 this charge

00:08:58.959 --> 00:08:59.399
 is true

00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:00.059
 even of

00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:00.899
 self-professing

00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:01.240
 Christians.

00:09:03.099 --> 00:09:03.899
 But shouldn't

00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:04.360
 religion

00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:06.059
 and Christianity

00:09:06.059 --> 00:09:06.860
 in particular,

00:09:07.219 --> 00:09:07.839
 whose greatest

00:09:07.839 --> 00:09:08.399
 commandment,

00:09:08.500 --> 00:09:08.939
 as we talked

00:09:08.939 --> 00:09:09.699
 about last week,

00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:10.699
 is to love God

00:09:10.699 --> 00:09:11.839
 with all our hearts

00:09:11.839 --> 00:09:12.879
 and to love our

00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:14.219
 neighbors as ourselves,

00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:15.219
 shouldn't that

00:09:15.219 --> 00:09:16.500
 make us more humble

00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:17.659
 and more loving people?

00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:19.579
 Yes,

00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:20.019
 of course,

00:09:20.099 --> 00:09:20.480
 it should.

00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:22.339
 The problem

00:09:22.339 --> 00:09:23.000
 is not

00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:23.779
 that these

00:09:23.779 --> 00:09:24.919
 professing Christians

00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:26.159
 are too religious

00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:27.360
 or too Christian.

00:09:28.059 --> 00:09:28.699
 The problem

00:09:28.699 --> 00:09:29.120
 is that they

00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:30.299
 are not religious

00:09:30.299 --> 00:09:30.979
 enough,

00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:32.740
 not Christian

00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:33.459
 enough.

00:09:34.439 --> 00:09:35.299
 They emulate

00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:36.500
 Christ's authority,

00:09:36.939 --> 00:09:37.839
 but not his

00:09:37.839 --> 00:09:38.360
 humility.

00:09:39.299 --> 00:09:40.479
 They emulate

00:09:40.479 --> 00:09:41.319
 Christ's zeal,

00:09:41.719 --> 00:09:42.419
 but not his

00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:42.959
 compassion

00:09:42.959 --> 00:09:43.719
 and forgiveness.

00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:46.079
 They are

00:09:46.079 --> 00:09:46.979
 halfway Christians.

00:09:48.199 --> 00:09:49.139
 They're not

00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:49.879
 Christian enough.

00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:53.019
 religion without

00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:53.700
 Christ

00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:55.500
 leads to

00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:56.200
 hypocrisy

00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:57.860
 because only

00:09:57.860 --> 00:09:58.879
 Christ has

00:09:58.879 --> 00:09:59.340
 the power

00:09:59.340 --> 00:09:59.899
 to give us

00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:00.679
 new hearts

00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:01.659
 and transform

00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:02.360
 us from the

00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:03.039
 inside out.

00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:05.080
 This passage

00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:05.960
 contains Jesus'

00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:07.340
 most severe

00:10:07.340 --> 00:10:08.240
 critique and

00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:09.100
 denunciation of

00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:09.439
 the Jewish

00:10:09.439 --> 00:10:10.320
 religious leaders

00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:10.960
 of his day

00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:12.240
 and it warns

00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:12.939
 us against

00:10:12.939 --> 00:10:13.720
 the pitfalls

00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:14.960
 of religion

00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.460
 where religions

00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:17.519
 without Christ

00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:19.220
 inevitably end up.

00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:20.919
 So first

00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:21.120
 we're going to

00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:21.439
 talk about

00:10:21.439 --> 00:10:21.960
 blindness,

00:10:22.179 --> 00:10:22.820
 spiritual blindness,

00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:23.460
 then about

00:10:23.460 --> 00:10:24.059
 legalism,

00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:25.080
 hypocrisy,

00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:26.000
 hubris,

00:10:26.439 --> 00:10:26.960
 and finally

00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:27.700
 bloodshed.

00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:29.120
 What an

00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:29.879
 exciting slate

00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:30.980
 of main points

00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:31.159
 here.

00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:34.039
 Dreadful,

00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:34.799
 really,

00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:36.379
 but may the

00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.019
 spirit convict

00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:37.279
 us.

00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:38.939
 Throughout

00:10:38.939 --> 00:10:39.779
 chapter 22,

00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:40.620
 Jesus passed

00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:41.580
 all the tests

00:10:41.580 --> 00:10:42.600
 of the Sadducees,

00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:43.220
 Pharisees,

00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:43.899
 and scribes

00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:45.059
 with flying colors

00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:46.199
 and the

00:10:46.199 --> 00:10:46.799
 conclusion of

00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:47.379
 it was in

00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:48.099
 chapter 22

00:10:48.099 --> 00:10:48.939
 verse 46,

00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:50.179
 no one was

00:10:50.179 --> 00:10:50.919
 able to answer

00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:51.979
 Jesus a word

00:10:51.979 --> 00:10:53.000
 nor from that

00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:53.659
 day did anyone

00:10:53.659 --> 00:10:54.379
 dare to ask him

00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:55.139
 any more questions.

00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:56.719
 Here in

00:10:56.719 --> 00:10:57.439
 chapter 23,

00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:58.359
 Jesus turns the

00:10:58.359 --> 00:10:59.879
 tables on his

00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:01.000
 interrogators

00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:02.339
 and then he

00:11:02.339 --> 00:11:03.259
 shares his

00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:04.519
 unflinching critique

00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:05.039
 of them.

00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:06.419
 In verses 1 to

00:11:06.419 --> 00:11:07.279
 12, Jesus says

00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:08.019
 to the crowds

00:11:08.019 --> 00:11:08.839
 and his disciples,

00:11:09.219 --> 00:11:10.079
 he warns the

00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:10.579
 crowds and the

00:11:10.579 --> 00:11:11.399
 disciples about

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.879
 the various vices

00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:13.659
 of these scribes

00:11:13.659 --> 00:11:14.339
 and the Pharisees

00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:15.100
 and then in

00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:15.980
 verses 13 to

00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:17.139
 36, he pivots

00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:18.000
 to addressing

00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:18.600
 the scribes

00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:19.160
 and the Pharisees

00:11:19.160 --> 00:11:20.320
 directly and

00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:21.000
 denouncing them

00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:21.580
 by pronouncing

00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:22.420
 seven woes

00:11:22.420 --> 00:11:23.200
 against them

00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.500
 with specific

00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:25.320
 examples of

00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:26.200
 the vices that

00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:26.860
 he summarized

00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:27.460
 to the crowds

00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:27.960
 and the disciples

00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:28.680
 in verses 1 to

00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:29.019
 12.

00:11:30.040 --> 00:11:31.240
 The main theme

00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.660
 is the Pharisees'

00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:34.340
 pride, self-exaltation

00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:35.259
 and hypocrisy

00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:38.280
 but before he

00:11:38.280 --> 00:11:39.040
 launches into his

00:11:39.040 --> 00:11:39.660
 rebuke of the

00:11:39.660 --> 00:11:40.220
 scribes and the

00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:41.040
 Pharisees, Jesus

00:11:41.040 --> 00:11:42.040
 affirms their

00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:42.879
 teaching authority

00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.639
 in verses 2 to

00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:44.320
 3, which

00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:45.680
 is odd but

00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:46.100
 important.

00:11:47.060 --> 00:11:47.460
 He says,

00:11:47.680 --> 00:11:48.420
 the scribes and

00:11:48.420 --> 00:11:49.480
 the Pharisees sit

00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.540
 on Moses' seat,

00:11:51.300 --> 00:11:52.560
 so do and observe

00:11:52.560 --> 00:11:53.500
 whatever they tell

00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:54.900
 you, but not the

00:11:54.900 --> 00:11:56.260
 works they do, for

00:11:56.260 --> 00:11:57.500
 they preach but do

00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.240
 not practice.

00:11:59.540 --> 00:12:00.480
 In light of the

00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:01.320
 rest of the chapter

00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:02.160
 that we just read,

00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:03.780
 it's really shocking

00:12:03.780 --> 00:12:06.240
 that Jesus says this

00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.379
 at the onset of

00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.100
 this chapter.

00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:10.020
 The scribes and

00:12:10.020 --> 00:12:11.140
 the Pharisees are

00:12:11.140 --> 00:12:12.720
 guilty as charged

00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:14.160
 of overweening pride

00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:14.800
 and spiritual

00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:15.680
 blindness and

00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:16.560
 back-breaking

00:12:16.560 --> 00:12:17.560
 legalism and

00:12:17.560 --> 00:12:19.279
 two-faced hypocrisy

00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.180
 and murder.

00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:24.259
 And yet, Jesus

00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.300
 affirms their

00:12:25.300 --> 00:12:26.300
 teaching authority.

00:12:28.660 --> 00:12:29.840
 They sit on

00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:30.620
 Moses' seat.

00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:32.960
 People in those

00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:33.920
 days usually sat

00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:34.800
 down to teach.

00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:37.840
 Sometimes when I go

00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:38.720
 along, I think it'd

00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.360
 be nice to switch

00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:39.960
 that, bring that

00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:40.500
 back, right?

00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.259
 Jesus does this.

00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:46.019
 He sits down to

00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:46.279
 teach.

00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:47.759
 And so a seat

00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:48.680
 came to represent

00:12:48.680 --> 00:12:50.000
 teaching authority

00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.240
 or teaching office.

00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:54.960
 And this is true

00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:55.600
 in our day,

00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:56.840
 department heads

00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:58.340
 of various higher

00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:59.279
 education institutions

00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.060
 are called what?

00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:00.500
 They're called

00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:00.800
 chairs.

00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:03.800
 It's a vestige of

00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:05.539
 medieval times when

00:13:05.539 --> 00:13:06.180
 the universities,

00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.379
 the lecturers,

00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.860
 actually taught from

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.919
 an elevated chair.

00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.100
 That's how they

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:11.600
 came to be known

00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:12.200
 as chairs.

00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:16.179
 The chair represents

00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:17.460
 the authoritative

00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:18.679
 teaching office.

00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:21.039
 And it's an example

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:21.759
 of a figure of

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.220
 speech called

00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.460
 metonymy where a

00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.759
 closely related object

00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:25.759
 or a concept is

00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:26.519
 used to represent

00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:27.139
 something.

00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:29.320
 The idea of

00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:30.279
 Moses' seat functions

00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:31.039
 in the same way.

00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.220
 Ever since Moses

00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:33.179
 received the law of

00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.000
 God from the Lord

00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:35.139
 and then related to

00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:35.960
 the people of Israel,

00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:38.199
 it says in

00:13:38.199 --> 00:13:39.159
 Nehemiah 8.8

00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:40.000
 that there were

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:40.939
 people who read

00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:42.000
 from the law of

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.080
 God clearly and

00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.159
 gave the sense so

00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:46.460
 that people understood

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:46.980
 the reading.

00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.600
 In every generation

00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:49.120
 of God's people,

00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:49.439
 there have been

00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:50.240
 people who read

00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:50.919
 the law of God

00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:51.580
 to his people and

00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:52.659
 explained and gave

00:13:52.659 --> 00:13:53.439
 the sense so people

00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:54.159
 understood it.

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.399
 And the scribes

00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.279
 and the Pharisees

00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:57.319
 occupied that

00:13:57.319 --> 00:13:58.159
 teaching office.

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.919
 For this reason,

00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.779
 despite their rampant

00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.759
 hypocrisy, Jesus

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.939
 says, do and

00:14:06.939 --> 00:14:07.939
 observe whatever

00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:08.720
 they tell you,

00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:10.639
 but not the works

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:12.019
 they do, for they

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:13.240
 preach but do not

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:13.860
 practice.

00:14:15.059 --> 00:14:16.519
 Do as they say,

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:18.339
 not as they do.

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.079
 Don't follow their

00:14:20.079 --> 00:14:20.919
 example because they

00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:21.819
 don't practice what

00:14:21.819 --> 00:14:22.319
 they preach.

00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:24.100
 Jesus is showing

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:25.639
 remarkable restraint

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.959
 here by expressing

00:14:26.959 --> 00:14:27.620
 deference to their

00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:28.439
 teaching authority.

00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:30.720
 It's an extension of

00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:31.379
 the principle that

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.240
 Jesus taught earlier

00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.240
 in Matthew 22,

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:33.940
 verse 21.

00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:34.940
 Therefore, render to

00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:35.740
 Caesar the things

00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:36.440
 that are Caesar's

00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:37.120
 and to God the

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:37.659
 things that are

00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:38.120
 God's.

00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:38.820
 Why?

00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:39.539
 Because there is no

00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:40.600
 authority except from

00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.639
 God and those that

00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.879
 exist, the authorities

00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.820
 that exist have been

00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:45.139
 instituted by God.

00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:46.659
 So God's word teaches

00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:48.200
 us to be subject to

00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:48.799
 our human governing

00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:49.799
 authorities even when

00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:51.659
 they are unjust and

00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.259
 hypocritical.

00:14:53.060 --> 00:14:54.139
 That's why in 1 Samuel

00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.820
 24 to 26, David

00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:57.180
 refuses to kill King

00:14:57.180 --> 00:14:58.940
 Saul who's a murderer

00:14:58.940 --> 00:15:00.060
 after him, trying to

00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:03.019
 kill him because he

00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:03.759
 says, I will not

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.599
 raise my hand up

00:15:04.599 --> 00:15:05.359
 against the Lord's

00:15:05.359 --> 00:15:05.759
 anointed.

00:15:06.439 --> 00:15:07.779
 In 1 Peter 2.13,

00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:08.799
 Apostle Peter tells

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:09.479
 Christians to be

00:15:09.479 --> 00:15:10.439
 subject for the Lord's

00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.319
 sake to every human

00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:12.239
 institution including

00:15:12.239 --> 00:15:13.539
 even to a corrupt

00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.799
 emperor like Nero who

00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:15.459
 was reigning at the

00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:16.219
 time the letter was

00:15:16.219 --> 00:15:16.479
 written.

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:19.259
 Jesus is not dismissive

00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.299
 of the Pharisees'

00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.759
 teaching office and we

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.539
 should learn from his

00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:22.979
 example.

00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:25.879
 Jesus' acknowledgement

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:26.759
 here that there are

00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.819
 people who do the

00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:30.060
 wrong things and yet

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:31.360
 teach the right things

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.400
 is helpful for us.

00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:34.760
 Maybe you've learned

00:15:34.760 --> 00:15:36.480
 valuable truths from a

00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.600
 pastor or a teacher

00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:39.379
 who is now disgraced

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.780
 or disqualified from

00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:41.720
 ministry because of

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.840
 some glaring sin.

00:15:45.780 --> 00:15:47.020
 It probably would be

00:15:47.020 --> 00:15:47.800
 wise for you to

00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:48.580
 double check what you

00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.480
 learned from that

00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:51.980
 person and their

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.460
 hypocrisy probably did

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:54.600
 color their perspective

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.400
 and created some

00:15:55.400 --> 00:15:56.480
 distorted emphasis so

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.080
 you should double

00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:57.540
 check that.

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:59.099
 But don't dismiss

00:15:59.099 --> 00:16:00.019
 everything they taught

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:01.579
 you outright because

00:16:01.579 --> 00:16:02.539
 sometimes people do the

00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.339
 wrong things but still

00:16:03.339 --> 00:16:04.339
 say the right things.

00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.719
 If God can speak through

00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:07.879
 Balaam's donkey then he

00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.159
 can speak even through

00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:09.659
 hypocrites.

00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:12.199
 Likewise if we are

00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:13.099
 teachers if any of you

00:16:13.099 --> 00:16:14.099
 aspire to be teachers

00:16:14.099 --> 00:16:15.199
 then this is a

00:16:15.199 --> 00:16:16.000
 solitary warning.

