WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.620 I'm reading from Matthew chapter 23, verse 13 to 39. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:11.240 This kicks off right from last week. 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:15.240 ! Jesus is addressing the scribes and Pharisees. 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:15.240 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.820 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:42.420 For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:48.079 and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:52.060 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:54.920 If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, 00:00:55.340 --> 00:00:59.439 but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.079 You blind fools! 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:06.480 For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:08.579 For you say, 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:11.900 If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, 00:01:12.460 --> 00:01:17.019 but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath. 00:01:18.019 --> 00:01:19.120 You blind men! 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:24.920 For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:29.000 So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it, 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:30.859 and by everything on it. 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:34.280 And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it, 00:01:34.700 --> 00:01:36.260 and by him who dwells in it. 00:01:36.739 --> 00:01:40.540 And whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:42.560 and by him who sits upon it. 00:01:43.460 --> 00:01:47.740 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:51.260 For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, 00:01:51.260 --> 00:01:54.000 and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, 00:01:54.820 --> 00:01:57.859 justice and mercy and faithfulness. 00:01:57.859 --> 00:02:02.400 These you ought to have done without neglecting the others. 00:02:03.039 --> 00:02:04.219 You blind guides, 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:07.359 straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel. 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:11.599 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:15.000 For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:18.719 but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:20.680 You blind Pharisee! 00:02:21.139 --> 00:02:23.639 First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, 00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:26.439 that the outside may also be clean. 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:31.019 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 00:02:31.859 --> 00:02:33.779 For you are like whitewashed tombs, 00:02:33.839 --> 00:02:35.539 which outwardly appear beautiful, 00:02:36.079 --> 00:02:39.219 but within are full of dead people's bones 00:02:39.219 --> 00:02:40.839 and all uncleanliness. 00:02:41.619 --> 00:02:45.060 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:48.759 but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:53.239 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:56.060 For you build the tombs of the prophets 00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:58.360 and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 00:02:58.580 --> 00:02:58.860 saying, 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:01.420 If we had lived in the days of our fathers, 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:03.320 we would not have taken part with them 00:03:03.320 --> 00:03:04.800 in shedding the blood of the prophets. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:08.460 Thus you witness against yourselves 00:03:08.460 --> 00:03:11.680 that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:15.060 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:16.719 You serpents! 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:18.480 You brood of vipers! 00:03:19.060 --> 00:03:21.379 How are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 00:03:21.379 --> 00:03:27.159 Therefore, I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:30.280 some of whom you will kill and crucify, 00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:33.299 and some you will flog in your synagogues 00:03:33.299 --> 00:03:35.519 and persecute from town to town, 00:03:36.079 --> 00:03:40.199 so that on you may come all the righteous blood 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:41.219 shed on earth, 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:43.019 from the blood of righteous, 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:45.579 Abel, to the blood of Zachariah, 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:47.000 son of Barakiah, 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:50.419 whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:52.580 Truly, I say to you, 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:54.979 all these things will come upon this generation. 00:03:56.460 --> 00:03:57.900 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:00.599 the city that kills the prophets and stones, 00:04:01.099 --> 00:04:02.379 those who are sent to it, 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:05.639 how often would I have gathered your children together 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:06.860 as hen-gatherers, 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:08.719 her brood under her wings, 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:10.580 and you were not willing. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:14.300 So your house is left to you desolate, 00:04:14.939 --> 00:04:15.879 for I tell you, 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:18.639 you will not see me again until you say, 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:22.000 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:25.620 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:33.120 Will you pray with me as we come to God's word? 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:41.699 Lord, all of us, 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:47.319 whether we are searching for you for the first time 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:50.579 or we've known Christ for many years, 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:54.000 all of us need to go deeper in what we've just sung. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.839 that nothing but the blood of Jesus 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.160 can wash away my sin 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:02.759 and make me whole again. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:03.899 So I pray that 00:05:03.899 --> 00:05:08.000 in your stern word to us this morning 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.680 that you would convince our hearts 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:13.459 that the blood of Christ is all we need. 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:15.100 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:21.680 Well, there are some who claim to be 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:23.459 spiritual leaders of Christianity 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:25.939 that this passage, 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:29.319 it makes me shudder 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:31.839 if I imagine myself 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.359 standing before God on judgment day. 00:05:35.359 --> 00:05:36.779 I do not want to be them. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:42.060 People who preach the health and prosperity gospel, 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:43.620 taking the blood of Christ 00:05:43.620 --> 00:05:45.699 and making money from it. 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:46.699 I do not want to be them. 00:05:46.699 --> 00:05:47.899 I do not want to be them. 00:05:49.899 --> 00:05:51.159 On the last day. 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:53.939 Those claiming to represent God 00:05:53.939 --> 00:05:55.459 as priest or pastor 00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:58.579 and doing awful things in private, 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:02.099 taking advantage of the sheep. 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:05.780 Oh, I do not want to be them. 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:10.540 And then there's many, many more 00:06:10.540 --> 00:06:12.080 spiritual leaders 00:06:12.080 --> 00:06:14.400 claiming to be Christian leaders. 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:16.180 I don't want to be them either. 00:06:16.379 --> 00:06:17.700 They just teach 00:06:17.700 --> 00:06:20.160 that God is pleased 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:21.700 with our religious activity. 00:06:21.820 --> 00:06:22.920 That's all he wants, 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:24.420 our religious activity. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:26.879 And they're giving people 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:28.180 false assurance. 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:35.860 In generations past, 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:37.439 a judge in the UK 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:39.740 would put on a black cap 00:06:39.740 --> 00:06:42.920 to pronounce the death sentence 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:43.780 over a criminal. 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:46.139 The case has, 00:06:46.379 --> 00:06:47.480 it's been examined. 00:06:48.280 --> 00:06:49.879 The jury is unanimous. 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:51.939 And putting on that cap 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:52.339 is just, 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:54.000 the fate is sealed. 00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:56.939 It's time to be sentenced. 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:00.000 This passage is Jesus, 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:01.339 the judge of all the earth, 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:02.639 putting on that black cap. 00:07:07.159 --> 00:07:08.199 God's patience, 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:11.180 it seems, 00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:13.879 he seems almost endlessly patient. 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:15.439 He's incredible, 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:16.860 he's so much more patient 00:07:16.860 --> 00:07:17.680 than you or I. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:18.240 Like, 00:07:18.280 --> 00:07:19.160 he gives chance 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:19.900 after chance 00:07:19.900 --> 00:07:20.660 after chance 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:21.300 after chance. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:24.459 But now it's time 00:07:24.459 --> 00:07:25.220 for the black cap. 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:29.720 Seven woes. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:31.800 Now that seven 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:32.720 might be symbolic 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:33.780 for completeness. 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:35.780 These woes 00:07:35.780 --> 00:07:36.780 are calling down 00:07:36.780 --> 00:07:38.500 divine condemnation 00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:41.699 on the religious. 00:07:42.060 --> 00:07:43.500 It's not spiteful, 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:44.139 he's not 00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:46.699 just losing his temper, 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:47.779 this is judicial, 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:48.579 this is, 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:50.539 this is a judge. 