The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 23 Part 7 The Third Of Eight Woes Against Scribes & Pharisees: The Woe Of Promoting False Religion

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Matthew 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 

The idea of compassing sea and land correlates with our expression of "leaving no stone unturned."

This is like making a thorough search for something valuable that was lost, like lost jewelry or lost car keys.

Jesus pronounced a "Woe" upon the scribes and Pharisees for going out to find people, mostly Gentiles, to convert to Judaism.

We have already shown that Judaism was a pretentious religious system based upon the traditions of men, rather than the holy, inspired Word of God.

It is a false religion that teaches a person can do certain works and observe certain rules to gain favor with God.

Thus, Jesus said that all religious works of scribes and Pharisees were done in order to be seen of men, so that those observing would think highly of them.

On the outside, scribes and Pharisees pretended to keep God's law, but in their hearts they were deceived and desperately wicked (See Jeremiah 17:9).

Judaism was a false religion that ignored the commands of God. 

Judaism rejected the saving provision God made for us through the suffering, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

Judaism invented a way for a man to be self righteous and this is why Jesus opposed it and exposed their errors.

Romans 3:19-20  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

God specifically tells us that everyone is born a sinner, and stands condemned and guilty before Him.

"The whole world is guilty before God" and this is why the gospel is to be preached to the whole world, because Jesus came to pay for the sins of the world and offer eternal life to all who trust Him.

Again, hear God speak: "No one can do any works to remove the guilt and condemnation of sin." 

Salvation by faith is trusting in the mighty work of God through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. 

Titus 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

Salvation is not by any works of righteousness that we do. 

Salvation is by the mercy of God extended by His grace to repentant sinners. 

Salvation is a powerful work done in our heart by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit as He gives us a new heart and new spirit (See Ezekiel 11:19-20; 18:31-32; 36:26-27). 

Galatians 3:10-14  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Those who try to do good works in order to gain God's favor, remain under the curse of the law.

No man is justified by the works of the law. 

No man can ever do enough good works to overcome our debt of sin.

God fully dealt with the sins of all humanity for all time at the cross of Jesus Christ.

It is a "by faith" salvation based upon God's eternal saving covenant made with Abraham.

Therefore, we walk "by faith" not by sight (See 2 Corinthians 5:7).

Those whom God declared righteous in His sight stand justified "by faith" (See Romans 1:17; 3:28; 5:1).

The righteousness of God is given to us "by faith" in the Lord Jesus Christ (See Romans 3:22).

We have access to the grace of God where we stand "by faith" and we rejoice in God's glory (See Romans 5:2).

All the promises of God come to us "by faith" in Christ (See Galatians 3:22).

The believer in Christ is a child of God "by faith" (See Galatians 3:26).

Christ dwells in our hearts "by faith" (See Ephesians 3:17).

Without faith it is impossible to please God and this was the predicament that Judaism created for its followers (See Hebrews 11:6).

Seventeen times in Hebrews 11 we are given examples of those God said were righteous before Him "by faith".

It is no wonder that Jesus worked hard to expose the errors of Judaism so that men might see, understand and come to Him "by faith."

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

Thus, there is only one name given under heaven among men that we can call upon for salvation: the name Jesus Christ.

No other "god" can save anyone for they are all created from the corrupt minds of men.

No religious system can save anyone because they ignore the saving provision of God through faith in His Son.

John 3:16-19  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

Thus, Jesus is the only way to the Father, the only source of truth and the only One who can give eternal life to all who believe.

Those who reject the gospel and refuse to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, stand condemned by their sins and in danger of falling into the flames of Hell when they die.

Scribes and Pharisees had corrupt hearts and they refused to come to the light of the truth about Jesus Christ, because their motivation and works were evil.

Thus, the gospel of Christ is the only truth that has the power to save repentant sinners. 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Thus, there is only one way to be saved from sin, one way to come to the Father, and one source of eternal, immutable truth: Jesus Christ.

There is only one perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

There is only one way to heaven.

There is only one body of eternal truth, the inspired scriptures God gave to mankind.

Romans 1:16-17  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

Paul tells us that he used to be one of the highest officials in Judaism, and that he persecuted the church with hateful vigor (See Philippians 3:4-7; Acts 8:1-3).

Before his conversion to Christ, Saul arrested and mistreated Christians and consented to the stoning of Stephen the first martyr (See Acts 7:54-60).

It was the voice of Christ and the brightness of His glory that stopped Saul on the road to Damascus, when he was born again and given the name Paul (See Acts 9).

Thus, Paul knew the power of the gospel of Christ and he was never ashamed to preach it, because God used this power to save the lost and to show us how to live a new life in Christ.