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.599
 Just because you teach

00:16:17.599 --> 00:16:18.579
 God's word correctly

00:16:18.579 --> 00:16:20.139
 does not mean that you

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.360
 are living your life

00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:21.819
 rightly.

00:16:23.339 --> 00:16:24.459
 The fact that you are

00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:25.819
 acclaimed as a preacher

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.860
 or a teacher does not

00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:27.780
 necessarily mean that

00:16:27.780 --> 00:16:28.760
 you are approved by

00:16:28.760 --> 00:16:29.140
 God.

00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:32.440
 That's why 1 Timothy 4

00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:34.540
 16 says keep a close

00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:37.060
 watch on yourself and

00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:38.040
 on the teaching.

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:40.060
 Persist in this for by

00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:40.980
 so doing you will save

00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.020
 both yourself and your

00:16:42.020 --> 00:16:42.520
 hearers.

00:16:43.540 --> 00:16:45.100
 It's possible for those

00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:46.740
 who preach to others to

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:49.200
 themselves be disqualified.

00:16:51.040 --> 00:16:51.980
 The scribes and the

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:53.120
 Pharisees were just such

00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:53.500
 people.

00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:56.460
 They did not keep a close

00:16:56.460 --> 00:17:00.279
 watch on themselves and

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:01.539
 for that reason they fail

00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:03.120
 to save both themselves and

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:03.779
 their hearers.

00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:06.359
 Notwithstanding their office

00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.559
 and authority and status

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.279
 the scribes and the

00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:10.059
 Pharisees were spiritually

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.559
 blind.

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.779
 They were armchair

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:14.400
 quarterbacks or backseat

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.480
 drivers who judged and

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:18.079
 offered much advice and

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.460
 much critique to the people

00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:21.559
 of God and yet had never

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.579
 actually done the thing.

00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:25.940
 They didn't have any real

00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.559
 life experience because

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.619
 they didn't practice what

00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.200
 they preached.

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.500
 In one of his sermons

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.579
 18th century American

00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:33.720
 pastor Jonathan Edwards

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.919
 talks about the difference

00:17:34.919 --> 00:17:36.799
 between knowing rationally

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.799
 that honey is sweet and

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:41.000
 having an actual sense of

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.059
 honey sweetness.

00:17:43.399 --> 00:17:45.980
 That explosion of sweetness

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:48.679
 that coats your tongue with

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:52.640
 its viscosity and leaves

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.820
 floral notes of lavender and

00:17:54.820 --> 00:17:56.060
 earthly molasses.

00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:59.039
 If you've tasted it you

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.519
 know it.

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:03.440
 There's a big difference

00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.759
 between knowing that honey

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.380
 is sweet and having tasted

00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:07.000
 its sweetness.

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.320
 Likewise there's a big

00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:10.840
 difference between knowing

00:18:10.840 --> 00:18:13.779
 that God is holy in your head

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:17.059
 and having an actual sense of

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.339
 the holiness of God so you

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.960
 fear him and tremble before

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.240
 him.

00:18:23.899 --> 00:18:25.079
 These scribes and the

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:27.899
 Pharisees were theorists not

00:18:27.899 --> 00:18:28.559
 practitioners.

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:31.039
 They did not practice what

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.559
 they preached.

00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.899
 19th century Spurgeon,

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.680
 Charles Spurgeon,

00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:34.440
 pastor,

00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.420
 compares such religious leaders

00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:39.139
 to a blind man elected to a

00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:40.460
 profession of optics.

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:43.400
 philosophizing upon light and

00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:43.779
 vision,

00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.100
 distinguishing to others the

00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:46.460
 nice shades and delicate

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.740
 blending of the prismatic

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:49.980
 colors while he himself is in

00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:51.019
 absolute darkness.

00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:54.720
 He is a dumb man elevated to

00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.779
 the chair of music,

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.920
 a deaf man fluent upon

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:59.660
 symphonies and harmonies.

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.920
 But you see,

00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:04.579
 it's much easier to learn

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:06.460
 optometry and philosophize

00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:08.460
 about light and vision than

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:10.759
 than to make people see.

00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:16.059
 Because only God can open the

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.779
 eyes of the blind.

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.960
 That's why religion without

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:21.279
 Christ leads to hypocrisy.

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.799
 The first pair of woes that

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:26.240
 Jesus promises in verses 13

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.779
 to 15 are related to this,

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:28.960
 the spiritual blindness.

00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:30.460
 But woe to you,

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.559
 scribes and Pharisees,

00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.059
 hypocrites,

00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:33.360
 for you shut the kingdom of

00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:34.400
 heaven in people's faces.

00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:36.680
 For you neither enter yourselves

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:38.120
 nor allow those who would

00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.359
 enter to go in.

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:42.079
 The word woe is an

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.379
 interjection of pain,

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.319
 of grief,

00:19:44.419 --> 00:19:45.519
 and displeasure.

00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.319
 It means something like,

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.239
 how dreadful,

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.879
 how unfortunate,

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.559
 how dreadful for you,

00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.599
 scribes and Pharisees,

00:19:54.699 --> 00:19:56.259
 that you shut the kingdom of

00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:57.279
 heaven in people's faces.

00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:00.019
 They didn't do this

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:00.959
 intentionally.

00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:02.099
 They didn't do this because

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.799
 they're selfish and want to

00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.899
 keep the kingdom of heaven to

00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:05.319
 themselves.

00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:07.579
 Jesus tells us why they shut

00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:09.000
 the doors to the kingdom of

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.879
 heaven in people's faces.

00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:10.899
 For,

00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:11.679
 because,

00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:14.039
 you neither enter yourselves

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:15.500
 nor allow those who would

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.339
 enter to go in.

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:18.399
 They shut the door on people's

00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:20.220
 faces because they themselves

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.819
 don't know how to get in.

00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:26.740
 They've never been there.

00:20:27.919 --> 00:20:29.539
 They don't know the way to the

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.200
 kingdom of heaven.

00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:32.720
 The second woe is similar.

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.640
 Woe to you,

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.680
 scribes and Pharisees,

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.319
 hypocrites,

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:37.620
 for you travel across sea and

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.620
 land to make a single

00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.259
 proselyte,

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:40.440
 and when he becomes a

00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:40.839
 proselyte,

00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:42.620
 you make him twice as much a

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.779
 child of hell as yourselves.

00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.259
 In their zeal,

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.400
 they're not lacking in zeal.

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.120
 In their zeal,

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:49.140
 they'll go as cross-cultural

00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.559
 missionaries.

00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:51.200
 They'll go and travel across

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:53.799
 sea and land to make one

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:55.180
 single proselyte.

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:57.259
 They'll dedicate their life

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.559
 journey and go through those

00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.660
 arduous journeys to make one

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:00.720
 proselyte.

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.319
 Proselyte.

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:03.759
 And when they get one convert,

00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:05.140
 that convert does not become a

00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:05.980
 child of heaven.

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:06.839
 Alas,

00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:08.839
 they make him twice as much a

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:10.000
 child of hell as themselves.

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.019
 Why do they do that?

00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:15.140
 Because they themselves are

00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:16.339
 children of hell.

00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:20.480
 Jesus says later in verse 33,

00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.259
 you serpents,

00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:22.259
 you brood of vipers,

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:24.120
 how are you to escape being

00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:25.299
 sentenced to hell?

00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:27.680
 That's what child of hell means.

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:29.400
 Someone who is sentenced to

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:31.200
 hell, destined for hell.

00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:32.660
 They are children of the

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.740
 serpent, Satan,

00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:35.700
 rather than children of God.

00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.380
 Brood of vipers.

00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:40.100
 It's harsh language, right?

00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:42.420
 How many times have you heard

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.320
 me call people that?

00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.360
 How many of you guys have

00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.000
 called people that?

00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.640
 Brood of vipers.

00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:53.460
 But it's not unduly harsh.

00:21:55.020 --> 00:21:55.540
 Why?

00:21:56.300 --> 00:21:57.560
 Because the scribes and

00:21:57.560 --> 00:21:58.440
 Pharisees are leaders.

00:22:00.520 --> 00:22:02.700
 And their spiritual blindness

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:05.560
 is leading people who follow

00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:08.480
 them to the doorsteps of hell.

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:16.539
 Jesus said of the Pharisees early

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:17.779
 in Matthew 15, 14,

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:19.299
 they are blind guides.

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:21.380
 And if the blind lead the blind,

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:23.339
 both will fall into the pit.

00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:25.200
 And these scribes and Pharisees

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.960
 were literally leading people

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.120
 to the pit of hell.

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.860
 No wonder Jesus is upset.

00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:35.759
 The level of Jesus' righteous

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:37.579
 indignation toward the scribes

00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:39.279
 and the Pharisees is directly

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:41.119
 proportional to the depth

00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:43.579
 of Jesus' love and compassion

00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:45.179
 for the people that they are

00:22:45.179 --> 00:22:46.099
 leading astray.

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:51.119
 Throughout the Gospels,

00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:53.419
 Jesus reserves his severest

00:22:53.419 --> 00:22:55.059
 rebukes for the leaders

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.839
 among the people

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:58.699
 because of their outsized

00:22:58.699 --> 00:23:00.159
 influence on the eternal fate

00:23:00.159 --> 00:23:00.599
 of people.

00:23:02.399 --> 00:23:04.139
 As an old proverb says,

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.859
 a fish rots from the head down.

00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:10.859
 I think technically they start

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.799
 rotting from the gut,

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:15.079
 but you don't see that first.

00:23:15.679 --> 00:23:17.159
 The first rotting you see

00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:21.559
 is the eyes, the gills.

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.619
 That's when you first,

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:27.099
 the stink comes out of it.

00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:30.279
 The cloudy, sunken eyes,

00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.779
 discolored gills of the fish.

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:33.559
 The fish rots from the head down.

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:37.039
 Similarly, unsaved,

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.660
 graceless leaders

00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:40.680
 produce an unsaved

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:42.220
 and graceless people.

00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:47.359
 This is what Jeremiah 5.31 observed.

00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:49.619
 The prophets prophesy falsely

00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:51.019
 and the priests rule

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.079
 at their direction

00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:54.940
 and my people love to have it so.

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:59.639
 False prophets lead to false priests

00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:01.800
 to lead them in the wrong direction

00:24:01.800 --> 00:24:03.440
 and the people gladly follow them.

00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:07.800
 Spiritual corruption trickles downward.

00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:10.480
 This is why God warns us

00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.680
 in James 3 verse 1,

00:24:11.800 --> 00:24:13.680
 not many of you should become teachers

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:16.800
 for you know that we who teach

00:24:16.800 --> 00:24:19.460
 will be judged with greater strictness.

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:23.900
 It's a fearful thing

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:26.500
 to teach the people of God.

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:32.460
 If you teach or disciple anyone,

00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:33.980
 whether you're a parent

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.400
 with young kids

00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:37.240
 or a children's ministry volunteer

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:39.039
 or a Sunday school teacher

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.759
 or if you're on the pastoral staff

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.340
 in our church

00:24:41.340 --> 00:24:42.860
 or you're a lay member

00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:44.440
 discipling a fellow member,

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.220
 ask yourself,

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:48.319
 am I a child of heaven?

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:50.000
 a true Christian?

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.359
 Am I speaking of God

00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:54.079
 in the abstract,

00:24:54.679 --> 00:24:55.359
 in theory?

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:59.439
 Or do I actually know him personally?

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.299
 Do I have a sense,

00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:03.419
 a taste of his holiness,

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.059
 his love,

00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:06.039
 his grace,

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.419
 his mercy?

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:13.319
 If your children followed

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:15.240
 your priorities in life,

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.740
 would they turn out

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.819
 to be children of heaven?

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:22.159
 If people in the church

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:23.139
 studied scripture

00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:24.039
 the way you do,

00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:25.679
 would they know God better

00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:27.099
 or worse than they do now?

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:31.519
 If people in the church

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:33.059
 pray the way you do,

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.379
 would they have a deeper

00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:36.059
 or shallower relationship

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.619
 with God

00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:38.059
 than they do now?

00:25:42.399 --> 00:25:43.500
 The second thing

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.679
 that Jesus denounces

00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:45.819
 the scribes and Pharisees for

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.639
 is their legalism.

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:48.240
 He says in verse 4,

00:25:48.300 --> 00:25:49.660
 they tie up heavy burdens,

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.740
 hard to bear,

00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:52.680
 and lay them on people's shoulders,

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.580
 but they themselves

00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:54.440
 are not willing

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.160
 to move them

00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:55.940
 with their finger.

00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:58.100
 One of the clearest

00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:58.940
 instances of this

00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:00.240
 was their Sabbath regulations

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.060
 that I've talked about

00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:01.540
 in the past.

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.720
 Exodus 28, 10

00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.500
 commands us

00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.460
 to observe the Sabbath,

00:26:05.560 --> 00:26:06.620
 remember the Sabbath day,

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:08.180
 and to keep it holy.

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.240
 Work six days,

00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:11.400
 rest on the Sabbath day.

00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.440
 But the scribes

00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.160
 and the Pharisees

00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:14.560
 took this simple command

00:26:14.560 --> 00:26:15.360
 and then attached

00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:16.700
 dozens of other

00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.860
 prickly rules to it.

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:19.660
 For example,

00:26:19.800 --> 00:26:20.380
 on the Sabbath,

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:20.860
 they said,

00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:22.420
 if you carry your pack

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.940
 in your hand,

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:25.120
 if you have a bag,

00:26:25.280 --> 00:26:25.780
 a handbag,

00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:26.180
 a backpack,

00:26:26.300 --> 00:26:28.019
 you carry it in your hand

00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.080
 on the Sabbath day,

00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:29.560
 then you've broken

00:26:29.560 --> 00:26:29.940
 the Sabbath.

00:26:31.300 --> 00:26:32.660
 But if you carry your pack

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:34.220
 on the back of your hand

00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:36.519
 or on your elbow,

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:39.079
 you did not violate

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:39.460
 the Sabbath.

00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:45.220
 You can literally find that

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.259
 in the Mishnah,

00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:47.259
 in the rabbinical commentary

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:47.740
 on the Torah.

00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:49.720
 And remember the fuss

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.720
 that the Jewish leaders

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.460
 made in chapter 12.

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.940
 When they saw Jesus' disciples

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:54.019
 picking heads of grain

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:54.559
 as they were walking

00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.319
 through a grain field

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.339
 and they started eating it,

00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.539
 they're just poor

00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.319
 itinerant preachers.

00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.160
 They're not farmers

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:01.099
 coming with a sickle

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:02.339
 and trying to steal people's

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.639
 or work on the Sabbath day

00:27:03.639 --> 00:27:04.759
 for some extra income.

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.400
 They're hungry.

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.080
 They're just taking

00:27:07.080 --> 00:27:07.759
 a few grains

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.380
 and eating them

00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:08.800
 on the Sabbath.

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.220
 And they're like,

00:27:09.300 --> 00:27:10.600
 oh, you picked the grain.

00:27:14.040 --> 00:27:14.840
 You're reaping.

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.740
 And then they'd rub the grain

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.740
 to get the chaff up

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.660
 so they could eat the grain.

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:20.840
 They're like,

00:27:20.860 --> 00:27:22.680
 oh, I saw you doing that.

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.500
 You're threshing.

00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:26.800
 You're harvesting.

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:28.880
 That's forbidden.

00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.780
 It was harvest,

00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.440
 the reaping,

00:27:34.540 --> 00:27:35.019
 and threshing

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:37.039
 were two of the 39

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.480
 forbidden activities

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.079
 on the Sabbath.

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.879
 But how is that,

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:44.420
 I mean,

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.160
 eating that on the,

00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.400
 how does that constitute

00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:47.180
 harvesting?