00:07:52.219 --> 00:07:52.979 He's talking 00:07:52.979 --> 00:07:53.979 to scribes 00:07:53.979 --> 00:07:54.860 and Pharisees. 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:56.360 Verse 13, 00:07:56.459 --> 00:07:56.899 he's talking 00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:57.579 to scribes 00:07:57.579 --> 00:07:58.259 and Pharisees, 00:07:58.420 --> 00:07:59.379 Pharisees who claim 00:07:59.379 --> 00:07:59.980 to know God 00:07:59.980 --> 00:08:00.579 and claim to be 00:08:00.579 --> 00:08:01.879 leading others 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:02.800 to God. 00:08:03.159 --> 00:08:03.639 And there's two 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:04.519 descriptions that he, 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:06.319 they're very prominent 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:06.959 in this section. 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:07.819 They're blind, 00:08:09.159 --> 00:08:10.199 spiritually blind, 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:11.240 blind guides, 00:08:11.419 --> 00:08:12.219 blind fools, 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:13.180 blind men, 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:14.680 blind Pharisees. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:21.160 And hypocrite, 00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:22.699 they're like an actor 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:24.120 putting on a mask 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:25.120 and performing. 00:08:25.780 --> 00:08:26.759 All their religion 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:28.000 is a performance 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:28.939 for people to, 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:31.680 well done. 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:35.180 That's what hypocrite, 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:36.340 it's just a performance 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:38.060 when the inside 00:08:38.060 --> 00:08:40.100 is unchanged. 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:43.220 all appearance, 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:44.080 no substance. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:45.899 So Jesus 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:46.740 was wearing 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:47.580 the black cap 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:48.700 especially for 00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:49.820 false spiritual leaders 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:51.720 but if that woe 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:52.860 falls on anyone 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:54.000 who follows them, 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:54.899 they've only got 00:08:54.899 --> 00:08:55.399 a following 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:57.240 because our hearts 00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:57.920 are prone 00:08:57.920 --> 00:09:00.100 to think 00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:02.340 like them. 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:05.280 I think we should 00:09:05.280 --> 00:09:06.060 see in this passage 00:09:06.060 --> 00:09:06.780 that this is 00:09:06.780 --> 00:09:07.639 God's judgment 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:09.500 not just on 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:11.040 the Pharisees 00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:11.440 back then 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.639 but on all 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:14.399 human-centered 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:17.480 performance-driven 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:19.060 mask-wearing 00:09:19.060 --> 00:09:19.620 religion. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:21.220 This is God's judgment 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:22.180 on all of it. 00:09:22.179 --> 00:09:29.859 Well a commentator 00:09:29.859 --> 00:09:30.959 said there's 00:09:30.959 --> 00:09:32.399 a chiasm 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.620 to these seven 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:34.219 woes. 00:09:34.359 --> 00:09:34.519 Now 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:36.279 as soon as 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:36.759 someone knows 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:37.500 what a chiasm 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:38.519 is they see it 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:39.219 here, there 00:09:39.219 --> 00:09:39.620 and everywhere 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:40.139 in scripture 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:41.059 even if there isn't. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:42.359 But this one's 00:09:42.359 --> 00:09:42.979 grown on me. 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:44.479 I think they might 00:09:44.479 --> 00:09:45.139 be onto something. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:46.059 So a chiasm 00:09:46.059 --> 00:09:47.379 is just a mirror 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:48.799 image of ideas 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:50.120 where once you 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:50.599 get to the 00:09:50.599 --> 00:09:51.599 centre idea 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:52.360 that's at the 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:53.100 heart of it. 00:09:53.820 --> 00:09:54.519 That's the 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:55.740 thrust of the 00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:55.980 message. 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:57.399 So I think 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:58.500 verse 23 and 00:09:58.500 --> 00:09:58.940 24 00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:00.420 the central 00:10:00.420 --> 00:10:01.100 woe 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:03.860 is the 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:04.659 root problem. 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:07.080 Why they're 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:07.480 blind? 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.159 Why they're 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:08.700 hypocrites? 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:10.139 And all the 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:10.759 other woes 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:11.800 are symptoms. 00:10:12.040 --> 00:10:12.860 They flow out 00:10:12.860 --> 00:10:14.500 from this 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.300 root problem. 00:10:15.299 --> 00:10:21.839 It's not 00:10:21.839 --> 00:10:22.979 uncommon to 00:10:22.979 --> 00:10:23.819 see married 00:10:23.819 --> 00:10:24.519 couples 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:25.919 focus all 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:27.379 their attention 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:27.799 on the 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:28.559 externals 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:29.819 to make a 00:10:29.819 --> 00:10:30.799 thriving family. 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:31.299 Let's have a 00:10:31.299 --> 00:10:31.939 nice house. 00:10:32.479 --> 00:10:33.659 Let's have 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:34.459 good incomes 00:10:34.459 --> 00:10:35.079 coming in. 00:10:35.599 --> 00:10:37.159 Let's have 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:37.599 holidays. 00:10:37.959 --> 00:10:38.859 Let's get the 00:10:38.859 --> 00:10:39.539 kids the best 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:40.459 clothes and the 00:10:40.459 --> 00:10:41.359 best toys and 00:10:41.359 --> 00:10:41.679 the best 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:42.179 schooling. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:43.000 Let's get 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:43.939 seven devices 00:10:43.940 --> 00:10:44.540 so that we 00:10:44.540 --> 00:10:44.940 can all 00:10:44.940 --> 00:10:45.800 watch different 00:10:45.800 --> 00:10:46.560 things and be 00:10:46.560 --> 00:10:47.440 a harmonious 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:48.540 fragmented 00:10:48.540 --> 00:10:49.260 family in the 00:10:49.260 --> 00:10:49.460 home. 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:51.040 All while 00:10:51.040 --> 00:10:52.780 the internal, 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.260 the unmeasurable 00:10:54.260 --> 00:10:55.200 things are 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:55.640 neglected. 00:10:58.700 --> 00:11:00.040 What really 00:11:00.040 --> 00:11:00.940 produces a 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:01.960 thriving family 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:04.920 soaking in the 00:11:04.920 --> 00:11:05.620 word and the 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:06.440 love of God 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:06.800 and the 00:11:06.800 --> 00:11:07.860 mutual trust 00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:08.240 and the 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:09.240 gratefulness 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:09.980 and the 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:11.040 sacrificial love. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:11.519 I'm sure we 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:11.860 could add 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:12.399 things here 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:15.759 but we're 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:16.339 drawn to 00:11:16.339 --> 00:11:18.339 those visible, 00:11:18.719 --> 00:11:19.179 measurable, 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:21.000 tangible things 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:23.339 as if that's 00:11:23.339 --> 00:11:23.699 the real 00:11:23.699 --> 00:11:24.120 thing. 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:26.139 Or as a 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:26.740 country, we 00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:27.219 can measure 00:11:27.219 --> 00:11:28.000 our prosperity 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:28.559 by our 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:29.459 annual GDP 00:11:29.459 --> 00:11:30.740 but where's 00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:31.399 the trust? 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:33.199 Where's the 00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:34.019 trust between 00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:34.459 neighbours? 00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:35.719 What really 00:11:35.719 --> 00:11:36.799 produces a 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:37.539 healthy country? 00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:40.539 I was 00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:40.899 looking in 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:41.360 my wardrobe 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:42.779 recently and 00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:43.500 I saw all 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:44.259 these shirts 00:11:44.259 --> 00:11:44.980 I bought when 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:45.620 I first was 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:46.240 appointed a 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:46.799 pastor here. 00:11:46.839 --> 00:11:47.199 I don't want 00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:47.679 to wear them 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:48.000 anymore. 