The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 23 Part 6 The Second Of Eight Woes On Scribes & Pharisees: The Woe Of Pretentious Prayers!

As we study the eight "Woes" Jesus pronounced up the scribes and Pharisees, we need to keep two words in mind.

First, we must remember that the word "Woe" is a strong denunciation upon a people or a nation for their sins and transgressions.

Therefore, when Jesus pronounced a "Woe" it announced the sure judgment of God upon scribes and Pharisees for their specific sins.

Each of the eight "Woes" details a specific sin that they committed which led the people away from God, not closer to Him.

The first "Woe" was against scribes and Pharisees who use traditions of men as a roadblock to keep sinners from repentant faith and entrance into Christ's kingdom.

The first "Woe" is juxtaposed against the first "Beatitude" Jesus taught, about the poor in spirit who cried out to God with repentant faith and who will receive the kingdom of heaven (See Matthew 5:3).

Another word we must bear in mind is the word "hypocrite" which refers to an actor behind a mask. 

This word describes Pharisees and scribes perfectly because they pretended to be holy men who were justified by God but in reality their hearts were far from Him.

Matthew 23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 

Jesus cited two more sins committed by scribes and Pharisees.

First, they devoured widows houses and this sin stands in contrast to the second beatitude of Jesus.

Matthew 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

Who mourns more deeply than widows, orphans or the oppressed poor?

In both the Old and New Testaments, widows were often taken advantage of by greedy, unscrupulous men like the scribes and Pharisees.  

They often lacked resources to defend themselves and often judges were bribed to rule against them by wealthy men who coveted their property.

Widows had little legal standing and often depended on a male relative to govern their affairs.

In the case of the scribes and Pharisees, Jewish historian Josephus tells us that they pretended to have the most exact knowledge of the law.

They taught that women were subject to their interpretations and this is how they "devoured" widow's houses.

However, God keeps track of sin and their sins will not go unpunished.

Exodus 22:22-24  Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23  If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24  And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. 

Notice the strength with which God condemns those who seek to harm the widows and orphans.

He says "If you afflict them and they cry to me, I will surely hear and my wrath shall wax hot and I will kill you with the sword."

It is clear that God has a special place in His heart for widows and fatherless children.

He will not tolerate people who afflict them or who try to swindle them out of their property.

His righteous anger will wax hot and His sword (The Word of God) shall be unsheathed and used against the oppressors. 

Revelation 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

This text tells us what Jesus will do when the marriage supper of the Lamb is complete. 

He will return to earth with all His mighty angels and will smite all the nations, all the wicked and all the depraved with the sword that goes out of His mouth.

John tells us that this sword is the spoken Word of God.

The same power that created all things and gave life to all things and that governs all things, is the Word by which Christ shall destroy the wicked.

Deuteronomy 10:17-18  For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: 18  He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. 

God speaking through Moses tells us that He will execute judgment upon any who do wrong to the widows.

Deuteronomy 27:19  Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 

Once more, God's moral law pronounces a curse upon those who pervert judgment of the widows, which means cheating them out of their rightful inheritance.

Isaiah 10:1-2  Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2  To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 

Several of the Old Testament prophets condemned kings and those in authority for illegally taking away the estates of widows and fatherless children.

Wicked people who engage in this illegal action are no better than common robbers who hide while they wait to attack innocent victims.

This is why Jesus pronounced a strong "Woe" of judgment upon the scribes and Pharisees.

Matthew 23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 

We must also take notice that our Lord denounced Pharisees and scribes for making long, pretentious prayers.

Some ancient sources state that Pharisees and scribes would spend up to nine hours a day praying to ensure they were noticed by other people when they prayed.

Jesus often continued all night in prayer to God, and we are commanded to pray without ceasing. 

Where there are many sins to be confessed, and many needs to pray for the supply of, and many mercies to give thanks for, there is occasion for long prayer.

Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue. 

The eloquence of prayer consists in the fervency of desire, and the simplicity of faith (See James 5:16).

However, Pharisees and scribes prayed lengthy prayers because they used "vain repetitions."

They simply repeated the same words or phrases over and over again and their words were empty, devoid of spiritual truth, devoid of the knowledge of God.

They were all about self glory, being in the religious spotlight and thinking too highly of themselves.

Their prayers were based upon "pretense" which literally means under a cloak.

The idea is that they used long prayers as a cloak of good religion to cover up malicious thoughts of their hearts in planning to steal from widows.

Thus, their prayers and actions were despicable and inexcusable in the sight of God.

They deserved swift and final judgment from God and this is why Jesus denounced their wicked ways.

We must look more deeply into God's moral law because His standard is absolute and unchanging.

He loves widows with a special love and they are dependent upon the help of faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, who will advocate for their needs.

We must also be on guard against pretentious praying.

We must be on guard against making long prayers or using repeated words and phrases.

We must never use prayer as a religious cloak to cover up a covetous heart like the scribes and Pharisees did.

Psalm 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

Let us ask our Great God to search our hearts in order to expose any evil thoughts or hint of malice that we may have.

If He shows any sin to us let us quickly confess and forsake our sin.

Let us love others as we love ourselves for in doing so we will fulfill the law of God.

May we allow God to find ways that we can be a blessing to others.

Bob