00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:48.240
 That's like accusing

00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:49.319
 a person who picked up

00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.160
 a lost penny

00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:50.700
 from the ground

00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.139
 of stealing.

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.420
 Jesus' disciples

00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.839
 were not breaking

00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.339
 the Sabbath.

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.799
 moreover,

00:27:58.919 --> 00:27:59.740
 Deuteronomy 23

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.319
 specified

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:02.019
 that poor people

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:03.079
 are allowed

00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:04.699
 to eat grains

00:28:04.699 --> 00:28:05.959
 from other people's fields

00:28:05.959 --> 00:28:06.980
 as long as they're not

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:08.019
 putting a sickle to it.

00:28:14.459 --> 00:28:15.359
 That's why Jesus

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.259
 cited the example

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.039
 of David,

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.839
 King David,

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.759
 when he was fleeing

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.679
 from King Saul

00:28:19.679 --> 00:28:20.559
 who was trying to kill him,

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.220
 entered the tabernacle

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.220
 and ate

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.319
 the bread of presence,

00:28:24.419 --> 00:28:25.220
 not the current,

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:25.959
 the fresh one,

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.079
 but the used one

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:29.059
 that was moved

00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:30.920
 out of the table.

00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.299
 But only priests

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:33.680
 were allowed

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.240
 to eat that.

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.559
 But an exception

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.039
 was made

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.440
 for David

00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:37.920
 and his men

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.460
 because of their

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.019
 dire,

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.600
 extraordinary circumstances

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:42.240
 and their hunger.

00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.559
 And Jesus,

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:45.740
 basically,

00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:46.579
 Charles describes

00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.059
 the Pharisees

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:48.319
 of being legalistic

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:50.480
 and too rigoristic,

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.819
 and so he rebuked them

00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.019
 saying,

00:28:52.120 --> 00:28:52.799
 if you had known

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.600
 what this means,

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.640
 I desire mercy

00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.600
 and not sacrifice,

00:28:55.800 --> 00:28:56.400
 you would not have

00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:57.440
 condemned the guiltless.

00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:00.220
 These leaders forgot

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:01.120
 that the Sabbath

00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:02.080
 was made for man,

00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.259
 not man for the Sabbath.

00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.880
 They turned a commandment

00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:06.720
 that was intended

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.600
 to give people

00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:09.400
 rest and refreshment

00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.320
 and turned it

00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:11.860
 into a most onerous

00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.380
 and heavy

00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:13.940
 and burdensome commandment.

00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.880
 They cared more

00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:18.640
 about external conformity

00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.200
 to the law

00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:20.620
 than about internal transformation.

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.480
 They cared more

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.240
 about the letter

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.900
 of the law

00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.920
 than the spirit

00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.500
 of the law,

00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:25.579
 so they tied up

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.440
 heavy burdens,

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.539
 hard to bear,

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.519
 and then they lay them

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.319
 on people's shoulders

00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:30.140
 while they would not

00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:30.900
 lift a finger

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.519
 to help them.

00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:35.000
 The Greek word

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.779
 behind that word,

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.240
 burden,

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.960
 only occurs twice

00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:39.240
 in all of Matthew.

00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.859
 You can probably guess

00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:41.759
 the other time

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.319
 it was used.

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.559
 Matthew 11,

00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.299
 28 to 30,

00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:45.099
 where Jesus says,

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.059
 come to me,

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.019
 all who labor

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:47.960
 and are heavy laden,

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.240
 and I will give you rest.

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.880
 Take my yoke upon you

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:51.760
 and learn from me,

00:29:51.800 --> 00:29:52.760
 for I am gentle

00:29:52.760 --> 00:29:53.840
 and lowly in heart,

00:29:54.020 --> 00:29:55.700
 and you will find rest

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.800
 for your souls,

00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:58.420
 for my yoke is easy

00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:59.900
 and my burden

00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:00.980
 is light.

00:30:02.300 --> 00:30:04.160
 Jesus is the compassionate

00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:05.600
 teacher and master

00:30:05.600 --> 00:30:06.880
 who assigns to people

00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.800
 a light burden

00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:09.240
 because he himself

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:11.140
 carries the heavy burden

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:12.400
 of the law

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.340
 that we can never bear

00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:15.160
 by dying on the cross

00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:15.880
 for our sins.

00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.360
 But these scribes

00:30:17.360 --> 00:30:18.200
 and the Pharisees

00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:18.940
 are not willing

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.740
 to lift the finger

00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.440
 to help people

00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.440
 carry their heavy burdens

00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.400
 that they themselves

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.279
 have tied upon

00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:23.779
 their shoulders.

00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.779
 Jesus provides

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.599
 specific examples

00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:28.859
 of this in the third

00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.720
 and fourth woes

00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:32.359
 in verses 16 to 22.

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:34.380
 Woe to you blind guides

00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:34.779
 who say,

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.660
 if anyone swears

00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.279
 by the temple,

00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:36.920
 it is nothing,

00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:38.059
 but if anyone swears

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:39.140
 by the gold of the temple,

00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.380
 he is bound by his oath.

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.039
 You blind fools,

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:42.920
 for which is greater,

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.220
 the gold or the temple

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.720
 that has made

00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.460
 the gold sacred?

00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.640
 And you say,

00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.539
 if anyone swears

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.200
 by the altar,

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:48.920
 it is nothing,

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.920
 but if anyone swears

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.539
 by the gift

00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.259
 that is on the altar,

00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:52.700
 he is bound by his oath.

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.200
 You blind men,

00:30:54.300 --> 00:30:55.340
 for which is greater,

00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.640
 the gift or the altar

00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:58.060
 that makes the gift sacred?

00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.720
 So whoever swears

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.340
 by the altar,

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.279
 swears by it

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:02.460
 and by everything on it.

00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.480
 And whoever swears

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.180
 by the temple,

00:31:04.340 --> 00:31:05.060
 swears by it

00:31:05.060 --> 00:31:05.620
 and by him

00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:06.560
 who dwells in it.

00:31:06.860 --> 00:31:07.800
 And whoever swears

00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:08.259
 by heaven,

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:09.560
 swears by the throne of God

00:31:09.560 --> 00:31:10.180
 and by him

00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:11.460
 who sits upon it.

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.860
 Jesus addressed

00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:14.940
 this issue of oaths

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.900
 earlier in chapter 5

00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:16.759
 in the Sermon on the Mount.

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:19.859
 And because the Jews

00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:21.379
 rightly took taking oaths

00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.200
 very seriously

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:23.279
 because they didn't want

00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:25.019
 to take God's name in vain,

00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:26.140
 invoke God's name

00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:27.519
 and swear by God,

00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.319
 his name,

00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:30.059
 they were very hesitant

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:30.680
 to do that.

00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:31.779
 However,

00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:33.119
 they wrongly believed

00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:34.619
 that by taking oaths

00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:36.119
 of sacred things

00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:37.460
 that are not quiet,

00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:39.859
 the same as the name

00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:40.720
 of God himself,

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.640
 that they could get themselves

00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:43.579
 off the hook

00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:44.920
 without consequences

00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.879
 of breaking the oaths

00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:46.240
 they've made.

00:31:47.800 --> 00:31:48.480
 They would say,

00:31:48.800 --> 00:31:50.240
 I swear by heaven

00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:53.360
 that I did not steal

00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.380
 your fattened cow

00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:55.080
 and slaughter it

00:31:55.080 --> 00:31:55.720
 for my birthday

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.380
 the other week.

00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:59.160
 I swear to heaven.

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:00.960
 And then,

00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.420
 they'll be caught later,

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:02.980
 be exposed

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:04.080
 that they did indeed

00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:05.080
 steal that neighbor's

00:32:05.080 --> 00:32:05.640
 fattened calf

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.260
 and slaughtered it

00:32:06.260 --> 00:32:06.900
 for his birthday.

00:32:08.080 --> 00:32:08.940
 And then they'll say,

00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:10.960
 you swore to God.

00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.380
 God's gonna hold you

00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:14.160
 to account for that.

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:15.100
 You swore to God

00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:15.960
 that you didn't do that.

00:32:16.040 --> 00:32:16.519
 Oh, no, no.

00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:18.360
 I never swore to God.

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:20.580
 I swore to heaven.

00:32:24.100 --> 00:32:24.980
 That's very different.

00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:25.980
 That's the dwelling place

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.220
 of God.

00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:27.120
 That's not God.

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.279
 It's legalistic

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.240
 casuistry.

00:32:35.560 --> 00:32:36.779
 And it's specious,

00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.620
 deceptive,

00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.860
 over-subtle reasoning.

00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:41.779
 Whoever swears by heaven

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:43.299
 swears by the throne of God

00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:44.619
 and by him who sits upon it.

00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:47.259
 The other two examples

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.359
 are like further downstream

00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:48.959
 from that,

00:32:49.219 --> 00:32:50.379
 in chapter 23.

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:52.479
 They would swear by the temple

00:32:52.479 --> 00:32:55.479
 and then circumstances

00:32:55.479 --> 00:32:56.099
 would change

00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:57.099
 and it would be

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:58.339
 no longer advantageous

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:58.899
 for them to keep

00:32:58.899 --> 00:32:59.819
 the oaths that they made.

00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:00.500
 And then they would say,

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.539
 oh, you know,

00:33:01.719 --> 00:33:02.919
 if you swear by the temple,

00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:04.859
 it doesn't really work.

00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:08.259
 If you swear by the gold

00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:10.099
 that's in the temple,

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:13.500
 then you're bound by your oath

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.379
 and I didn't do that.

00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:16.479
 That's ridiculous.

00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:18.199
 Why is the gold

00:33:18.199 --> 00:33:19.279
 inside the temple sacred?

00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.259
 Because of the temple.

00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.699
 The temple is sacred

00:33:21.699 --> 00:33:22.000
 because,

00:33:22.659 --> 00:33:23.819
 and why is the temple sacred?

00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:25.000
 Because it's the dwelling place

00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:25.379
 of God.

00:33:26.199 --> 00:33:27.319
 And why were the scribes

00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:27.879
 and the Pharisees

00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:29.859
 engaging in this kind of

00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:31.139
 over-subtle reasoning?

00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.399
 If you've ever played

00:33:32.399 --> 00:33:33.419
 tag with kids,

00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:35.019
 you know exactly

00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:35.800
 what I'm talking about.

00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:37.840
 They have a tendency

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:39.000
 to modify the rules

00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.539
 on the fly.

00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:45.460
 I've done this.

00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:46.420
 I've heard this

00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:47.279
 from kids in our church.

00:33:48.080 --> 00:33:49.019
 I'll be chasing them

00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.480
 for tag

00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:50.380
 and then they'll say,

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:52.160
 oh, this is my home base.

00:33:52.800 --> 00:33:53.920
 You can't tag me

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.680
 while I'm here.

00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:56.000
 They'll say it,

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.279
 of course,

00:33:56.340 --> 00:33:56.720
 they'll say it

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.620
 right after I tag them.

00:33:58.900 --> 00:34:00.480
 And then after patient waiting,

00:34:00.560 --> 00:34:01.779
 when they finally come out

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.660
 of their home base

00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:04.900
 and I'm about to tag them again,

00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:05.920
 they'll say,

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.779
 time out.

00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:09.500
 If I do time out,

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.480
 you can't tag me.

00:34:12.180 --> 00:34:13.460
 They keep changing

00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.860
 the rules of the game

00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:16.800
 to ensure that they always win

00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:18.139
 and you always lose.

00:34:20.680 --> 00:34:21.500
 That's essentially

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.420
 how the Pharisees

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.079
 and the scribes

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.659
 were gaming

00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:25.539
 the system of oaths.

00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:27.059
 Much like the social swearing

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.579
 of our day

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.300
 where people say,

00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:29.619
 I swear to God,

00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:31.039
 I saw a UFO.

00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:33.820
 Why do people say that?

00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.719
 Because they want you

00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:35.860
 to really believe them

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.880
 that they saw a UFO.

00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.300
 It's a form of manipulation

00:34:39.300 --> 00:34:40.940
 to enhance their credibility

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:42.380
 and to make their claims

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:43.179
 more believable.

00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:46.380
 But when time comes

00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:46.719
 for people

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.840
 to cash their checks

00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:49.320
 and the checks bounce,

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:51.159
 then they would use

00:34:51.159 --> 00:34:51.599
 this kind of

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:53.320
 over-subtle specification

00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:54.179
 to free themselves

00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:54.880
 from the oath.

00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:58.720
 Oh, I swore by the altar

00:34:58.720 --> 00:35:00.940
 but I didn't swear

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.559
 by the gift

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.360
 that's on the altar

00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:03.079
 so this is,

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.240
 no, it doesn't work.

00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.579
 It's nothing.

00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:11.420
 Oaths in the Old Testament

00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:12.160
 used to be simple.

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.200
 You'd make an oath

00:35:14.200 --> 00:35:15.019
 by the name of God,

00:35:15.140 --> 00:35:16.119
 you'd make a vow to God

00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:17.180
 and then you'd have to keep it.

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.099
 But now,

00:35:19.240 --> 00:35:20.300
 because of the legalism

00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:21.019
 of the scribes

00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:21.579
 and the Pharisees,

00:35:21.700 --> 00:35:22.539
 every time people

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.619
 wanted to make an oath,

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.940
 they had to consult

00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:27.559
 a long oath-making handbook.

00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.579
 What was I supposed

00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.539
 to swear by again?

00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.219
 Oh, here we go,

00:35:33.339 --> 00:35:34.099
 page 92.

00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:36.299
 I can't swear by God.

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:37.299
 It's by God's temple.

00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:38.219
 Oh, no, no,

00:35:38.279 --> 00:35:38.779
 that's not,

00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:40.639
 the altar within the temple,

00:35:40.759 --> 00:35:41.199
 no, no, no,

00:35:41.259 --> 00:35:41.579
 that's not,

00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:42.960
 that was 10 years ago.

00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:43.920
 Oh, now you have to swear

00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.519
 by the gift

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.960
 that's on top of the altar

00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:47.359
 that's inside the temple

00:35:47.359 --> 00:35:48.639
 where God dwells in.

00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:48.940
 Whew,

00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:50.179
 I almost got that wrong again.

00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:56.239
 Contrast this superficial teaching

00:35:56.239 --> 00:35:57.500
 of the scribes and the Pharisees

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:59.019
 with the substantive teaching

00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:00.619
 of Jesus early in Matthew 5,

00:36:00.799 --> 00:36:01.759
 34 to 37.

00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:03.199
 But I say to you,

00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:06.039
 do not take an oath at all,

00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:08.420
 either by heaven,

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:09.659
 for it is the throne of God,

00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.539
 or by the earth,

00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.599
 for it is his footstool,

00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.380
 or by Jerusalem,

00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:13.159
 for it is the city

00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:14.019
 of the great king.

00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.599
 And do not take an oath

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:16.179
 by your head,

00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:17.139
 for you cannot make

00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:18.420
 one hair white or black.

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.339
 Let what you say

00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:21.659
 be simply yes or no,

00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.579
 anything more than this

00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:24.059
 comes from evil.

00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:26.259
 Vows and oaths

00:36:26.259 --> 00:36:27.119
 are concessions

00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:27.679
 to the hardness

00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:28.539
 of the human heart.

00:36:29.319 --> 00:36:30.799
 There are ways

00:36:30.799 --> 00:36:32.339
 to mitigate and contain

00:36:32.339 --> 00:36:33.159
 human evil

00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:33.779
 and wickedness

00:36:33.779 --> 00:36:34.239
 and lies,

00:36:34.359 --> 00:36:34.719
 deception.