00:11:48.099 --> 00:11:48.399 They're a bit 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:48.899 embarrassing. 00:11:49.319 --> 00:11:50.019 I was focused 00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:52.079 on just 00:11:52.079 --> 00:11:54.079 looking like 00:11:54.079 --> 00:11:54.599 a pastor. 00:11:54.839 --> 00:11:55.360 Who gives 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:55.740 a rip? 00:11:57.939 --> 00:11:58.699 I'm sorry 00:11:58.699 --> 00:11:59.379 about that but 00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:00.599 fallen mankind 00:12:00.599 --> 00:12:01.860 is just, we're 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:03.339 so prone to 00:12:03.339 --> 00:12:03.899 look for the 00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:04.939 external, the 00:12:04.939 --> 00:12:06.939 measurable and we 00:12:06.940 --> 00:12:07.800 just ignore the 00:12:07.800 --> 00:12:08.600 crucial, the 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:10.100 important and 00:12:10.100 --> 00:12:11.100 often unseen. 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:11.740 You can't 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.320 measure it. 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:15.920 And that's 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:17.040 especially the 00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:17.520 case when it 00:12:17.520 --> 00:12:18.120 comes with our 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:18.860 relationship with 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:19.180 God. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:23.620 So verse 23 00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:26.280 and 24 I 00:12:26.280 --> 00:12:26.860 think is just 00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:27.160 that. 00:12:27.420 --> 00:12:28.260 The Pharisees 00:12:28.260 --> 00:12:29.720 totally missed 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:30.360 the point of 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:30.700 the Old 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:31.060 Testament. 00:12:31.540 --> 00:12:32.040 They knew 00:12:32.040 --> 00:12:32.420 their Old 00:12:32.420 --> 00:12:32.940 Testament back 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:33.540 to front and 00:12:33.540 --> 00:12:34.600 yet Jesus is 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.300 charging them 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:36.080 with totally 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:36.640 missing the 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:36.939 point. 00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:37.639 Totally 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:38.960 missing the 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:40.100 thrust, the 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:40.980 heart of what 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:41.580 God says. 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:45.799 God gave 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:46.460 laws about 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:47.340 tithing, giving 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:48.519 10% and they 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:49.899 are so holy 00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:51.759 they tithe 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:53.340 their garden 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:54.139 herbs. 00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:55.139 They can 00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:55.740 measure that. 00:12:57.199 --> 00:12:57.919 They can 00:12:57.919 --> 00:12:58.519 obey that 00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:58.960 rule. 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:01.139 But what 00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:01.860 God's law 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:02.919 emphasised, what 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:03.639 the prophets 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.500 called Israel 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.580 back to again 00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:06.379 and again, what 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.940 he says he 00:13:07.940 --> 00:13:08.340 wants the 00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:09.000 most is 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:10.879 justice and 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.600 mercy, 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.280 faithfulness. 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.300 They focus on 00:13:21.300 --> 00:13:22.240 the rules they 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:23.800 can see and 00:13:23.800 --> 00:13:24.960 just skim 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.520 over the 00:13:26.520 --> 00:13:27.600 heart of 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:27.960 what God 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:28.660 calls us 00:13:28.660 --> 00:13:28.900 to. 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:32.319 God's 00:13:32.319 --> 00:13:32.879 love. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:35.039 A gnat and 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:35.840 a camel, they're 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:36.840 both unclean 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:37.779 animals in 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.699 Mosaic law. 00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:40.819 So they're so 00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.980 careful not to 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:42.959 defile themselves 00:13:42.959 --> 00:13:44.120 with a gnat and 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:44.879 then they swallow 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.340 a camel. 00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:48.319 They miss the 00:13:48.319 --> 00:13:49.100 heart of what 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:50.579 God wants 00:13:50.579 --> 00:13:51.059 from us. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:53.639 It's like in 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:54.439 COVID days, 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.340 coming in the 00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:56.159 door, you just 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.819 12 times you 00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:59.000 sanitise your 00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.480 hands and 00:13:59.480 --> 00:13:59.759 then you 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:00.480 sneeze in 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:00.839 someone's 00:14:00.839 --> 00:14:01.699 face and 00:14:01.699 --> 00:14:02.100 you think 00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:03.419 you're being 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:03.879 careful. 00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:04.980 It's just 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:07.379 missing the 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:07.779 point. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:09.439 Matthew's 00:14:09.439 --> 00:14:10.959 gospel records 00:14:10.959 --> 00:14:12.219 Hosea 6.6 00:14:12.219 --> 00:14:12.899 two times, 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:13.620 I desire 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.639 mercy, not 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.519 sacrifice, 00:14:16.459 --> 00:14:17.000 God said. 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:20.360 Ritual 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.919 isn't inherently 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:22.379 wrong. 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.679 He commanded 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:25.399 some rituals, 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:26.239 but it 00:14:26.239 --> 00:14:27.000 means nothing 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:29.039 if you 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:30.099 ignore God's 00:14:30.099 --> 00:14:30.519 call to 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.339 show mercy 00:14:31.339 --> 00:14:33.959 to your 00:14:33.959 --> 00:14:34.479 fellow brother 00:14:34.479 --> 00:14:34.799 and sister. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.179 We're going 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:35.659 to share the 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:35.959 Lord's 00:14:35.959 --> 00:14:36.299 Supper, not 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:36.779 today but 00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:37.379 next week. 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:39.120 It is an 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:39.959 expression of 00:14:39.959 --> 00:14:40.919 our reconciling 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.859 power of the 00:14:41.859 --> 00:14:42.439 gospel to 00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:42.979 God and 00:14:42.979 --> 00:14:43.500 one another. 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:44.539 It will 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:45.359 mean nothing 00:14:45.359 --> 00:14:46.319 if we are 00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:46.919 harbouring 00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:47.759 bitterness in 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.459 our heart 00:14:48.459 --> 00:14:50.740 and hostility 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.439 toward our 00:14:51.439 --> 00:14:51.939 brothers and 00:14:51.939 --> 00:14:52.939 sisters here 00:14:52.939 --> 00:14:53.579 in this room. 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:55.200 that ritual 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:56.160 would be 00:14:56.160 --> 00:14:58.300 worse than 00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:58.560 nothing. 00:14:58.660 --> 00:14:58.920 It would be 00:14:58.920 --> 00:14:59.400 offensive. 00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:01.700 It's missing 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:02.320 the heart. 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:05.920 We could 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:06.300 come to 00:15:06.300 --> 00:15:06.980 church and 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.460 pat ourselves 00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:08.020 on the back 00:15:08.020 --> 00:15:08.400 that we're 00:15:08.400 --> 00:15:09.080 good, godly 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:09.600 people and 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:10.120 then go into 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:10.759 our workplace 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.580 and not pay 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:12.180 our workers 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:13.660 or we 00:15:13.660 --> 00:15:14.500 fudge the 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.300 laws to 00:15:15.300 --> 00:15:16.040 make ourself 00:15:16.040 --> 00:15:16.580 and our 00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.240 company look 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:17.920 good and we 00:15:17.920 --> 00:15:18.340 have no 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:19.140 concern for 00:15:19.140 --> 00:15:19.759 the poor. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:23.580 It's just 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:25.340 missing the 00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:25.860 heart. 