Paul tells us that preaching the cross of Christ is the power of God to those who believe, but it seems foolish to those who reject His gospel.

What is a proselyte?

The word literally means someone who came from a Gentile or pagan religion to Judaism.

"Church fathers" were leaders like Timothy or Titus who assumed responsibility for leading the churches after the apostles died.

Following the example of the apostles these men wrote letters to the churches. 

They did not write inspired scripture like the apostles did, but they often cited the apostolic doctrines in their letters.

One of the early church fathers named Justin Martyr wrote that “the proselytes did not believe Christ’s doctrine, and were abundantly more blasphemous against Him than the Jews themselves, endeavoring to torment and cut off the Christians wherever they could."

Why did some proselytes do such wicked things against Christians? Because they were ardent converts to Judaism and the traditions of men.

The Jewish writers themselves say that proselytes were “scabs of Israel,” and “hindered the coming of the Messiah” by their great wickedness.

Scribes and Pharisees sought to make proselytes in order to have a large following.

They used the garb of religion to get proselytes to give money or property to them in the name of Judaism.

Once they got what they wanted (more funds and a larger following) the scribes and Pharisees did little to give religious instruction to proselytes. 

Certainly there is a warning here for those church leaders who seek to enrich themselves and draw large crowds by preaching a false gospel of health, wealth and happiness.

Thus, many proselytes adopted the same hostility scribes and Pharisees exhibited toward Jesus and His disciples.

Hypocrites like scribes and Pharisees thought they were heirs of heaven. 

However, Jesus said they were the children of hell. 

The rise of hypocrisy is from hell, for the devil is the father of lies. 

The tendency of hypocrisy is toward hell, because that is the inheritance religious hypocrites are heirs to.

Unleashing fury against Christianity, proselytes became extremely hot against the truth. 

The most bitter enemies the apostles met in all places were Hellenistic Jews, who were mostly proselytes, (See Acts 13:45; 14:2-19; 17:5; 18:6).

Thus, Jesus condemned scribes and Pharisees a two fold children of hell because vigorously made proselytes of Judaism.

Matthew 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

The third "Woe" of denunciation stands in contrast the the third Beatitude Jesus gave.

The meek are complete opposite of the corrupt and arrogant character of scribes and Pharisees.

The meek are true children of God, born again by the work of God's Spirit and they shall inherit the earth, whereas scribes and Pharisees are twofold children of hell.

Jesus' "Woe" upon scribes and Pharisees over the issue of making proselytes, has applications for Christ's church and leaders today.

Scribes and Pharisees wanted large numbers of followers, and so do many churches and televangelists today.

Those who use man's methods in order to grow, such as employing a business marketing model, are guilty of ignoring what Jesus said to His disciples.

Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

The church is Christ's church. 

He purchased it with His own blood (See Acts 20:28) and each believer in His church has been bought with a price (See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Jesus explicitly said "I will build my church" and this is why we must not stoop to using man's methods or programs, no matter how well intended they may be.

A pastor, elder, deacon or other church leader has one clear duty: To preach or teach the Word of God with care and accuracy, while living a life conformed to the gospel.

We are not to come up with something we think will "help" grow our church.

Omnipotent God does not need our help, nor does He need some new method to save the souls of sinners or to grow His church.

Christ will build His church and His Spirit will use the Word of God to reach the souls of men when it is faithfully preached from the pulpit.

The book of Acts makes it very clear that Jesus was and is actively building His church.

Explosive growth occurred when the gospel was preached with power and clarity.

Last, those so called pastors and church leaders who seek to enrich themselves are those people that Jesus called twofold children of hell.

Televangelists are those who abuse the gospel and make merchandise of men so that they can become wealthy (See 2 Peter 2:3).

Jesus overthrew the tables of greedy men who sought to make profits by using the Temple of God.

He said "Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise" (See John 2:16).

Therefore, we must listen to what Jesus said about His church which is His body.

1 Corinthians 12:18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 

Jesus will grow His church as He deems best, as He sees fit and He will put each member into His body as it pleases Him to do.

Therefore, we must dedicate ourselves to preach or teach the Word carefully so people can understand what God says, and we must be living examples of hearing and heeding His truth.

We must not use man's methods to try to grow the church at the local level, for this is the work of Christ and His Spirit.

We must not seek to gain wealth through preaching a false gospel because Jesus said His Father's house is a house of prayer not a place of economic transactions.

May the Spirit of God guide each of us to a complete understanding of these truths.

Let us as individual Christians, parents, pastors or church leaders, commit ourselves afresh to do what Christ commanded us to do, and to leave church growth in His mighty hands.

Bob