00:36:36.319 --> 00:36:37.559
 If all of humanity

00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:39.500
 practiced complete transparency

00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:40.159
 and honesty

00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:41.379
 in all their speech,

00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:42.960
 then vows and oaths

00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:43.460
 would become

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.799
 immediately unnecessary.

00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:48.859
 That is God's ideal,

00:36:49.279 --> 00:36:50.139
 ultimate standard.

00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:52.119
 Christians ought to be known

00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:53.039
 for their integrity

00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:53.679
 and honesty

00:36:53.679 --> 00:36:54.920
 so that people believe them

00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.879
 when they say something

00:36:55.879 --> 00:36:57.299
 without having to resort

00:36:57.299 --> 00:36:57.920
 to oaths.

00:36:58.739 --> 00:36:59.539
 Weighty words

00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:01.179
 that land with an oomph

00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:02.139
 like heavy dumbbells

00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:05.059
 instead of flighty,

00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:06.219
 fleety words

00:37:06.219 --> 00:37:06.779
 like feathers.

00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:10.639
 But you see,

00:37:10.879 --> 00:37:12.579
 that requires a heart

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:14.219
 that fears God.

00:37:14.219 --> 00:37:18.359
 And cultivating a heart

00:37:18.359 --> 00:37:19.419
 that fears God

00:37:19.419 --> 00:37:21.019
 is way harder

00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:22.579
 than making

00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:23.279
 a hundred page

00:37:23.279 --> 00:37:24.299
 oath making handbook.

00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.739
 Because only God

00:37:28.739 --> 00:37:29.739
 can give us new hearts

00:37:29.739 --> 00:37:30.679
 and transform us

00:37:30.679 --> 00:37:31.500
 from the inside out.

00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:32.419
 And this is why

00:37:32.419 --> 00:37:33.619
 religion without Christ

00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.599
 leads to hypocrisy.

00:37:35.299 --> 00:37:36.539
 You can't change the heart,

00:37:36.859 --> 00:37:38.119
 so you focus on changing

00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:39.039
 what you can change,

00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:39.980
 external behavior.

00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:42.380
 And that always leads

00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.420
 to a really long list

00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:44.539
 of do's and don'ts.

00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:47.599
 And when the rule book

00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:48.320
 gets too long,

00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:49.440
 it inevitably leads

00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.199
 to imbalances

00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:51.639
 and disproportionate emphases.

00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:52.820
 Jesus pronounces

00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:53.500
 the fourth woe

00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:54.280
 in verse 23.

00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.559
 Woe to you,

00:37:55.659 --> 00:37:56.539
 scribes and Pharisees,

00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:57.079
 hypocrites,

00:37:57.139 --> 00:37:58.159
 for you tithe mint

00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:59.039
 and dill and cumin

00:37:59.039 --> 00:37:59.740
 and have neglected

00:37:59.740 --> 00:38:00.579
 the weightier matters

00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:01.119
 of the law,

00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.340
 justice and mercy

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:03.139
 and faithfulness.

00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:04.559
 These you ought to have done

00:38:04.559 --> 00:38:05.519
 without neglecting

00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:05.960
 the others.

00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.900
 Following the Old Testament law,

00:38:08.900 --> 00:38:10.000
 the Pharisees gave

00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:11.119
 a tenth of all

00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:12.099
 their material possessions

00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:12.840
 to God

00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:14.720
 to be used for the worship

00:38:14.720 --> 00:38:15.119
 of God

00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:15.559
 and the ministry

00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.220
 of God's people.

00:38:16.860 --> 00:38:17.280
 However,

00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.039
 as they did

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.780
 to everything else,

00:38:18.820 --> 00:38:19.400
 they took this

00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:20.780
 to the nth degree,

00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:21.599
 to the extreme.

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:23.539
 They would measure

00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:24.800
 and cut

00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:26.380
 an exact tenth

00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:27.800
 of the smallest herbs

00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:29.160
 like mint and dill.

00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.700
 Have you used dill before?

00:38:31.760 --> 00:38:32.820
 You see how small that is?

00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:35.460
 They'd count

00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:37.380
 every tiny seed

00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:37.960
 of cumin

00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:41.840
 to tie the exact amount

00:38:41.840 --> 00:38:44.480
 to the decimal point,

00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:46.059
 the last penny.

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:47.940
 But even as they

00:38:47.940 --> 00:38:49.260
 obeyed this commandment

00:38:49.260 --> 00:38:51.179
 to the minutest detail,

00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:52.519
 they neglected

00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:53.760
 the weightier matters

00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:54.240
 of the law,

00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:55.340
 justice and mercy

00:38:55.340 --> 00:38:56.300
 and faithfulness.

00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:58.360
 It's essentially

00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:59.579
 the great command.

00:39:00.260 --> 00:39:00.860
 Love God,

00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:01.960
 love your neighbor.

00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:05.639
 Jesus says in verse 24,

00:39:05.760 --> 00:39:06.619
 you blind guides

00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:07.960
 straining out a gnat

00:39:07.960 --> 00:39:09.099
 and swallowing a camel.

00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:11.159
 A gnat is the smallest

00:39:11.159 --> 00:39:12.320
 of unclean insects

00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:13.980
 that cause ceremonial uncleanness

00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:14.659
 in the Old Testament

00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:15.940
 and a camel

00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:16.860
 is the largest

00:39:16.860 --> 00:39:18.039
 animal

00:39:18.039 --> 00:39:19.039
 that causes

00:39:19.039 --> 00:39:20.019
 uncleanness

00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:21.280
 in the Bible

00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:23.119
 that was readily available

00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:23.820
 in Palestine.

00:39:23.820 --> 00:39:25.559
 So Jesus is using

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:26.620
 a humorous illustration

00:39:26.620 --> 00:39:27.660
 to drive home his point,

00:39:27.720 --> 00:39:28.220
 not that they were

00:39:28.220 --> 00:39:29.400
 actually swallowing a camel.

00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:31.380
 Imagine the Pharisees

00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:31.920
 and the scribes

00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:33.480
 using a fine sieve

00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:35.240
 to filter out

00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:36.940
 a gnat from their water

00:39:36.940 --> 00:39:37.280
 because they,

00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:37.620
 oh,

00:39:37.800 --> 00:39:38.800
 that's unclean animal,

00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:39.539
 we can't have that.

00:39:39.900 --> 00:39:40.440
 Use a sieve

00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:42.059
 to filter out the gnat.

00:39:42.820 --> 00:39:43.960
 Only to realize

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.960
 that their next course,

00:39:45.100 --> 00:39:45.820
 their main meal

00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:46.500
 is a camel.

00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:51.140
 Eating the whole camel.

00:39:51.139 --> 00:39:53.960
 The biggest unclean animal.

00:39:58.819 --> 00:40:00.239
 Tidying mint and dill

00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:01.279
 and cumin is easy.

00:40:01.739 --> 00:40:02.279
 It's doable.

00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:03.920
 It's manageable.

00:40:05.259 --> 00:40:07.199
 It's a smart goal.

00:40:07.659 --> 00:40:08.679
 S-M-A-R-T.

00:40:08.739 --> 00:40:09.559
 You guys have heard that before?

00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:10.539
 Yeah.

00:40:11.559 --> 00:40:12.199
 Specific,

00:40:12.679 --> 00:40:13.059
 measurable,

00:40:13.500 --> 00:40:13.920
 achievable,

00:40:14.379 --> 00:40:14.699
 relevant,

00:40:15.079 --> 00:40:15.859
 and time-bound.

00:40:17.359 --> 00:40:18.639
 Your work managers

00:40:18.639 --> 00:40:19.239
 would be proud.

00:40:19.239 --> 00:40:21.679
 But what about

00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:23.159
 justice and mercy

00:40:23.159 --> 00:40:24.459
 and faithfulness?

00:40:26.319 --> 00:40:26.959
 Jesus,

00:40:27.339 --> 00:40:28.719
 that's so broad.

00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:33.239
 That's a sprawling,

00:40:34.319 --> 00:40:35.179
 unmeasurable,

00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:36.239
 comprehensive,

00:40:36.879 --> 00:40:37.239
 unachievable,

00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:39.279
 and not time-bound

00:40:39.279 --> 00:40:40.599
 standard.

00:40:43.319 --> 00:40:45.139
 When can you ever say

00:40:45.139 --> 00:40:46.019
 of yourself,

00:40:46.019 --> 00:40:48.199
 let's look at,

00:40:48.519 --> 00:40:49.659
 catalog my date today,

00:40:49.800 --> 00:40:50.820
 justice and mercy

00:40:50.820 --> 00:40:51.519
 and faithfulness.

00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:51.679
 Oh,

00:40:51.820 --> 00:40:52.300
 I did that.

00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:52.599
 Check.

00:40:52.860 --> 00:40:53.159
 Finished.

00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.920
 You can now see

00:40:58.920 --> 00:41:00.039
 the appeal of legalism.

00:41:02.920 --> 00:41:03.840
 It's measurable.

00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:05.800
 It's manageable.

00:41:06.739 --> 00:41:07.539
 It's easier

00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:08.340
 to evaluate

00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:09.199
 the performance

00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:10.980
 and assign grades.

00:41:11.079 --> 00:41:11.440
 No wonder

00:41:11.440 --> 00:41:11.900
 the scribes

00:41:11.900 --> 00:41:12.420
 and the Pharisees

00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:13.000
 loved it.

00:41:13.820 --> 00:41:14.759
 Tithing 10%

00:41:14.759 --> 00:41:15.159
 to church

00:41:15.159 --> 00:41:15.839
 is easy.

00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:17.920
 It's measurable

00:41:17.920 --> 00:41:19.339
 and manageable.

00:41:20.539 --> 00:41:21.639
 But making sure

00:41:21.639 --> 00:41:22.500
 that everything

00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:23.319
 you do

00:41:23.319 --> 00:41:24.839
 and every penny

00:41:24.839 --> 00:41:25.460
 you spend

00:41:25.460 --> 00:41:26.839
 is for the love

00:41:26.839 --> 00:41:27.299
 of God

00:41:27.299 --> 00:41:27.879
 and for the love

00:41:27.879 --> 00:41:28.319
 of neighbor,

00:41:28.500 --> 00:41:29.119
 for justice

00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:29.719
 and mercy

00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:30.579
 and faithfulness,

00:41:30.699 --> 00:41:31.799
 that's hard.

00:41:32.719 --> 00:41:33.719
 That requires

00:41:33.719 --> 00:41:34.379
 total,

00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:35.379
 comprehensive,

00:41:35.899 --> 00:41:36.759
 never-ending

00:41:36.759 --> 00:41:37.359
 commitment.

00:41:39.819 --> 00:41:41.159
 Don't neglect

00:41:41.159 --> 00:41:42.399
 tithing,

00:41:42.400 --> 00:41:43.400
 knowledge,

00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:44.119
 but don't

00:41:44.119 --> 00:41:45.059
 reduce your

00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:45.559
 stewardship

00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:45.980
 to that

00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:47.119
 by-size law

00:41:47.119 --> 00:41:47.539
 either.

00:41:48.360 --> 00:41:48.880
 Make sure

00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:49.180
 that you're

00:41:49.180 --> 00:41:49.660
 loving God

00:41:49.660 --> 00:41:50.360
 with all

00:41:50.360 --> 00:41:51.200
 that you have.

00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:55.019
 Perhaps you're

00:41:55.019 --> 00:41:55.960
 extremely concerned

00:41:55.960 --> 00:41:56.900
 with theological

00:41:56.900 --> 00:41:57.639
 minutiae

00:41:57.639 --> 00:41:58.660
 or overly eager

00:41:58.660 --> 00:41:59.260
 to point out

00:41:59.260 --> 00:41:59.940
 people's sins

00:41:59.940 --> 00:42:00.579
 and in the name

00:42:00.579 --> 00:42:01.200
 of theological

00:42:01.200 --> 00:42:01.740
 precision

00:42:01.740 --> 00:42:02.260
 and holiness

00:42:02.260 --> 00:42:02.920
 you sinfully

00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:03.300
 judge

00:42:03.300 --> 00:42:04.160
 and tear down

00:42:04.160 --> 00:42:04.500
 your brother

00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:04.840
 or sister

00:42:04.840 --> 00:42:05.380
 in Christ.

00:42:05.780 --> 00:42:06.559
 Don't neglect

00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:07.240
 knowledge.

00:42:07.820 --> 00:42:08.480
 Fine-tune

00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:09.139
 your theology

00:42:09.139 --> 00:42:09.740
 about the nature

00:42:09.739 --> 00:42:10.139
 of God.

00:42:10.259 --> 00:42:11.119
 Get the details

00:42:11.119 --> 00:42:11.579
 right,

00:42:11.799 --> 00:42:12.500
 but don't

00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:13.079
 stop there.

00:42:13.199 --> 00:42:13.619
 Make sure

00:42:13.619 --> 00:42:14.099
 that you

00:42:14.099 --> 00:42:15.059
 love God

00:42:15.059 --> 00:42:15.479
 with all

00:42:15.479 --> 00:42:16.000
 your heart

00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:16.479
 and soul

00:42:16.479 --> 00:42:16.979
 and mind.

00:42:18.579 --> 00:42:19.179
 Make sure

00:42:19.179 --> 00:42:19.379
 that you

00:42:19.379 --> 00:42:19.939
 love your

00:42:19.939 --> 00:42:20.219
 neighbor

00:42:20.219 --> 00:42:20.819
 as yourself

00:42:20.819 --> 00:42:21.359
 and make

00:42:21.359 --> 00:42:21.679
 sure that

00:42:21.679 --> 00:42:22.419
 that love

00:42:22.419 --> 00:42:23.119
 is communicated

00:42:23.119 --> 00:42:23.599
 when you

00:42:23.599 --> 00:42:24.000
 bring any

00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:24.399
 kind of

00:42:24.399 --> 00:42:24.779
 correction.

00:42:26.899 --> 00:42:27.599
 Getting the

00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:28.000
 theology

00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:28.439
 right in

00:42:28.439 --> 00:42:28.939
 your head

00:42:28.939 --> 00:42:29.739
 is way

00:42:29.739 --> 00:42:30.419
 easier than

00:42:30.419 --> 00:42:30.899
 getting the

00:42:30.899 --> 00:42:31.259
 theology

00:42:31.259 --> 00:42:31.679
 right in

00:42:31.679 --> 00:42:32.179
 your heart.

00:42:35.039 --> 00:42:35.739
 And it's

00:42:35.739 --> 00:42:36.359
 impossible

00:42:36.359 --> 00:42:36.899
 to get it

00:42:36.899 --> 00:42:37.179
 right in

00:42:37.179 --> 00:42:37.659
 your heart

00:42:37.659 --> 00:42:39.359
 unless God

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:39.780
 makes you

00:42:39.780 --> 00:42:40.039
 a new

00:42:40.039 --> 00:42:40.440
 creation

00:42:40.440 --> 00:42:40.840
 in Christ

00:42:40.840 --> 00:42:41.160
 Jesus.

00:42:43.720 --> 00:42:44.340
 That's why

00:42:44.340 --> 00:42:44.940
 religion without

00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:45.559
 Christ leads

00:42:45.559 --> 00:42:46.240
 to hypocrisy.

00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:48.620
 The scribes

00:42:48.620 --> 00:42:49.240
 and the Pharisees

00:42:49.240 --> 00:42:50.059
 spiritual blindness

00:42:50.059 --> 00:42:50.800
 and legalism,

00:42:50.900 --> 00:42:51.320
 their focus

00:42:51.320 --> 00:42:51.940
 on outward

00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:52.519
 conformity

00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:52.920
 rather than

00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:53.200
 inward

00:42:53.200 --> 00:42:53.800
 transformation

00:42:53.800 --> 00:42:54.400
 naturally

00:42:54.400 --> 00:42:54.980
 produced

00:42:54.980 --> 00:42:55.800
 hypocrisy

00:42:55.800 --> 00:42:57.340
 and produced

00:42:57.340 --> 00:42:58.160
 imposters.