00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:30.759 God says 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:31.179 he cares 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:31.620 about our 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.279 inner person, 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.019 our character. 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.240 The 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:38.039 Pharisees' 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:39.299 view of 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:39.840 God and 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:40.659 of religion 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.100 is they 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:41.580 cared about 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.319 the external, 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.039 the measurable. 00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.299 People can 00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:45.039 applaud that 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.460 when God 00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:46.980 cares about 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.399 the inner 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:47.860 person, 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:48.720 the character. 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:50.600 Very hard 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:50.960 to measure 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:53.220 that, but 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:54.080 vitally 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.600 important, 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:55.539 justice and 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.060 mercy and 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:56.720 faithfulness. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:58.779 He doesn't 00:15:58.779 --> 00:15:59.399 want virtue 00:15:59.399 --> 00:15:59.899 signalling. 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:01.399 He wants 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:02.460 real character 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.200 transformation. 00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:09.039 So from 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:09.960 this fundamental 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:10.720 misunderstanding 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:12.519 of God and 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:12.800 what he 00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:13.259 wants, 00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:15.360 focusing on 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.100 the external 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.100 rules and 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:17.519 rituals, 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:18.720 it's not 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.320 surprising 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:19.779 then that 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:19.960 they 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.639 misapply 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.039 God's 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:22.000 laws and 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.340 that's 00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:22.720 what we 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.300 see either 00:16:23.300 --> 00:16:24.080 side in 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:25.480 verse 16 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:26.039 to 22. 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:27.000 Now this 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:27.419 is a bit 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:29.120 step removed 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.500 from us. 00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:29.680 I don't 00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:30.039 think we're 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:30.720 familiar with 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.360 oaths, 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:34.460 but their 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:35.000 rules are 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.419 bizarre. 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.060 If anyone 00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:38.879 swears by 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.360 the temple, 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.360 it's nothing, 00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:41.560 but if anyone 00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:42.320 swears by the 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.080 gold of the 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:43.700 temple, he is 00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:44.379 bound by 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.000 his oath. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:46.000 oaths. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.000 Now just 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.740 stepping back 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.480 big picture 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.940 here, they 00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:51.679 are deciding, 00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:53.080 they've got all 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.259 these technicalities, 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.080 all these rules of 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:55.980 what obedience 00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:56.940 counts. 00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:57.700 This counts, 00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:58.259 this doesn't 00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:58.559 count. 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:00.679 But they're 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:02.259 missing the 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:02.720 heart of the 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:02.899 matter. 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.779 Any oath 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:07.059 is appealing 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.740 to God. 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:11.460 their fixation 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.240 on rules, 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.000 this counts, 00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:13.579 this doesn't 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.420 count, is 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:14.859 actually 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:15.599 encouraging 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.279 people to 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:18.160 forget God. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.480 Any oath 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.559 is appealing 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.200 to God. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.079 These 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:29.680 arbitrary 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:31.960 rules can 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.620 make you 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:33.140 miss the 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:33.720 bigger point. 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:39.059 Now, 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.220 something that 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:40.740 came to my 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.299 mind is, 00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:43.660 it's not the 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.100 only thing, 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:44.620 maybe it's not 00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.039 even the most 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:45.579 important thing, 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.299 but I don't 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:46.759 hear many 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:48.500 people using 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.420 swear words at 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.079 church, to be 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.279 honest. 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.539 Like, it 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:52.000 doesn't happen 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.360 much. 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:53.759 Maybe you stub 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.500 your toe and it 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.380 accidentally happens. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:57.100 I don't hear many 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:58.480 heated arguments 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.200 over morning. 00:17:59.200 --> 00:17:59.880 Sometimes it 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:01.120 happens, but I 00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:01.680 don't hear many. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.500 Now, is 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.319 Sunday morning 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.180 more sacred 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:08.019 than the 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.779 drive home 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:11.480 or Saturday 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:11.960 evening? 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.600 We've got this 00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:16.779 strange distinction 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.620 in our minds 00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:20.500 that this is 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.680 sacred space 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.819 and that 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.720 fixation on 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.440 rules of what 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:25.940 we can and 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.559 can't do at 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:27.620 church, it 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.079 makes us 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:29.920 forget the 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.440 bigger picture 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.059 of God. 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:32.919 God, he 00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:33.460 wants all 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.200 our words 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.519 to be 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.079 honouring him 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.539 and building 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:36.799 up. 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.079 Fixation on 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:46.639 little man-made 00:18:46.639 --> 00:18:48.099 distinctions can 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:48.859 miss the point 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.759 entirely. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:52.819 Then we've got 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.799 verses 25 to 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:54.399 26. 