00:43:00.160 --> 00:43:00.860
 Jesus says

00:43:00.860 --> 00:43:01.480
 in verse 5,

00:43:01.539 --> 00:43:02.059
 they do all

00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:02.500
 their deeds

00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:03.240
 to be seen

00:43:03.240 --> 00:43:03.800
 by others

00:43:03.800 --> 00:43:04.120
 for they

00:43:04.120 --> 00:43:04.599
 make their

00:43:04.599 --> 00:43:05.240
 philacteries

00:43:05.240 --> 00:43:05.700
 broad

00:43:05.700 --> 00:43:06.120
 and their

00:43:06.120 --> 00:43:06.559
 fringes

00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:06.980
 long.

00:43:07.680 --> 00:43:07.960
 They are

00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:09.160
 true hypocrites

00:43:09.159 --> 00:43:10.019
 which comes

00:43:10.019 --> 00:43:10.299
 from the

00:43:10.299 --> 00:43:10.799
 Greek word

00:43:10.799 --> 00:43:11.619
 for actors.

00:43:12.420 --> 00:43:12.859
 Actors

00:43:12.859 --> 00:43:13.739
 only act

00:43:13.739 --> 00:43:14.239
 like they

00:43:14.239 --> 00:43:15.139
 do when

00:43:15.139 --> 00:43:15.480
 they are

00:43:15.480 --> 00:43:16.019
 on the

00:43:16.019 --> 00:43:16.440
 screen,

00:43:17.179 --> 00:43:17.759
 when they

00:43:17.759 --> 00:43:18.119
 know people

00:43:18.119 --> 00:43:18.539
 are watching

00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:18.799
 them.

00:43:19.839 --> 00:43:20.779
 They pretend

00:43:20.779 --> 00:43:21.159
 to be

00:43:21.159 --> 00:43:21.779
 something that

00:43:21.779 --> 00:43:22.059
 they are

00:43:22.059 --> 00:43:22.679
 not in

00:43:22.679 --> 00:43:23.239
 real life.

00:43:24.159 --> 00:43:24.519
 Jesus

00:43:24.519 --> 00:43:25.659
 detailed what

00:43:25.659 --> 00:43:26.299
 hypocrites are

00:43:26.299 --> 00:43:26.839
 like in the

00:43:26.839 --> 00:43:27.279
 Sermon on the

00:43:27.279 --> 00:43:27.579
 Mount in

00:43:27.579 --> 00:43:28.079
 chapter 6.

00:43:28.159 --> 00:43:28.420
 They're the

00:43:28.420 --> 00:43:28.839
 ones who

00:43:28.839 --> 00:43:29.579
 give to

00:43:29.579 --> 00:43:30.219
 the poor

00:43:30.219 --> 00:43:31.199
 but only

00:43:31.199 --> 00:43:31.679
 when they're

00:43:31.679 --> 00:43:32.359
 sure that

00:43:32.359 --> 00:43:33.079
 their charitable

00:43:33.079 --> 00:43:33.899
 giving will

00:43:33.899 --> 00:43:34.420
 be noticed

00:43:34.420 --> 00:43:35.039
 by others.

00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:36.559
 They don't

00:43:36.559 --> 00:43:37.239
 care a whit

00:43:37.239 --> 00:43:37.939
 about the

00:43:37.939 --> 00:43:38.239
 poor.

00:43:38.899 --> 00:43:39.399
 They care

00:43:39.399 --> 00:43:40.119
 only about

00:43:40.119 --> 00:43:40.899
 being thought

00:43:40.899 --> 00:43:42.179
 of by others

00:43:42.179 --> 00:43:42.699
 as being

00:43:42.699 --> 00:43:43.079
 charitable.

00:43:44.039 --> 00:43:44.639
 The hypocrites

00:43:44.639 --> 00:43:45.199
 are those who

00:43:45.199 --> 00:43:46.159
 go to prayer

00:43:46.159 --> 00:43:46.919
 meetings and

00:43:46.919 --> 00:43:47.659
 say long

00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:48.299
 pretentious

00:43:48.299 --> 00:43:49.219
 prayers when

00:43:49.219 --> 00:43:49.759
 people are

00:43:49.759 --> 00:43:51.219
 watching but

00:43:51.219 --> 00:43:51.699
 people who

00:43:51.699 --> 00:43:53.099
 never pray in

00:43:53.099 --> 00:43:53.659
 secret when

00:43:53.659 --> 00:43:54.099
 no one is

00:43:54.099 --> 00:43:54.500
 watching.

00:43:56.739 --> 00:43:57.500
 They couldn't

00:43:57.500 --> 00:43:58.119
 care less

00:43:58.119 --> 00:43:58.659
 about praying

00:43:58.659 --> 00:43:59.119
 to God.

00:43:59.500 --> 00:43:59.879
 They only

00:43:59.879 --> 00:44:00.719
 care that

00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:01.379
 other people

00:44:01.379 --> 00:44:02.119
 think that

00:44:02.119 --> 00:44:03.219
 they pray

00:44:03.219 --> 00:44:03.699
 and that

00:44:03.699 --> 00:44:03.919
 they are

00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:04.519
 pious.

00:44:06.139 --> 00:44:06.880
 This is why

00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:07.240
 they make

00:44:07.240 --> 00:44:08.059
 their phylacteries

00:44:08.059 --> 00:44:08.920
 broad and

00:44:08.920 --> 00:44:09.400
 their fringes

00:44:09.400 --> 00:44:09.740
 long.

00:44:10.680 --> 00:44:10.980
 I mentioned

00:44:10.980 --> 00:44:11.420
 to you guys

00:44:11.420 --> 00:44:12.079
 the phylacteries

00:44:12.079 --> 00:44:12.480
 are these

00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:13.220
 leather boxes

00:44:13.220 --> 00:44:13.860
 that the Jews

00:44:13.860 --> 00:44:14.579
 wear with a

00:44:14.579 --> 00:44:15.079
 band around

00:44:15.079 --> 00:44:15.599
 their forehead

00:44:15.599 --> 00:44:15.960
 on their

00:44:15.960 --> 00:44:16.220
 arm.

00:44:17.380 --> 00:44:17.840
 It contained

00:44:17.840 --> 00:44:18.340
 the Shema

00:44:18.340 --> 00:44:18.860
 Deuteronomy

00:44:18.860 --> 00:44:20.519
 6, 4-8.

00:44:20.659 --> 00:44:21.039
 Hear, O

00:44:21.039 --> 00:44:21.380
 Israel, the

00:44:21.380 --> 00:44:21.720
 Lord our

00:44:21.720 --> 00:44:22.079
 God, the

00:44:22.079 --> 00:44:22.480
 Lord is

00:44:22.480 --> 00:44:22.720
 one.

00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:23.079
 Love the

00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:23.300
 Lord your

00:44:23.300 --> 00:44:23.460
 God with

00:44:23.460 --> 00:44:23.740
 all your

00:44:23.740 --> 00:44:24.159
 heart and

00:44:24.159 --> 00:44:24.659
 soul and

00:44:24.659 --> 00:44:25.220
 strength.

00:44:26.920 --> 00:44:27.480
 One of the

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:27.980
 most important

00:44:27.980 --> 00:44:28.599
 passages for

00:44:28.599 --> 00:44:29.139
 Jews, they

00:44:29.139 --> 00:44:29.680
 tied it.

00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:31.079
 Even though

00:44:31.079 --> 00:44:31.500
 the original

00:44:31.500 --> 00:44:32.039
 command in

00:44:32.039 --> 00:44:32.280
 Deuteronomy

00:44:32.280 --> 00:44:33.099
 6-8 was

00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:33.839
 figurative.

00:44:34.119 --> 00:44:34.559
 It means

00:44:34.559 --> 00:44:35.239
 keep the

00:44:35.239 --> 00:44:35.539
 word of

00:44:35.539 --> 00:44:36.239
 God always

00:44:36.239 --> 00:44:36.860
 with you.

00:44:37.279 --> 00:44:37.659
 Keep the

00:44:37.659 --> 00:44:38.199
 commandments of

00:44:38.199 --> 00:44:38.739
 God always

00:44:38.739 --> 00:44:39.119
 with you.

00:44:39.179 --> 00:44:39.440
 But they

00:44:39.440 --> 00:44:39.980
 took it

00:44:39.980 --> 00:44:40.980
 literally and

00:44:40.980 --> 00:44:41.880
 put on

00:44:41.880 --> 00:44:42.559
 parchment the

00:44:42.559 --> 00:44:43.059
 command and

00:44:43.059 --> 00:44:43.679
 literally wore

00:44:43.679 --> 00:44:44.000
 it on their

00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:44.400
 forehead and

00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:44.739
 arms.

00:44:49.119 --> 00:44:50.339
 Likewise, the

00:44:50.339 --> 00:44:51.739
 tassels, the

00:44:51.739 --> 00:44:52.639
 fringes, it

00:44:52.639 --> 00:44:53.239
 refers to these

00:44:53.239 --> 00:44:54.059
 tassels that

00:44:54.059 --> 00:44:54.920
 are commanded

00:44:54.920 --> 00:44:56.639
 in Numbers 15,

00:44:57.000 --> 00:44:57.980
 38-39.

00:44:58.199 --> 00:44:58.719
 On the four

00:44:58.719 --> 00:44:59.380
 corners of their

00:44:59.380 --> 00:44:59.819
 garments they

00:44:59.819 --> 00:45:00.299
 would wear these

00:45:00.299 --> 00:45:00.839
 tassels and

00:45:00.839 --> 00:45:01.360
 they would attach

00:45:01.360 --> 00:45:02.099
 these blue

00:45:02.099 --> 00:45:02.860
 cords to it.

00:45:03.099 --> 00:45:03.360
 And the

00:45:03.360 --> 00:45:03.980
 intention was

00:45:03.980 --> 00:45:04.819
 to remind, to

00:45:04.819 --> 00:45:05.279
 serve as a

00:45:05.279 --> 00:45:06.199
 visual reminder

00:45:06.199 --> 00:45:07.079
 of the

00:45:07.079 --> 00:45:07.719
 commandments of

00:45:07.719 --> 00:45:08.059
 God, that

00:45:08.059 --> 00:45:08.319
 they should

00:45:08.319 --> 00:45:08.860
 obey the

00:45:08.860 --> 00:45:09.500
 commandments of

00:45:09.500 --> 00:45:09.860
 God.

00:45:12.619 --> 00:45:13.659
 And the

00:45:13.659 --> 00:45:14.239
 Pharisees in

00:45:14.239 --> 00:45:14.860
 the scribes,

00:45:16.599 --> 00:45:17.239
 instead of

00:45:17.239 --> 00:45:17.960
 using them as

00:45:17.960 --> 00:45:18.659
 reminders to

00:45:18.659 --> 00:45:19.339
 obey God's

00:45:19.339 --> 00:45:20.440
 commands, reminders

00:45:20.440 --> 00:45:21.079
 for themselves,

00:45:21.319 --> 00:45:22.279
 they use those

00:45:22.279 --> 00:45:23.039
 things to remind

00:45:23.039 --> 00:45:24.099
 other people of

00:45:24.099 --> 00:45:25.179
 how obedient they

00:45:25.179 --> 00:45:25.460
 are.

00:45:25.460 --> 00:45:29.900
 God's

00:45:29.900 --> 00:45:30.340
 God.

00:45:30.199 --> 00:45:31.720
 like there's a

00:45:31.720 --> 00:45:33.000
 joke among the

00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:33.599
 Greek Orthodox

00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:35.260
 Christians that

00:45:35.260 --> 00:45:37.079
 the length of

00:45:37.079 --> 00:45:38.000
 the priest's

00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:38.960
 beard corresponds

00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:40.119
 to how holy he

00:45:40.119 --> 00:45:40.440
 is.

00:45:43.780 --> 00:45:44.780
 And there's a

00:45:44.780 --> 00:45:45.340
 joke among

00:45:45.340 --> 00:45:45.980
 Reformed

00:45:45.980 --> 00:45:48.539
 Protestants that

00:45:48.539 --> 00:45:49.800
 the size of the

00:45:49.800 --> 00:45:50.860
 preacher's pulpit

00:45:50.860 --> 00:45:52.220
 corresponds to how

00:45:52.220 --> 00:45:53.340
 seriously he takes

00:45:53.340 --> 00:45:54.220
 God's word and how

00:45:54.220 --> 00:45:54.800
 weighty his

00:45:54.800 --> 00:45:55.360
 preaching is.

00:45:57.920 --> 00:45:58.660
 If you don't

00:45:58.660 --> 00:45:59.420
 have a pulpit at

00:45:59.420 --> 00:45:59.880
 all, you've

00:45:59.880 --> 00:46:00.780
 probably abandoned

00:46:00.780 --> 00:46:02.060
 preaching altogether.

00:46:02.920 --> 00:46:03.720
 If you use a

00:46:03.720 --> 00:46:04.760
 cafe table, then

00:46:04.760 --> 00:46:05.100
 you're a

00:46:05.100 --> 00:46:05.780
 lightweight preacher

00:46:05.780 --> 00:46:06.400
 with flimsy

00:46:06.400 --> 00:46:06.800
 theology.

00:46:07.600 --> 00:46:09.539
 If you use a

00:46:09.539 --> 00:46:10.700
 sturdy, imposing

00:46:10.700 --> 00:46:11.780
 mahogany pulpit,

00:46:12.340 --> 00:46:13.060
 is this mahogany?

00:46:13.160 --> 00:46:13.519
 I don't know.

00:46:14.340 --> 00:46:14.960
 Then you're an

00:46:14.960 --> 00:46:15.940
 expository preacher

00:46:15.940 --> 00:46:16.900
 with solid theology.

00:46:17.960 --> 00:46:19.019
 If you use an

00:46:19.019 --> 00:46:20.100
 elevated pulpit,

00:46:20.360 --> 00:46:20.880
 then you're a

00:46:20.880 --> 00:46:21.320
 five-point

00:46:21.320 --> 00:46:22.080
 Calvinist with a

00:46:22.080 --> 00:46:22.560
 high view of

00:46:22.560 --> 00:46:22.780
 God.

00:46:24.800 --> 00:46:26.340
 These are all

00:46:26.340 --> 00:46:27.160
 jokes and

00:46:27.160 --> 00:46:28.039
 memes, but

00:46:28.039 --> 00:46:28.420
 there's some

00:46:28.420 --> 00:46:29.120
 truth to them.

00:46:30.920 --> 00:46:31.519
 Sometimes

00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:33.039
 priests and

00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:34.640
 preachers do

00:46:34.640 --> 00:46:35.840
 use things like

00:46:35.840 --> 00:46:37.019
 these to project

00:46:37.019 --> 00:46:38.500
 holiness, to

00:46:38.500 --> 00:46:39.519
 showcase their

00:46:39.519 --> 00:46:39.900
 holiness.

00:46:42.500 --> 00:46:43.280
 That's what the

00:46:43.280 --> 00:46:43.820
 scribes and the

00:46:43.820 --> 00:46:44.260
 Pharisees were

00:46:44.260 --> 00:46:44.900
 doing with their

00:46:44.900 --> 00:46:46.100
 broad phylacteries

00:46:46.100 --> 00:46:47.060
 and long fringes.

00:46:47.140 --> 00:46:47.640
 They didn't really

00:46:47.640 --> 00:46:48.460
 care about being

00:46:48.460 --> 00:46:49.840
 holy for God's

00:46:49.840 --> 00:46:50.080
 sake.