00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:56.480 You clean the 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.240 outside of the 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:57.859 cup and the 00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:58.299 plate, but 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.099 inside they are 00:18:59.099 --> 00:18:59.740 full of greed 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.799 and self-indulgence. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.500 God's law 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.359 put cleanliness 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.160 at the 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:07.779 forefront of 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.339 their minds. 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.819 Every meal 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.359 had to be 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.559 clean animals, 00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:12.640 how you 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.299 prepared the 00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:13.579 meal. 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:15.099 The fabric 00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:15.700 you wore 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.880 had to be 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.059 clean and 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:19.059 not mixed 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.559 fabric. 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.000 What you 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.779 wore, when 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.500 you're sick, 00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:23.240 there's so many 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.380 laws around 00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.480 cleanliness, 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.460 sick or 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.279 menstrual cycle 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:27.980 or attending 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.720 a funeral 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.819 or approaching 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.460 the temple 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.119 and washing 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:33.279 and every 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:35.019 aspect of 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.559 life, 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.559 clean and 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.099 unclean, 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:39.700 was in a 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:40.759 Jewish person's 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:42.160 forefront of 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:42.680 their thinking. 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.019 You would have 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.319 to be incredibly 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:47.899 daft to 00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:49.099 miss that God 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:50.420 wants cleanliness 00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:52.920 inside as 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.300 well. 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.080 Morally, 00:19:55.080 --> 00:20:04.360 inside they 00:20:04.360 --> 00:20:05.460 remain unchanged. 00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:06.039 They're still 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:07.039 full of greed 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:08.380 and self-indulgence. 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:15.840 What came to 00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:16.820 my mind was 00:20:16.820 --> 00:20:18.920 we could be 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.380 a good 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:20.660 Christian and 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.400 obey every 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.380 government law 00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:23.400 with money. 00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:25.240 We could be 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.200 squeaky clean 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:28.720 legally and 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.840 inside greed 00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:31.160 and self-indulgence 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:33.380 could just be 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.460 totally unchanged. 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:39.640 clean the 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:41.620 inside and 00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.299 the outside 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:43.400 it'll take 00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:43.700 care of 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.019 itself. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:45.200 That's the 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.779 easy bit. 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:46.660 Clean the 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.160 inside. 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.740 In both of 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.660 these woes 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.100 with the 00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:54.000 oaths and 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.120 with the 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:56.759 cleanliness 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:58.440 they're limiting 00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:59.559 obedience to 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.940 just the 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.539 external 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.019 measurable 00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.600 things. 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:06.019 it can 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.960 make you 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.720 feel like 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.220 a godly 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.700 person 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.880 missing the 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.620 obedience of 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:10.980 the inner 00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.620 person God 00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:12.180 calls for. 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.240 Would it 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:21.700 be a good 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.799 thing if we 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.360 grew in 00:21:23.360 --> 00:21:23.940 numbers in 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.559 this church? 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:28.860 There's lots 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:29.319 of ways of 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.819 answering that 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.440 question but 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:33.279 it depends. 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.779 it depends what 00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:35.220 we're teaching 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:35.619 people. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:37.879 We could 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.839 grow numbers 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:39.339 and be 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:39.839 corrupting 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:42.299 them if 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:42.720 we're teaching 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.019 the wrong 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.299 thing. 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.639 The Pharisees 00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:47.859 discipleship did 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.899 more harm 00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:49.660 than good. 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.359 They corrupted 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.220 other people and 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.819 I think that's the 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.420 point of verse 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.019 15. 00:21:58.119 --> 00:21:58.960 They make 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:01.079 converts to 00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.920 their form of 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.800 Pharisee religion 00:22:03.800 --> 00:22:04.840 and you make 00:22:04.840 --> 00:22:06.600 him twice as 00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:07.620 much a child 00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.360 of hell as 00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:08.960 yourselves. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.340 Their false 00:22:12.340 --> 00:22:13.620 religion corrupted 00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:15.019 other people. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.160 I don't think 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.800 Jesus is 00:22:20.800 --> 00:22:21.539 exaggerating. 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.560 A child of 00:22:22.560 --> 00:22:22.940 hell means 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:23.340 someone who 00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:24.360 belongs to 00:22:24.360 --> 00:22:25.620 they're on 00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.519 their way to 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.220 hell. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.680 Their teaching 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:32.180 corrupted their 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.140 understanding of 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.820 who God is 00:22:33.820 --> 00:22:34.279 and what he 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.799 wants. 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.220 It gave 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.140 people false 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:38.240 assurance 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:42.600 while turning 00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.360 people away 00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:43.980 from Jesus. 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.340 Numbers alone 00:22:46.340 --> 00:22:47.220 are not a good 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.900 measure of whether 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.660 we're healthy or 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:48.799 not. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:49.259 They're not. 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:53.519 God is 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.480 God is 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.079 God is 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:55.480 God. 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:55.920 This same 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:57.019 corruption is 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.680 pictured in 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.660 verse 27 to 00:22:58.660 --> 00:22:59.160 28. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:01.279 I think this 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:01.779 picture is 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.279 you're meant to 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:02.980 feel it. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:04.740 You are like 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.680 whitewashed 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:08.180 tombs which 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.200 outwardly appear 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.920 beautiful but 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.740 within are full of 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.500 dead people's 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.599 bones and all 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:14.160 uncleanliness. 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:15.819 On the way to 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:16.740 Passover apparently 00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:18.220 the custom was 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:20.160 to whitewash 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.259 paint the 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.460 tombs so 00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:22.779 that people 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.059 didn't 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.059 accidentally get 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:26.779 unclean before 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.420 they came for 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:27.799 Passover. 00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.720 It would 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.500 prevent them 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.900 from participating 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.680 in worship. 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.359 They couldn't 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:33.120 partake of the 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:34.259 Passover so 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.019 they would 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.620 clean the 00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.460 tombs and 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:36.960 Jesus is 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.660 saying the 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.099 tombs are 00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:38.579 not the only 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.299 thing defiling 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:39.720 people. 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.660 You, you 00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:42.380 are defiling 00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.259 people by your 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:43.799 teaching. 00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.640 You're cutting 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.320 people off 00:23:47.320 --> 00:23:47.940 from God. 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.980 Last year a 00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.520 Perth woman 00:23:53.520 --> 00:23:54.240 opened a bag 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.160 of rice from 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.180 Woolworths and 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.820 discovered a 00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:57.900 grey patch at 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.240 the bottom 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:58.900 thinking it was 00:23:58.900 --> 00:23:59.340 mould. 00:23:59.780 --> 00:24:00.280 It wasn't 00:24:00.280 --> 00:24:00.580 mould. 00:24:01.280 --> 00:24:01.759 It was a 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.500 dead mouse. 00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:07.220 She said 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.560 there was 00:24:07.560 --> 00:24:09.759 blood and a 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.940 stale wet 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:13.780 smell coming 00:24:13.780 --> 00:24:14.259 from the 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.700 contents. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:17.640 disgust. 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.640 That 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:20.960 disgust is 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.520 how God 00:24:21.520 --> 00:24:23.040 feels towards 00:24:23.040 --> 00:24:25.100 empty 00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:25.660 religion. 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:30.660 It defiles 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.340 anything, 00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:32.780 anyone who 00:24:32.780 --> 00:24:33.380 buys into 00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:33.660 it. 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:38.720 cuts people 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.060 off from 00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:39.420 God. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.060 They're 00:24:48.060 --> 00:24:48.740 fundamentally 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:50.140 missing the 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:50.900 point of what 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.820 God says in 00:24:51.820 --> 00:24:52.700 his word and 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:54.019 their fixation on 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.320 external rules. 00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:56.160 They made 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.519 these, 00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:58.560 they 00:24:58.560 --> 00:24:58.840 show, 00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.759 disobedience 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.620 counts and 00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:01.620 neglected the 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.400 more important 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.120 obedience God 00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:04.040 calls for and 00:25:04.040 --> 00:25:04.720 it corrupted 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.180 people. 00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:05.820 Anyone who 00:25:05.820 --> 00:25:06.420 buys into 00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:07.060 it, it 00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:07.680 corrupts. 00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:09.220 And so the 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.720 final woes on 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.620 either side at 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:15.780 bookends, you 00:25:15.780 --> 00:25:16.940 reject those 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:18.440 God sends to 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.080 save you. 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.720 It's your 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.320 sense of 00:25:23.320 --> 00:25:24.480 goodness, not 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.080 your sense of 00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:25.980 badness that's 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.560 sending you to 00:25:26.560 --> 00:25:26.820 hell. 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.360 It's your 00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:28.759 sense of 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.280 goodness. 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.339 goodness. 00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:33.259 You've got no 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.920 room in your 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.059 soul to need 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.680 a saviour. 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.559 You don't 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.139 need it. 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:39.940 So verse 00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:40.759 13, you 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.720 shut the 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:43.079 kingdom of 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.639 heaven in 00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:44.379 people's faces 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:44.859 for you 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:45.440 neither enter 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.139 yourselves nor 00:25:46.139 --> 00:25:46.899 allow those 00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:47.200 who would 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:47.639 enter to 00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:48.079 go in. 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.720 They're 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.539 turning people 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.160 away from 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:54.899 Jesus as 00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:56.460 our only hope 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.099 of salvation. 00:25:57.099 --> 00:26:03.039 verse 29, 00:26:03.199 --> 00:26:03.579 they build 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.519 monuments for 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:04.980 the prophets. 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.719 They're thinking 00:26:05.719 --> 00:26:06.359 they're morally 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.079 and spiritually 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.159 superior to 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:09.039 past generations 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.980 who killed the 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:11.000 prophets, yet 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.639 they're plotting 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:13.000 to kill Jesus. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.679 God is so 00:26:19.679 --> 00:26:20.199 patient. 00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:20.639 He gives 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.919 chance after 00:26:21.919 --> 00:26:22.839 chance and 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.799 messenger after 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.480 messenger. 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.759 They're rejecting 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.480 his son. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.620 And then he 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:28.240 gives more 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.759 chances. 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:29.640 Jesus says, 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.079 I'm going to 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:30.740 send you 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.319 more. 00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:32.559 That's 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:32.860 incredible. 