00:46:50.360 --> 00:46:51.220
 They cared only

00:46:51.220 --> 00:46:51.640
 about being

00:46:51.640 --> 00:46:52.640
 perceived as

00:46:52.639 --> 00:46:54.099
 holy by men,

00:46:54.299 --> 00:46:54.879
 for they love

00:46:54.879 --> 00:46:55.579
 the glory that

00:46:55.579 --> 00:46:56.319
 comes from men

00:46:56.319 --> 00:46:56.699
 more than the

00:46:56.699 --> 00:46:57.099
 glory that

00:46:57.099 --> 00:46:57.819
 comes from God.

00:47:00.179 --> 00:47:00.920
 For the same

00:47:00.920 --> 00:47:01.359
 reason Jesus

00:47:01.359 --> 00:47:01.900
 says in verse

00:47:01.900 --> 00:47:02.679
 6 and 7,

00:47:02.779 --> 00:47:03.460
 they love the

00:47:03.460 --> 00:47:04.279
 place of honor

00:47:04.279 --> 00:47:04.900
 at feasts and

00:47:04.900 --> 00:47:05.659
 the best seats in

00:47:05.659 --> 00:47:06.339
 the synagogues and

00:47:06.339 --> 00:47:07.000
 greetings in the

00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:07.759
 marketplaces and

00:47:07.759 --> 00:47:08.279
 being called

00:47:08.279 --> 00:47:09.659
 rabbi by others.

00:47:11.480 --> 00:47:12.319
 I've shared this

00:47:12.319 --> 00:47:12.879
 story with some

00:47:12.879 --> 00:47:14.159
 of you years ago.

00:47:14.940 --> 00:47:16.059
 In 2010, I

00:47:16.059 --> 00:47:16.940
 volunteered at

00:47:16.940 --> 00:47:18.719
 this congress

00:47:18.719 --> 00:47:19.500
 called the

00:47:19.500 --> 00:47:20.239
 Third Lausanne

00:47:20.239 --> 00:47:20.879
 Congress for

00:47:20.879 --> 00:47:21.960
 World Evangelization.

00:47:21.960 --> 00:47:22.619
 It was held in

00:47:22.619 --> 00:47:23.139
 Cape Town,

00:47:23.720 --> 00:47:24.340
 South Africa.

00:47:25.440 --> 00:47:26.400
 There were 4,000

00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:27.099
 Christian leaders

00:47:27.099 --> 00:47:28.980
 from 198 countries

00:47:28.980 --> 00:47:29.639
 attending.

00:47:30.500 --> 00:47:31.320
 I was volunteering.

00:47:32.579 --> 00:47:33.720
 And one evening

00:47:33.720 --> 00:47:34.380
 at the conference,

00:47:34.500 --> 00:47:35.119
 there was a bit of

00:47:35.119 --> 00:47:35.900
 a stir, some

00:47:35.900 --> 00:47:37.000
 commotion, because

00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:38.119
 an Anglican bishop

00:47:38.119 --> 00:47:39.280
 refused to sit

00:47:39.280 --> 00:47:39.659
 down.

00:47:40.820 --> 00:47:42.980
 He protested that

00:47:42.980 --> 00:47:44.019
 he should not be

00:47:44.019 --> 00:47:45.119
 sitting on an

00:47:45.119 --> 00:47:46.559
 ordinary chair like

00:47:46.559 --> 00:47:47.460
 the rest of the

00:47:47.460 --> 00:47:48.539
 conference attendees

00:47:48.539 --> 00:47:50.039
 because he's a

00:47:50.039 --> 00:47:50.280
 bishop.

00:47:51.960 --> 00:47:52.920
 And he demanded a

00:47:52.920 --> 00:47:53.780
 special chair that

00:47:53.780 --> 00:47:54.440
 befitted his

00:47:54.440 --> 00:47:54.920
 office.

00:47:56.059 --> 00:47:56.720
 It's shocking.

00:48:00.119 --> 00:48:01.460
 How can someone

00:48:01.460 --> 00:48:02.639
 who has heard

00:48:02.639 --> 00:48:04.059
 Jesus' teaching in

00:48:04.059 --> 00:48:05.340
 Luke 14, 8 to 11

00:48:05.340 --> 00:48:06.760
 ever think to

00:48:06.760 --> 00:48:07.900
 demand such a

00:48:07.900 --> 00:48:08.179
 thing?

00:48:10.880 --> 00:48:12.440
 Jesus expressly

00:48:12.440 --> 00:48:13.220
 tells his people,

00:48:13.380 --> 00:48:14.039
 whenever you go to

00:48:14.039 --> 00:48:14.900
 a place, seek out

00:48:14.900 --> 00:48:16.099
 the lowest place.

00:48:16.720 --> 00:48:17.539
 Sit on the lowest

00:48:17.539 --> 00:48:18.340
 place so that they

00:48:18.340 --> 00:48:19.199
 tell you to come up

00:48:19.199 --> 00:48:19.659
 and sit in the

00:48:19.659 --> 00:48:20.159
 higher place.

00:48:20.159 --> 00:48:21.099
 Don't go seeking

00:48:21.099 --> 00:48:21.739
 out the high

00:48:21.739 --> 00:48:22.739
 place and then be

00:48:22.739 --> 00:48:23.519
 humiliated when they

00:48:23.519 --> 00:48:23.980
 tell you, no, you

00:48:23.980 --> 00:48:24.819
 have to go sit down

00:48:24.819 --> 00:48:25.059
 there.

00:48:28.480 --> 00:48:29.239
 For everyone who

00:48:29.239 --> 00:48:30.039
 exalts himself will

00:48:30.039 --> 00:48:30.699
 be humbled and who

00:48:30.699 --> 00:48:31.599
 humbles himself will

00:48:31.599 --> 00:48:32.339
 be exalted.

00:48:34.699 --> 00:48:35.440
 And the scribes and

00:48:35.440 --> 00:48:36.799
 the Pharisees who knew

00:48:36.799 --> 00:48:37.420
 the Old Testament

00:48:37.420 --> 00:48:38.000
 should have known

00:48:38.000 --> 00:48:39.379
 better because Proverbs

00:48:39.379 --> 00:48:41.559
 25, 67 says this

00:48:41.559 --> 00:48:42.519
 exact thing.

00:48:42.980 --> 00:48:44.039
 Do not put yourself

00:48:44.039 --> 00:48:45.099
 forward in the king's

00:48:45.099 --> 00:48:46.359
 presence or stand in

00:48:46.359 --> 00:48:47.440
 the place of the

00:48:47.440 --> 00:48:47.879
 great.

00:48:47.880 --> 00:48:56.820
 But how do Christian

00:48:56.820 --> 00:48:57.800
 leaders get to that

00:48:57.800 --> 00:48:58.500
 kind of place?

00:49:00.500 --> 00:49:01.420
 When you are a

00:49:01.420 --> 00:49:02.460
 hypocrite seeking your

00:49:02.460 --> 00:49:04.019
 own glory rather than

00:49:04.019 --> 00:49:05.760
 the glory of God, if

00:49:05.760 --> 00:49:06.820
 you care more about

00:49:06.820 --> 00:49:09.079
 man's approval than

00:49:09.079 --> 00:49:10.980
 God's approval, then

00:49:10.980 --> 00:49:12.820
 the gravitational pull

00:49:12.820 --> 00:49:14.300
 of those places of

00:49:14.300 --> 00:49:15.400
 honor and the seats,

00:49:15.480 --> 00:49:16.240
 the best seats, are

00:49:16.239 --> 00:49:16.939
 irresistible.

00:49:22.519 --> 00:49:23.619
 The scribes and the

00:49:23.619 --> 00:49:24.539
 Pharisees loved

00:49:24.539 --> 00:49:25.459
 greetings in the

00:49:25.459 --> 00:49:26.299
 marketplaces and being

00:49:26.299 --> 00:49:27.799
 called rabbi by others.

00:49:28.659 --> 00:49:29.500
 Courtesy greetings in

00:49:29.500 --> 00:49:30.699
 this culture is very

00:49:30.699 --> 00:49:31.159
 important.

00:49:32.119 --> 00:49:32.839
 It would be a grievous

00:49:32.839 --> 00:49:33.759
 insult to not

00:49:33.759 --> 00:49:34.879
 acknowledge your social

00:49:34.879 --> 00:49:35.959
 superior with proper

00:49:35.959 --> 00:49:36.979
 honorific titles.

00:49:37.539 --> 00:49:38.079
 And the scribes and

00:49:38.079 --> 00:49:39.319
 the Pharisees loved to

00:49:39.319 --> 00:49:40.399
 be called rabbi by

00:49:40.399 --> 00:49:40.759
 others.

00:49:41.759 --> 00:49:42.859
 The word rabbi comes

00:49:42.859 --> 00:49:43.659
 from the Hebrew word

00:49:43.659 --> 00:49:45.519
 rav, which means

00:49:45.519 --> 00:49:45.960
 great.

00:49:46.739 --> 00:49:48.159
 Rabbi means my

00:49:48.159 --> 00:49:49.019
 great one.

00:49:50.539 --> 00:49:51.599
 Or it means my

00:49:51.599 --> 00:49:52.719
 master or my

00:49:52.719 --> 00:49:53.219
 teacher.

00:49:53.900 --> 00:49:54.739
 Similar to the

00:49:54.739 --> 00:49:55.619
 titles we use like

00:49:55.619 --> 00:49:56.880
 reverend or doctor.

00:49:58.599 --> 00:50:00.420
 Whenever I ISVP to a

00:50:00.420 --> 00:50:01.639
 conference, a Christian

00:50:01.639 --> 00:50:02.639
 conference, usually you

00:50:02.639 --> 00:50:03.239
 have to fill out your

00:50:03.239 --> 00:50:03.679
 information.

00:50:04.199 --> 00:50:05.039
 And there's usually a

00:50:05.039 --> 00:50:06.219
 section where you are

00:50:06.219 --> 00:50:07.460
 asked to select your

00:50:07.460 --> 00:50:07.940
 title.

00:50:07.940 --> 00:50:10.260
 And I always think for

00:50:10.260 --> 00:50:11.400
 half a second and then

00:50:11.400 --> 00:50:12.960
 I just select mister.

00:50:16.019 --> 00:50:17.260
 As an ordained minister,

00:50:17.380 --> 00:50:18.460
 technically I can select

00:50:18.460 --> 00:50:19.079
 reverend.

00:50:20.700 --> 00:50:22.200
 But that just seems so

00:50:22.200 --> 00:50:26.400
 like God knows I'm his

00:50:26.400 --> 00:50:26.659
 servant.

00:50:28.760 --> 00:50:30.460
 My church congregants know

00:50:30.460 --> 00:50:31.240
 that I'm their pastor.

00:50:31.239 --> 00:50:33.259
 Why do all these other

00:50:33.259 --> 00:50:34.179
 people need to know that

00:50:34.179 --> 00:50:34.739
 I'm a pastor?

00:50:36.659 --> 00:50:37.799
 Why do I have to have

00:50:37.799 --> 00:50:38.739
 reverend in my name

00:50:38.739 --> 00:50:39.879
 placard at the

00:50:39.879 --> 00:50:40.259
 conference?

00:50:40.399 --> 00:50:40.539
 Why?

00:50:40.619 --> 00:50:41.879
 Because I'm afraid that

00:50:41.879 --> 00:50:43.000
 people think I'm not

00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:44.000
 important enough to talk

00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:44.179
 to?

00:50:44.799 --> 00:50:45.899
 Isn't that exactly what

00:50:45.899 --> 00:50:47.059
 James 2 warns against?

00:50:47.139 --> 00:50:48.219
 That kind of partiality?

00:50:51.219 --> 00:50:52.359
 Jesus supplies more

00:50:52.359 --> 00:50:53.459
 examples of this kind of

00:50:53.459 --> 00:50:54.679
 glory-seeking hypocrisy in

00:50:54.679 --> 00:50:55.639
 the fifth and sixth woes of

00:50:55.639 --> 00:50:56.739
 verses 25 to 28.

00:50:56.739 --> 00:50:57.859
 Woe to you, scribes and

00:50:57.859 --> 00:50:59.439
 Pharisees, hypocrites, for

00:50:59.439 --> 00:51:00.500
 you clean the outside of

00:51:00.500 --> 00:51:01.500
 the cup and the plate, but

00:51:01.500 --> 00:51:02.639
 inside they are full of

00:51:02.639 --> 00:51:03.839
 greed and self-indulgence.

00:51:04.119 --> 00:51:05.639
 You blind Pharisee, first

00:51:05.639 --> 00:51:06.879
 clean the inside of the

00:51:06.879 --> 00:51:07.979
 cup and the plate, that

00:51:07.979 --> 00:51:09.339
 the outside also may be

00:51:09.339 --> 00:51:09.619
 clean.

00:51:09.919 --> 00:51:11.179
 Woe to you, scribes and

00:51:11.179 --> 00:51:12.359
 Pharisees, hypocrites, for

00:51:12.359 --> 00:51:13.379
 you are like whitewashed

00:51:13.379 --> 00:51:14.779
 tombs, which outwardly

00:51:14.779 --> 00:51:15.739
 appear beautiful, but

00:51:15.739 --> 00:51:16.659
 within are full of dead

00:51:16.659 --> 00:51:17.639
 people's bones and all

00:51:17.639 --> 00:51:18.319
 uncleanness.

00:51:19.079 --> 00:51:20.119
 So you also outwardly

00:51:20.119 --> 00:51:20.919
 appear righteous to

00:51:20.919 --> 00:51:21.819
 others, but within you are

00:51:21.819 --> 00:51:22.779
 full of hypocrisy and

00:51:22.779 --> 00:51:23.199
 lawlessness.

00:51:24.539 --> 00:51:25.379
 Pharisees and scribes

00:51:25.379 --> 00:51:26.639
 took painstaking care

00:51:26.639 --> 00:51:28.139
 to ritually cleanse the

00:51:28.139 --> 00:51:29.039
 cups and the plates that

00:51:29.039 --> 00:51:30.980
 they used so that they

00:51:30.980 --> 00:51:32.019
 don't contract ceremonial

00:51:32.019 --> 00:51:32.819
 uncleanness.

00:51:34.099 --> 00:51:35.699
 And Jesus uses that as

00:51:35.699 --> 00:51:36.559
 an illustration, as a

00:51:36.559 --> 00:51:39.099
 starting point to

00:51:39.099 --> 00:51:39.759
 denounce their

00:51:39.759 --> 00:51:40.799
 preoccupation with

00:51:40.799 --> 00:51:41.839
 outward appearance

00:51:41.839 --> 00:51:42.739
 rather than inward

00:51:42.739 --> 00:51:43.219
 purity.

00:51:43.839 --> 00:51:44.779
 He says, for you clean

00:51:44.779 --> 00:51:46.099
 the outside of the cup

00:51:46.099 --> 00:51:46.779
 and the plate, but

00:51:46.779 --> 00:51:48.460
 inside they are full of

00:51:48.460 --> 00:51:49.699
 greed and self-indulgence.

00:51:50.219 --> 00:51:51.719
 How can the inside of a

00:51:51.719 --> 00:51:54.019
 cup be full of self-

00:51:54.019 --> 00:51:55.039
 indulgence and greed?

00:51:55.039 --> 00:51:56.679
 They're not physical

00:51:56.679 --> 00:51:57.599
 things you can pour into

00:51:57.599 --> 00:51:58.059
 a cup.

00:51:58.539 --> 00:51:59.659
 He's switching, he's

00:51:59.659 --> 00:52:01.000
 pivoting from literal to

00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:02.079
 the figurative.

00:52:02.539 --> 00:52:03.539
 He's speaking of the

00:52:03.539 --> 00:52:04.519
 Pharisees themselves.

00:52:04.860 --> 00:52:06.400
 You clean the outside of

00:52:06.400 --> 00:52:07.460
 the cup because you're so

00:52:07.460 --> 00:52:08.539
 concerned about appearing

00:52:08.539 --> 00:52:10.000
 holy on the outside, but

00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:11.900
 inside your own heart you

00:52:11.900 --> 00:52:13.559
 are full of lawlessness and

00:52:13.559 --> 00:52:13.860
 greed.

00:52:14.279 --> 00:52:15.599
 And what an offensive thing

00:52:15.599 --> 00:52:16.840
 to say to a Pharisee and

00:52:16.840 --> 00:52:18.219
 the scribe who took pride in

00:52:18.219 --> 00:52:19.940
 keeping the law actually in

00:52:19.940 --> 00:52:21.039
 your heart is lawlessness.

00:52:21.039 --> 00:52:24.360
 True purity and true

00:52:24.360 --> 00:52:25.259
 holiness is from the

00:52:25.259 --> 00:52:27.179
 inside out, not outside in.

00:52:27.860 --> 00:52:29.039
 They were like whitewashed

00:52:29.039 --> 00:52:29.639
 tombs.

00:52:30.840 --> 00:52:32.639
 Nothing spreads ceremonial

00:52:32.639 --> 00:52:34.880
 uncleanness like corpses in

00:52:34.880 --> 00:52:35.480
 the Old Testament.

00:52:37.940 --> 00:52:39.460
 And the Pharisees avoided

00:52:39.460 --> 00:52:40.920
 coming into contact with

00:52:40.920 --> 00:52:43.320
 corpses at all costs.

00:52:44.340 --> 00:52:45.340
 And yet Jesus tells them,

00:52:45.480 --> 00:52:46.880
 you yourselves are tombs.

00:52:46.880 --> 00:52:50.300
 You've probably visited

00:52:50.300 --> 00:52:51.599
 beautiful cemeteries before.

00:52:52.680 --> 00:52:53.980
 I like to go to Mount

00:52:53.980 --> 00:52:55.140
 Auburn Cemetery to walk

00:52:55.140 --> 00:52:57.380
 around or go birding.

00:52:57.820 --> 00:52:58.980
 If you haven't been, it's

00:52:58.980 --> 00:53:00.220
 beautiful in Watertown.

00:53:00.860 --> 00:53:02.119
 Tombstones are beautiful.

00:53:02.300 --> 00:53:03.880
 The grass is green and

00:53:04.400 --> 00:53:05.960
 immaculately manicured.

00:53:06.920 --> 00:53:08.220
 Trees soar above and

00:53:08.220 --> 00:53:10.460
 flowers bloom and birds are

00:53:10.460 --> 00:53:11.320
 chirping with songs.

00:53:11.900 --> 00:53:13.380
 But then you stop for a

00:53:13.380 --> 00:53:14.360
 moment and you think about

00:53:14.360 --> 00:53:15.559
 what's actually underneath

00:53:15.559 --> 00:53:19.559
 you, rotting flesh and

00:53:20.239 --> 00:53:21.480
 bones of the dead.

00:53:26.299 --> 00:53:27.420
 That's what the scribes and

00:53:27.420 --> 00:53:28.320
 the Pharisees were like.

00:53:29.019 --> 00:53:30.599
 Beautiful and righteous on

00:53:30.599 --> 00:53:31.579
 the outside, unclean and

00:53:31.579 --> 00:53:32.679
 lawless on the inside.

00:53:32.799 --> 00:53:34.019
 The term whitewash is an

00:53:34.019 --> 00:53:36.299
 allusion to Ezekiel 13 where

00:53:36.299 --> 00:53:37.719
 the Lord denounces the false

00:53:37.719 --> 00:53:39.099
 prophets of Israel who told

00:53:39.099 --> 00:53:40.840
 the people of God instead of

00:53:40.840 --> 00:53:42.099
 telling them to repent of

00:53:42.099 --> 00:53:43.019
 their sins, which is what

00:53:43.019 --> 00:53:44.099
 they needed to do, they

00:53:44.099 --> 00:53:46.500
 would falsely prophesy peace.

00:53:46.860 --> 00:53:47.679
 You have peace.

00:53:47.920 --> 00:53:49.000
 God's giving you peace.

00:53:49.500 --> 00:53:51.059
 When there is no peace, says

00:53:51.059 --> 00:53:51.460
 the Lord.

00:53:53.759 --> 00:53:55.900
 And he compares them to

00:53:55.900 --> 00:53:57.860
 smearing a wall with

00:53:57.860 --> 00:53:58.679
 whitewash.

00:53:59.659 --> 00:54:01.159
 There are cracks along the

00:54:01.159 --> 00:54:02.400
 walls that indicate that the

00:54:02.400 --> 00:54:03.759
 foundation is structurally

00:54:03.759 --> 00:54:04.360
 unsound.

00:54:04.619 --> 00:54:06.380
 There's grime and mold growing

00:54:06.380 --> 00:54:08.519
 on the wall from damage, water

00:54:08.519 --> 00:54:08.960
 damage.

00:54:08.960 --> 00:54:10.820
 But then these leaders, they

00:54:10.820 --> 00:54:11.699
 come to the wall and they

00:54:11.699 --> 00:54:13.260
 just plaster it over with

00:54:13.260 --> 00:54:14.760
 whitewash and pretend like

00:54:14.760 --> 00:54:15.699
 everything is fine and

00:54:15.699 --> 00:54:15.980
 dandy.

00:54:17.740 --> 00:54:18.720
 But that's foolish.

00:54:18.840 --> 00:54:19.380
 That wall is going to

00:54:19.380 --> 00:54:19.920
 collapse soon.

00:54:21.599 --> 00:54:23.260
 How many people put on their

00:54:23.260 --> 00:54:24.900
 Sunday best clothes and hang a

00:54:24.900 --> 00:54:26.260
 bright smile on their faces

00:54:26.260 --> 00:54:27.780
 when they are inwardly

00:54:27.780 --> 00:54:28.960
 crumbling inside?

00:54:33.960 --> 00:54:35.599
 How many people quote Bible

00:54:35.599 --> 00:54:37.380
 verses and pray flowery prayers

00:54:37.380 --> 00:54:39.220
 and have a reputation of being

00:54:39.220 --> 00:54:40.539
 righteous when inside their

00:54:40.539 --> 00:54:41.579
 hearts they are full of

00:54:41.579 --> 00:54:42.380
 unrighteousness?

00:54:45.160 --> 00:54:46.700
 In verses 8 to 12, Jesus

00:54:46.700 --> 00:54:47.860
 continues, but you are not to

00:54:47.860 --> 00:54:49.240
 be called rabbi for you have

00:54:49.240 --> 00:54:51.160
 one teacher and you are all

00:54:51.160 --> 00:54:52.780
 brothers and call no man your

00:54:52.780 --> 00:54:54.039
 father on earth for you have

00:54:54.039 --> 00:54:55.380
 one father who is in heaven.

00:54:55.800 --> 00:54:57.400
 Neither be called instructors

00:54:57.400 --> 00:54:58.500
 for you have one instructor,

00:54:58.619 --> 00:54:59.099
 the Christ.

00:55:02.340 --> 00:55:03.380
 Maybe some of you are panicking

00:55:03.380 --> 00:55:04.900
 because you call me Pastor

00:55:04.900 --> 00:55:06.220
 Sean and you just feel like you

00:55:06.219 --> 00:55:07.199
 got called out by Jesus.

00:55:10.299 --> 00:55:12.339
 If we apply what Jesus says

00:55:12.339 --> 00:55:13.480
 here too literally, we run

00:55:13.480 --> 00:55:14.480
 into some contradictions.

00:55:15.519 --> 00:55:16.799
 For example, in 1 Corinthians 4

00:55:16.799 --> 00:55:19.019
 15, Paul says to Jesus, not

00:55:19.019 --> 00:55:20.519
 Jesus, sorry, Paul says to the

00:55:20.519 --> 00:55:22.459
 Corinthian church that he is

00:55:22.459 --> 00:55:24.079
 their spiritual father in Christ

00:55:24.079 --> 00:55:25.079
 Jesus through the gospel.

00:55:25.959 --> 00:55:28.000
 In 1 Timothy 2 7, he says,

00:55:28.000 --> 00:55:29.260
 For this I was appointed a

00:55:29.260 --> 00:55:31.119
 preacher and an apostle, a

00:55:31.119 --> 00:55:32.440
 teacher of the Gentiles in

00:55:32.440 --> 00:55:33.260
 faith and truth.

00:55:34.139 --> 00:55:36.440
 And the fifth commandment of the

00:55:36.440 --> 00:55:37.739
 Ten Commandments commands us to

00:55:37.739 --> 00:55:39.619
 honor your father and mother.

00:55:39.820 --> 00:55:41.820
 So clearly the Bible doesn't have

00:55:41.820 --> 00:55:43.280
 any trouble with calling actual

00:55:43.280 --> 00:55:45.400
 fathers fathers and teachers

00:55:45.400 --> 00:55:45.800
 teachers.

00:55:48.079 --> 00:55:49.760
 Nonetheless, Jesus says, don't be

00:55:49.760 --> 00:55:51.380
 called rabbi, father, or

00:55:51.380 --> 00:55:52.019
 instructor.

00:55:52.300 --> 00:55:53.920
 What does he then mean by this?

00:55:54.800 --> 00:55:56.340
 These are all terms that the

00:55:56.340 --> 00:55:57.660
 scribes and the Pharisees apply

00:55:57.660 --> 00:55:59.700
 to themselves in a hubristic

00:55:59.700 --> 00:56:00.240
 way.

00:56:01.260 --> 00:56:02.800
 Hubris is a Greek word that

00:56:02.800 --> 00:56:05.280
 describes arrogant people who

00:56:05.280 --> 00:56:07.100
 believe themselves to be above

00:56:07.100 --> 00:56:09.840
 human limitations, who dare to

00:56:09.840 --> 00:56:12.059
 rival or challenge the divine.

00:56:13.960 --> 00:56:15.500
 That's what the scribes and the

00:56:15.500 --> 00:56:16.860
 Pharisees were doing.

00:56:17.360 --> 00:56:19.500
 They called themselves rabbis,

00:56:19.620 --> 00:56:21.420
 instructors, teachers, but we see

00:56:21.420 --> 00:56:24.000
 throughout Matthew that Jesus is the

00:56:24.000 --> 00:56:25.360
 only true teacher.

00:56:26.500 --> 00:56:28.019
 He taught as one who had

00:56:28.019 --> 00:56:29.739
 authority unlike the scribes.

00:56:31.360 --> 00:56:33.179
 They called themselves fathers,

00:56:33.320 --> 00:56:34.920
 even though there's only one God,

00:56:35.019 --> 00:56:36.179
 the Father, who is in heaven.

00:56:37.679 --> 00:56:39.460
 In other words, the scribes and the

00:56:39.460 --> 00:56:41.739
 Pharisees were inserting themselves

00:56:41.739 --> 00:56:43.980
 in the place of God and his son.

00:56:47.340 --> 00:56:49.340
 This is not to say that no one

00:56:49.340 --> 00:56:50.800
 should have any authority over

00:56:50.800 --> 00:56:52.519
 another among the people of God.

00:56:52.519 --> 00:56:55.059
 What Jesus said in verse 2 explicitly

00:56:55.059 --> 00:56:55.900
 contradicts that.

00:56:56.739 --> 00:56:58.340
 Jesus is not speaking about formal

00:56:58.340 --> 00:57:00.400
 hierarchy or church structure.

00:57:00.840 --> 00:57:02.179
 He's getting at something more

00:57:02.179 --> 00:57:02.860
 fundamental.

00:57:04.219 --> 00:57:07.579
 Even pastors, shepherds, must

00:57:07.579 --> 00:57:10.119
 remember that there's only one good

00:57:10.119 --> 00:57:12.380
 shepherd, one shepherd of the church,

00:57:12.440 --> 00:57:13.579
 and that is Jesus Christ.

00:57:13.579 --> 00:57:17.519
 I am a shepherd, I am a pastor, but I'm

00:57:17.519 --> 00:57:18.299
 also sheep.

00:57:21.400 --> 00:57:23.619
 And every Christian leader, pastors,

00:57:23.799 --> 00:57:26.259
 need to remember that, yes, you are,

00:57:26.519 --> 00:57:29.199
 as an elder, a spiritual father figure

00:57:29.199 --> 00:57:31.739
 in the family of God, but you must

00:57:31.739 --> 00:57:33.279
 always remember that there's only one

00:57:33.279 --> 00:57:34.860
 true father in heaven above.

00:57:35.819 --> 00:57:37.360
 We're all brothers and sisters.

00:57:37.360 --> 00:57:44.240
 There's a radical parity among believers.

00:57:46.340 --> 00:57:48.079
 And this is one of the many things that

00:57:48.079 --> 00:57:49.940
 grieves me and concerns me about

00:57:49.940 --> 00:57:52.320
 some of other denominations or the

00:57:52.320 --> 00:57:52.980
 Catholic Church.

00:57:53.840 --> 00:57:54.980
 What's the leader of the Catholic

00:57:54.980 --> 00:57:55.519
 Church called?

00:57:56.599 --> 00:57:57.360
 The Pope.

00:57:58.780 --> 00:58:01.180
 It means father, papa.

00:58:01.179 --> 00:58:07.199
 The Pope is called the vicar, vicar of

00:58:07.199 --> 00:58:07.960
 Christ, Jesus.

00:58:08.960 --> 00:58:11.099
 Meaning that he is the earthly

00:58:11.099 --> 00:58:13.279
 representative of Christ in a way that

00:58:13.279 --> 00:58:14.899
 no other Christian is.

00:58:15.559 --> 00:58:17.839
 He stands for Christ on earth.

00:58:18.139 --> 00:58:20.480
 Christ vicariously reigns, governs

00:58:20.480 --> 00:58:21.819
 through the Pope.

00:58:22.559 --> 00:58:26.339
 But Jesus explicitly says here, call no

00:58:26.339 --> 00:58:28.219
 man your father on earth.

00:58:28.659 --> 00:58:30.379
 Neither be called instructors, for you

00:58:30.380 --> 00:58:32.340
 have one instructor, the Christ.

00:58:33.420 --> 00:58:36.059
 Jesus explicitly says that no man in

00:58:36.059 --> 00:58:38.940
 the world should take his place on

00:58:38.940 --> 00:58:39.240
 earth.

00:58:43.820 --> 00:58:45.300
 Claiming that kind of privilege and

00:58:45.300 --> 00:58:46.660
 authority, I think, flies in the face

00:58:46.660 --> 00:58:47.440
 of Jesus' warning.

00:58:49.240 --> 00:58:51.039
 The greatest among you shall be your

00:58:51.039 --> 00:58:51.400
 servant.

00:58:51.840 --> 00:58:53.539
 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled,

00:58:53.619 --> 00:58:55.019
 and whoever humbles himself will be

00:58:55.019 --> 00:58:55.480
 exalted.

00:58:56.640 --> 00:58:59.280
 God delegates authority to people, not so

00:58:59.280 --> 00:59:00.360
 that they might wield it for their

00:59:00.360 --> 00:59:02.120
 own benefit and advancement, but so that

00:59:02.120 --> 00:59:03.960
 they might use it to serve and lift up

00:59:03.960 --> 00:59:04.340
 others.

00:59:06.180 --> 00:59:07.420
 Christian leadership is servant

00:59:07.420 --> 00:59:07.840
 leadership.