00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:33.400 I can't 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.059 believe God 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.839 sends more 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:35.299 messengers. 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:36.860 I'm going to 00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:37.579 send you more 00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.339 of my people 00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:39.680 to share this 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.259 message of 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.759 hope and 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.519 salvation to 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.940 you and 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.200 you're going 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:43.440 to kill 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:43.680 them. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:50.820 mention 00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:51.279 mentioning the 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:51.640 blood of 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.560 Abel and 00:26:52.560 --> 00:26:54.060 Zachariah. 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:56.060 Abel, you 00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:56.580 remember in 00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:57.240 Genesis, he's 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.240 the first 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:00.539 victim of 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.420 someone who 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.180 just wants 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:03.600 external religion 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.580 to feel good 00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:05.200 about themselves 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.500 and murdered 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:06.940 Abel. 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.560 Zachariah is 00:27:08.560 --> 00:27:09.039 probably from 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.840 2 Chronicles 00:27:09.840 --> 00:27:10.279 24. 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:12.920 That was 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.480 the last 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.519 book in 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.099 the Hebrew 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:17.160 collection, the 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:17.759 canon of 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.039 scripture. 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.619 I think it's 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.019 like saying 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.740 from Genesis 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.680 to Revelation, 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:23.920 all the 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.639 blood of 00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:25.279 those God 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.960 has sent 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:27.519 to say, 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.259 come to me 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:28.680 and have 00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.619 salvation in 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:29.859 me and 00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.539 you've killed 00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:30.759 them. 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:32.039 All that is 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.619 landing on 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:32.879 you. 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.460 Time is 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:33.720 up. 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:36.980 He's been 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.839 incredibly 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.940 patient all 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.500 of history. 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:42.099 But it's 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.859 now time for 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.339 that black 00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:43.639 hat. 00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.359 So verse 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.039 37 to 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.700 39, the 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.180 judge of 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.440 all the 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:55.799 earth is 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.279 putting on 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:56.740 his black 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.039 hat. 00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:58.700 Your 00:27:58.700 --> 00:28:00.420 house, the 00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:01.279 temple, Jerusalem, 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.000 Israel, all 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.680 these external 00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.299 things you put 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:04.019 your trust in, 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:04.839 it's going to 00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.619 be left to 00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.200 you desolate. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.220 You will 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.079 not see me 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:09.500 again. 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.480 not until 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:10.640 the 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.059 resurrection 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.599 but until 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.079 his second 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.460 coming. 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.160 When everyone 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.799 will acknowledge 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.460 who I am. 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.599 Blessed is 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.119 he who 00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:18.579 comes in 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:18.920 the name 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.160 of the 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.460 Lord. 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:20.559 In 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.440 chapter 24 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:21.940 verse 1, 00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:22.740 the Lord 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.759 left his 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.119 temple. 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.099 No more 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.680 opportunity. 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.720 That's it. 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:32.759 God's 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:35.980 condemnation on 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.319 all, all 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:37.799 human 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.360 centred, 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.259 external 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:41.940 performance, 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:43.200 people praise, 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:44.620 religion. 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:47.500 This is God's 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.339 condemnation on 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:48.680 it all. 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:50.680 God's 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.680 love. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:55.000 But see, see 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.480 also the 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.000 heart. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.120 See the 00:28:59.120 --> 00:28:59.680 heart of 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.000 God. 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.779 Jesus is full 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.360 of emotion 00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:05.740 here. 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.259 Oh, 00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:09.279 Jerusalem, 00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:11.620 Jerusalem, 00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:13.619 God's 00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:14.619 love. 00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.239 How often 00:29:15.239 --> 00:29:15.839 would I have 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.399 gathered your 00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.699 children together 00:29:17.699 --> 00:29:18.719 as a hen 00:29:18.719 --> 00:29:19.419 gathers her 00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:20.219 brood under 00:29:20.219 --> 00:29:21.179 her wings? 00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:21.320 Jesus. 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.560 But you 00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:25.900 were not 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:26.279 willing. 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.740 I love 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.279 the Jesus 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.660 of the 00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:32.140 Gospels. 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.560 This world 00:29:36.560 --> 00:29:37.420 focuses on 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.440 the appearance 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.460 and externals 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.299 and, but 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.019 God, God 00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.600 doesn't settle 00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:42.100 for that and 00:29:42.100 --> 00:29:42.799 I love that 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.000 about Jesus, 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.440 about God. 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.880 He wants 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.580 character. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.180 He wants, 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.360 imagine if 00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:50.060 our country 00:29:50.060 --> 00:29:50.840 was just 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.599 filled with 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.679 justice and 00:29:52.679 --> 00:29:53.679 mercy and 00:29:53.679 --> 00:29:54.720 faithfulness. 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.619 He wants 00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.519 substance. 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.259 And I 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.599 love the 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:04.359 kind of 00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:04.959 relationship 00:30:04.959 --> 00:30:06.259 God wants. 