00:59:09.620 --> 00:59:11.460
 The hubris of the Jewish leaders

00:59:11.460 --> 00:59:14.500
 necessarily and naturally led to

00:59:14.500 --> 00:59:15.000
 bloodshed.

00:59:17.460 --> 00:59:21.620
 When you want to be God yourself, you

00:59:21.620 --> 00:59:23.280
 don't take kindly to the messengers of

00:59:23.280 --> 00:59:23.559
 God.

00:59:23.559 --> 00:59:23.659
 God.

00:59:25.199 --> 00:59:27.119
 The Jewish leaders were not following God,

00:59:27.179 --> 00:59:28.739
 they were not listening to God, so God

00:59:28.739 --> 00:59:31.039
 would send the prophets to rebuke them, say

00:59:31.039 --> 00:59:32.279
 you're doing the wrong thing.

00:59:32.599 --> 00:59:34.340
 If you're truly a servant of God, and you

00:59:34.340 --> 00:59:36.099
 hear the prophets of God tell you that you're

00:59:36.099 --> 00:59:37.299
 doing the wrong thing, then you say, oh,

00:59:37.340 --> 00:59:39.299
 sorry, master, I'll change it, I'll do

00:59:39.299 --> 00:59:40.000
 something different.

00:59:40.279 --> 00:59:42.659
 But when you want to be the master, then you

00:59:42.659 --> 00:59:44.659
 plot out how you can kill that prophet.

00:59:46.539 --> 00:59:48.480
 So you can keep doing what you want to do.

00:59:48.480 --> 00:59:54.420
 If God were to show up in the flesh, people

00:59:54.420 --> 00:59:56.920
 who want to be God themselves would kill

00:59:56.920 --> 00:59:57.199
 him.

01:00:00.519 --> 01:00:02.019
 Well, that's exactly what they did to

01:00:02.019 --> 01:00:02.740
 Jesus, isn't it?

01:00:07.099 --> 01:00:08.960
 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, verse

01:00:08.960 --> 01:00:11.039
 29, hypocrites, for you build the tombs of

01:00:11.039 --> 01:00:12.679
 the prophets and decorate the monuments of

01:00:12.679 --> 01:00:14.659
 the righteous, saying, if we had lived in the

01:00:14.659 --> 01:00:16.480
 days of our fathers, we would not have taken

01:00:16.480 --> 01:00:18.159
 part with them in shedding the blood of the

01:00:18.159 --> 01:00:18.559
 prophets.

01:00:18.899 --> 01:00:20.759
 Does you witness against yourselves that you

01:00:20.759 --> 01:00:22.659
 are sons of those who murder the prophets?

01:00:23.179 --> 01:00:24.879
 Fill up then the measure of your fathers.

01:00:25.420 --> 01:00:27.500
 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you

01:00:27.500 --> 01:00:29.079
 to escape being sentenced to hell?

01:00:29.739 --> 01:00:31.879
 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men

01:00:31.879 --> 01:00:33.859
 and scribes, some of whom you will kill and

01:00:33.859 --> 01:00:36.579
 crucify, and some you will flog in your

01:00:36.579 --> 01:00:38.440
 synagogues and persecute from town to town,

01:00:38.779 --> 01:00:40.839
 so that on you may come all the righteous

01:00:40.839 --> 01:00:42.719
 blood shed on earth, from the blood of

01:00:42.719 --> 01:00:44.679
 righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah,

01:00:44.739 --> 01:00:47.039
 the son of Berechiah, whom you murder between

01:00:47.039 --> 01:00:48.159
 the sanctuary and the altar.

01:00:52.840 --> 01:00:55.420
 Abel was the first martyr, the first righteous

01:00:55.420 --> 01:00:57.759
 blood shed on earth, because he was more

01:00:57.759 --> 01:00:58.639
 righteous than Cain.

01:00:58.759 --> 01:00:59.539
 Cain killed him.

01:01:01.340 --> 01:01:03.019
 And Zechariah, the son of Berechiah,

01:01:03.179 --> 01:01:05.440
 it's a little confusing.

01:01:05.579 --> 01:01:08.019
 It's hard to know who exactly Jesus is talking

01:01:08.019 --> 01:01:08.500
 about here.

01:01:08.940 --> 01:01:10.059
 There's three main options.

01:01:10.239 --> 01:01:12.519
 One is Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada,

01:01:12.519 --> 01:01:16.179
 mentioned in 2 Chronicles 24, 20-22.

01:01:16.980 --> 01:01:19.199
 We are told that this Zechariah was stoned

01:01:19.199 --> 01:01:20.900
 to death in the court of the house

01:01:20.900 --> 01:01:21.300
 of the Lord.

01:01:21.380 --> 01:01:24.840
 So he's a leading candidate for being this

01:01:24.840 --> 01:01:26.739
 Zechariah because he was killed in the temple

01:01:26.739 --> 01:01:28.500
 like Zechariah that Jesus mentions here.

01:01:28.980 --> 01:01:31.460
 And also because 2 Chronicles is the last book

01:01:31.460 --> 01:01:33.280
 in the order of the Hebrew Bible,

01:01:33.480 --> 01:01:34.239
 the Jewish Bible.

01:01:34.960 --> 01:01:37.239
 And so then that begins with Abel in Genesis

01:01:37.239 --> 01:01:38.920
 to Zechariah in the last book,

01:01:39.000 --> 01:01:40.639
 and it bookends, and so he's talking about

01:01:40.639 --> 01:01:42.239
 all the blood that was shed in the meanwhile.

01:01:42.379 --> 01:01:43.299
 So he's one candidate.

01:01:43.639 --> 01:01:45.119
 The only problem is he says here,

01:01:45.199 --> 01:01:46.799
 Zechariah, the son of Berechiah,

01:01:46.900 --> 01:01:48.900
 and that Zechariah is not the son of Berechiah.

01:01:48.980 --> 01:01:49.859
 He's the son of Jehoiada.

01:01:53.599 --> 01:01:56.299
 And there is an early reliable manuscript

01:01:56.299 --> 01:01:59.219
 called Codex Sinaiticus that actually

01:01:59.219 --> 01:02:01.259
 does not contain the phrase son of Berechiah.

01:02:01.339 --> 01:02:03.440
 So it's possible that maybe the son of Berechiah

01:02:03.440 --> 01:02:04.799
 is not originally part of the scriptures.

01:02:05.980 --> 01:02:06.960
 It might be that Zechariah.

01:02:07.839 --> 01:02:09.119
 It could also be Zechariah,

01:02:09.119 --> 01:02:13.400
 the son of Jehoiada in Isaiah 8 verse 2.

01:02:14.199 --> 01:02:15.839
 Very similar father's name.

01:02:16.099 --> 01:02:17.579
 He was a contemporary of Uriah,

01:02:17.759 --> 01:02:19.440
 the priest during Isaiah's day,

01:02:19.559 --> 01:02:21.880
 and Jewish tradition does say that he was martyred.

01:02:24.119 --> 01:02:26.579
 Or it could be Zechariah the prophet

01:02:26.579 --> 01:02:28.059
 who wrote the book of Zechariah,

01:02:28.219 --> 01:02:30.359
 who is called in Zechariah chapter 1 verse 1

01:02:30.359 --> 01:02:32.619
 as Zechariah the son of Berechiah.

01:02:32.619 --> 01:02:35.079
 We just don't,

01:02:35.179 --> 01:02:36.659
 we're never told that he died as a martyr.

01:02:38.179 --> 01:02:39.359
 So if that's the case,

01:02:39.460 --> 01:02:42.059
 then Jesus knows something that we don't know.

01:02:43.480 --> 01:02:44.699
 But it doesn't really matter.

01:02:45.799 --> 01:02:47.579
 I'm really not sure which one of those are,

01:02:47.679 --> 01:02:48.579
 because Zechariah is the right one.

01:02:50.019 --> 01:02:51.880
 But one of them is the right one.

01:02:51.880 --> 01:02:54.420
 And the main point of Jesus is that

01:02:54.420 --> 01:02:56.579
 from the beginning with the blood of Abel

01:02:56.579 --> 01:02:58.160
 to the blood of Zechariah,

01:02:58.599 --> 01:03:01.280
 they have consistently been killing off

01:03:01.280 --> 01:03:02.400
 the prophets of God

01:03:02.400 --> 01:03:05.220
 because they wanted to be God.

01:03:09.300 --> 01:03:11.079
 And isn't that what we all have done?

01:03:11.079 --> 01:03:16.360
 Why do we resist the authority of God,

01:03:16.960 --> 01:03:18.279
 the commandments of God?

01:03:19.279 --> 01:03:22.579
 Because ultimately we want to be God.

01:03:23.559 --> 01:03:25.360
 We want to rebel against him.

01:03:25.420 --> 01:03:27.159
 We want things to go our way,

01:03:27.239 --> 01:03:28.179
 not God's way.

01:03:29.539 --> 01:03:31.440
 We want glory for ourselves.

01:03:32.599 --> 01:03:34.559
 We have all lived in this way.

01:03:34.759 --> 01:03:35.319
 And yet,

01:03:35.960 --> 01:03:38.940
 even though we live like the scribes and the Pharisees,

01:03:38.940 --> 01:03:41.159
 Jesus comes,

01:03:41.720 --> 01:03:43.059
 the son of the father,

01:03:43.400 --> 01:03:45.860
 the greatest of all the messengers

01:03:45.860 --> 01:03:47.059
 that God has ever sent.

01:03:48.800 --> 01:03:49.840
 And we kill him.

01:03:50.639 --> 01:03:52.179
 We crucify him on the cross.

01:03:54.579 --> 01:03:56.240
 That should be the end of the story.

01:03:57.240 --> 01:03:58.119
 Divine vengeance,

01:03:58.119 --> 01:03:58.880
 the judgment.

01:04:00.099 --> 01:04:01.920
 But it says in Hebrews 12,

01:04:02.039 --> 01:04:02.679
 verse 24,

01:04:03.000 --> 01:04:06.019
 that Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant

01:04:06.019 --> 01:04:08.820
 whose sprinkled blood

01:04:08.820 --> 01:04:10.940
 speaks a better word

01:04:10.940 --> 01:04:12.199
 than the blood of Abel.

01:04:13.940 --> 01:04:15.380
 The blood of Abel

01:04:15.380 --> 01:04:16.119
 to the blood of,

01:04:16.119 --> 01:04:17.239
 from the blood of Abel

01:04:17.239 --> 01:04:18.259
 to the blood of Zechariah,

01:04:18.320 --> 01:04:19.059
 the righteous blood

01:04:19.059 --> 01:04:20.800
 has been crying out for vengeance.

01:04:21.019 --> 01:04:21.519
 The Lord,

01:04:21.780 --> 01:04:22.059
 Lord,

01:04:22.179 --> 01:04:23.360
 bring justice.

01:04:23.980 --> 01:04:26.579
 Shed the blood of these evildoers

01:04:26.579 --> 01:04:27.860
 who have killed your servants.

01:04:28.159 --> 01:04:30.320
 But when Jesus dies on the cross,

01:04:30.980 --> 01:04:33.539
 his blood does not cry out for vengeance.

01:04:33.539 --> 01:04:35.360
 His blood does not cry out

01:04:35.360 --> 01:04:36.900
 for our destruction and death.

01:04:37.179 --> 01:04:37.480
 Instead,

01:04:37.659 --> 01:04:39.840
 his blood cries out for our atonement,

01:04:40.199 --> 01:04:41.000
 our cleansing,

01:04:41.440 --> 01:04:42.259
 our forgiveness,

01:04:42.500 --> 01:04:43.440
 and our reconciliation.

01:04:44.579 --> 01:04:45.980
 It speaks a better word

01:04:45.980 --> 01:04:46.880
 than the blood of Abel.

01:04:50.000 --> 01:04:53.000
 And it's when you receive that mercy

01:04:53.000 --> 01:04:54.940
 that God has shown us in Jesus Christ,

01:04:55.179 --> 01:04:56.139
 that it's his blood

01:04:56.139 --> 01:04:57.480
 that cleanses of all our sins,

01:04:57.719 --> 01:04:59.940
 that we can by no way,

01:05:00.059 --> 01:05:01.099
 no strength of our own,

01:05:01.279 --> 01:05:03.019
 attain the holiness that is necessary,

01:05:03.019 --> 01:05:04.440
 but that we must receive it

01:05:04.440 --> 01:05:05.699
 as a gift from God

01:05:05.699 --> 01:05:06.619
 in his son,

01:05:06.699 --> 01:05:07.400
 Jesus Christ.

01:05:07.920 --> 01:05:10.079
 That's the only way

01:05:10.079 --> 01:05:11.739
 you have a religion,

01:05:11.840 --> 01:05:12.519
 you get a religion

01:05:12.519 --> 01:05:14.019
 that does not lead to hypocrisy.

01:05:15.759 --> 01:05:18.320
 Because if you have already been told,

01:05:18.940 --> 01:05:20.219
 you can't meet the standard.

01:05:21.980 --> 01:05:23.000
 This is the standard

01:05:23.000 --> 01:05:23.920
 and you're down here.

01:05:24.400 --> 01:05:24.820
 In fact,

01:05:24.920 --> 01:05:25.759
 you think you're here,

01:05:25.840 --> 01:05:26.780
 you're actually here.

01:05:27.139 --> 01:05:28.239
 And that's why Jesus

01:05:28.239 --> 01:05:30.099
 had to die for your sins.

01:05:30.920 --> 01:05:32.239
 Then you don't go around

01:05:32.239 --> 01:05:33.900
 trying to hide things

01:05:33.900 --> 01:05:36.960
 when God's word

01:05:36.960 --> 01:05:38.360
 has already told everybody

01:05:38.360 --> 01:05:39.019
 that we're worse

01:05:39.019 --> 01:05:40.259
 than we even think we are.

01:05:42.420 --> 01:05:44.059
 And when you have been accepted

01:05:44.059 --> 01:05:45.759
 by God in such a radical way

01:05:45.759 --> 01:05:46.539
 and have been received

01:05:46.539 --> 01:05:48.159
 his mercy and grace,

01:05:48.420 --> 01:05:49.339
 and you have been loved

01:05:49.339 --> 01:05:49.839
 and accepted,

01:05:49.980 --> 01:05:51.639
 even though we are unlovable

01:05:51.639 --> 01:05:52.339
 in that sense,

01:05:52.400 --> 01:05:53.279
 we are unholy

01:05:53.279 --> 01:05:54.179
 and defiled,

01:05:55.360 --> 01:05:55.779
 well then,

01:05:55.900 --> 01:05:57.099
 we don't need to go around

01:05:57.099 --> 01:06:00.019
 groveling at the feet of men

01:06:00.019 --> 01:06:01.900
 for their approval

01:06:01.900 --> 01:06:03.119
 and their pleasure.

01:06:03.940 --> 01:06:04.860
 Because we already have

01:06:04.860 --> 01:06:06.139
 something so much more precious

01:06:06.139 --> 01:06:07.299
 in God's approval

01:06:07.299 --> 01:06:09.619
 of us and his son,

01:06:09.699 --> 01:06:10.239
 Jesus Christ.

01:06:11.119 --> 01:06:12.480
 That's the only way

01:06:12.480 --> 01:06:13.779
 you get true religion,

01:06:14.440 --> 01:06:15.239
 true Christianity,

01:06:15.719 --> 01:06:16.480
 true gospel.

01:06:17.599 --> 01:06:19.059
 That's the only salvation.

01:06:19.779 --> 01:06:20.839
 That's the only path

01:06:20.839 --> 01:06:21.259
 to holiness.

01:06:23.699 --> 01:06:24.860
 Let us remember it

01:06:24.860 --> 01:06:25.360
 and let's pray.

01:06:27.099 --> 01:06:57.079
 Let us pray.