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.159 He's not 00:30:07.159 --> 00:30:07.579 saying to 00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:08.179 the Pharisees, 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:10.119 well, you 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.819 tried hard but 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.119 it wasn't 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.659 good enough. 00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:14.179 He's saying, 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.619 tuck under 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.319 my wings. 00:30:17.199 --> 00:30:17.919 That's what 00:30:17.919 --> 00:30:19.039 I'm asking. 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:19.919 Tuck under 00:30:19.919 --> 00:30:20.639 my wings. 00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:26.459 Let me 00:30:26.459 --> 00:30:27.299 protect you. 00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:27.720 Let me 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.639 nurture you. 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:30.599 You're so 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.759 busy trying to 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.619 prove yourself 00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.179 in the eyes 00:30:33.179 --> 00:30:33.839 of people and 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:34.559 prove yourself 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.059 to your own 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.539 conscience. 00:30:38.179 --> 00:30:39.319 Just be a 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:39.599 helpless 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:40.419 chick and 00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:40.859 come, 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:42.159 come under 00:30:42.159 --> 00:30:42.819 my wings. 00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:52.200 God's 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:52.779 God's 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.319 The irony 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:54.200 is that if 00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:54.700 you feel 00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.720 morally and 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.399 spiritually 00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:57.200 bankrupt, 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:59.139 there is no 00:30:59.139 --> 00:31:00.220 woe for you. 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:01.359 There's no 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.139 woe for you. 00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:03.339 You've just got 00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:03.839 his wings. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.819 I know you 00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:06.539 may not feel 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:06.779 it, 00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:09.299 but you need 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:09.679 to tell 00:31:09.679 --> 00:31:10.079 yourself, 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.579 preach to 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:10.879 yourself, 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.420 all you've 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.720 got is 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.400 his wings 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.440 to protect 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.620 you and 00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:14.940 nurture 00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.300 you. 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:21.500 It's those 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:21.720 who are 00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.200 proud, 00:31:22.340 --> 00:31:22.640 who don't 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:23.060 want to be 00:31:23.060 --> 00:31:23.800 a helpless 00:31:23.800 --> 00:31:24.240 chick. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.060 They're the 00:31:28.060 --> 00:31:28.620 ones in 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:29.540 real danger. 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:35.180 the one 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.339 weeping in 00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:36.899 his judgment 00:31:36.899 --> 00:31:37.779 is just a 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.440 few days 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:38.779 from the 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:40.359 cross when 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:40.720 he's going 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.099 to take 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:41.879 all the 00:31:41.879 --> 00:31:42.740 condemnation, 00:31:42.899 --> 00:31:43.240 all the 00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:45.079 woes of 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.279 our 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:46.019 hypocrisy, 00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:46.680 our religious 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.379 hypocrisy 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.359 upon himself. 00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:52.159 He's going 00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:52.639 to let 00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:54.200 these Pharisees 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:54.619 say he 00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.059 saved 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.440 others, 00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:57.139 he cannot 00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:58.019 save himself. 00:31:58.019 --> 00:32:00.160 He is 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.500 the king 00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:00.940 of Israel, 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:01.339 let him 00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:01.920 come down 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:02.379 now from 00:32:02.379 --> 00:32:02.879 the cross 00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:03.220 and we 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:03.740 will believe 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.139 in him. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:05.700 He trusts 00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.180 in God, 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.059 let God 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:07.559 deliver him 00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:08.559 now if 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.099 he desires 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:09.359 him, 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:09.740 for he 00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.240 said I 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:10.539 am the 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:10.859 son of 00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:11.180 God. 00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:15.900 There's 00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.240 God's 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:16.759 woes, 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:19.700 that he 00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.940 took the 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.619 woes 00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:23.859 on himself 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:25.879 and stayed 00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:26.519 there while 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.079 those guys 00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:27.940 said that. 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:30.539 he stayed 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.180 there for 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:31.480 you and 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:31.759 me. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.319 Clothes 00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.799 don't make 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.359 us clean, 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:39.240 cleansing in 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:39.960 his blood, 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.460 there's the 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.099 cleansing we 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:42.460 need. 00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:46.059 There's the 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.059 shelter under 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:47.879 his wings from 00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.400 the wrath of 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:48.700 God. 00:32:49.379 --> 00:32:49.859 He took it 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.460 all himself. 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:53.639 Just come 00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.440 helpless, 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.720 nothing to 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.200 offer him, 00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.160 just come 00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:57.420 as a 00:32:57.420 --> 00:32:57.700 helpless 00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.140 chick. 00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:58.960 That's 00:32:58.960 --> 00:32:59.080 the 00:32:59.080 --> 00:32:59.559 relationship 00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.100 God wants 00:33:00.100 --> 00:33:00.480 with us. 00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:06.240 You don't 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:07.500 want those 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:09.140 dreadful words 00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:10.100 spoken to 00:33:10.100 --> 00:33:10.920 you when 00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.480 you face 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:11.880 him in 00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:12.240 judgment 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.799 because you're 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:15.620 proud of 00:33:15.620 --> 00:33:16.200 your religious 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:16.980 activity. 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:17.099 see, 00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:19.700 he's going 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:19.940 to have 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.539 tears in 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.120 his eyes 00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:24.220 and just 00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:24.480 says, 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:26.079 you were 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:26.660 not willing. 00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:29.319 You were 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:30.000 not willing. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.940 You were 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:30.019 not willing. 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.019 Amen.