The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 23 Part 8 The Fourth Of Eight Woes: The Woe Of Blind Guides

Matthew 23:16  Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 

There are two parts to this Woe.

First is the issue of scribes and Pharisees being blind guides who are spiritually unfit to lead God's people.

Second is a specific example Jesus gave exposing their wicked teaching that led people astray.

Jesus denounced scribes and Pharisees because they pretended to be spiritual guides for the people, but they were blinded to God's truth.

The word "guide" refers to an expert who can teach those who are ignorant or inexperienced, in this case it concerns the things of God.

A "blind guide" can do no one any good at all.

The words "blind guide" are what as known as an oxymoron: two opposite words that normally do not go together.

An oxymoron is used to emphasize how foolish it is to follow a blind guide.

Imagine traveling on an unfamiliar, congested highway with a blind person looking for the specific exit that you need.

Imagine hiking in the wilderness on an unmarked trail with a blind guide to warn you about dangers where you could fall or drown.

Such scenarios give us a picture of how utterly ridiculous it would be to trust a blind guide for help in these situations.

In like manner, religious hypocrites like scribes and Pharisees offered no spiritual guidance to God because they did not know Him or His Word. 

Therefore, scribes and Pharisees were unfit to guide anyone with regard to the spiritual things of God.

Their hearts remained in spiritual darkness just as the day they were born. 

To follow what scribes and Pharisees wrongly taught is like following a blind guide. 

Common sense tells us that we would never follow a blind guide and that we should not blindly follow someone who professes to know the ways of God better than anyone else.

Thus, Jesus denounced scribes and Pharisees for ignorance of the things of God in Christ, and for not knowing the true meaning of the Scriptures. 

They did not discern the spirituality of the Gospel of Christ and the glorious salvation He brought.

2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Their minds were blinded by Satan who is the "god" of this world, and were preoccupied with a greedy covetousness due to loving the world instead of loving God.

God gave us strong warnings about this by telling us "Love not the world, nor the things in the world, because those who love the world do not have the Father's love in them" (See 1 John 2:15-17).

Romans 2:19-20  And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20  An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 

The apostle Paul, himself a former Pharisee, had the scribes and Pharisees in mind when the Spirit guided him to write this text.

They had self confidence that they were the only ones who knew the truth and rightly understood it. 

They established themselves as the only correct teachers and interpreters of God's law.

In reality, they set the scriptures aside and promoted traditions of men instead of teaching people the Word of God.

Isaiah 56:10  His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 

The prophet Isaiah spoke about the spiritual leaders God appointed to teach His people.

Over time, they became blind and were like dumb dogs who do not bark to warn when an intruder is present.

Scribes and Pharisees expected that all people would hear and heed what they said about the things of God because they alone knew His ways.

Yet, Jesus denounced them as blind guides who were spiritually bankrupt and walking in darkness.

Matthew 23:16-17  Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 

Next, Jesus denounced a specific teaching of the scribes and Pharisees because it diminished God and the beauty of His holiness.

Scribes and Pharisees permitted making a vow by creatures if they were consecrated to the service of God. 

The word "Swear" means to make a promise before witnesses to do a certain thing and it corresponds with the Hebrew word translated "vow."

For some strange reason the scribes and Pharisees said a vow made to the Temple which was sanctified by God, did not matter if the person followed through or not.

However, if they made a vow swearing by the gold stored in the Temple, that was considered sacred and must be carried out.

Thus, Jesus condemned them for swearing by gold which sat in the Temple consecrated to God.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23  When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. 22  But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. 23  That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. 

Making a vow was something that was considered a sacred obligation.

If one made a vow to God that person was not to be slack in carrying out whatever he said he was going to do.

Failure to discharge a vow made to God was and is a sin and He judged people if a vow was not carried out exactly as they spoke it.

Those who chose not to make a vow to the LORD remained without guilt.

A vow was generally done voluntarily but it was never to be done rashly (Proverbs 20:25). 

King Solomon declared that it was better not to make a vow than to make one and fail to keep it. (See Ecclesiastes 5:2-6).

Scribes and Pharisees permitted making a vow by the temple or the altar, though each was the work of men's hands and intended to serve God's honor.. 

Making an oath or vow is an appeal to God and it has a commitment to follow through on what was vowed.

An oath or a vow appeals to God's omniscience and justice, and to make this appeal to a sacrificial animal is to put that creature in the place of God. 

Matthew 23:18-19  And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.  19  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 

In like manner, scribes and Pharisees taught that if you made a vow to the altar of God that it did not matter if it was carried out or not.

However, if they made a vow to an animal being sacrificed on the altar, this must be carried out.

A sacrificial animal was offered on the altar of God according to His commands. What made it acceptable to God was that it was sanctified by His altar.

We do not have time here, but you can look back into Exodus & Leviticus and see how God gave the pattern for the altar. 

On the very day that it was put into service, He sent holy fire down from heaven to consume the burnt offerings for the people.

The altar was holy because God sent a holy fire that was to be kept burning perpetually.

Next, Jesus gave the correct view of making vows or "swearing" as it is here in the text.

Matthew 23:20  Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 

Thus, if one made a vow upon the altar of God, it must be carried out because His altar is a place of sacrifice, remembrance of His lovingkindness and holiness.

Matthew 23:21  And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 

Jesus said that anyone who made a vow or swore by the Temple, they were making that vow to God who dwelt therein.

Matthew 23:22  And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 

Jesus then said that is anyone makes a vow or swears by heaven, He is making a vow to the throne of God and the Ancient of Days who is seated upon the throne.

Thus, blind guides led the people to think dismissively about the Temple of God, the altar of God and the throne of God.

It was wicked to elevate the gold higher than the Temple, an animal higher than the altar and heaven higher than God who is enthroned there. 

Matthew 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 

Jesus pronounced this "Woe" against blind guides and the wicked teaching that says a vow made by the Temple, or the altar of God does not have to be carried out.

It stands in contrast to the fourth Beatitude where those who hunger and thirst for God's righteousness shall be filled.

Scribes and Pharisees were self righteous and did not care about God's holiness or righteousness.

They hungered only for the praises of men not the praise of God.

What have we learned from the fourth "Woe" of Jesus?

First, we must ask the question "How did scribes and Pharisees become blind guides walking in darkness?

The answer is that they laid aside the Word of God and substituted traditions of men.

Mark this down: every person who dismisses the scriptures will become blinded to spiritual realities because they listened to another voice instead of God's voice.

The most glaring example of this is in Genesis 3 where Adam and Eve listened to the serpent's voice instead of believing what God spoke to them.

Let us look at the places were Jesus said to follow Him, because we must not follow blindly after blind guides.

Matthew 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Jesus still calls His disciples to follow Him and to learn of Him so that we may become fishers of men.

That is, we become Christ's faithful witnesses, sharing His gospel with others who do not know Him.

Matthew 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. 

Jesus told a man who wanted to be His disciple but who also wanted to do a "reburial" of his father, that he must commit to following Christ.

Reburial was a Jewish custom from about 100 BC to 100 AD. When someone died, they were placed in a tomb and lime was added to help the body decompose.

After about a year, the family would take a stone container called an ossuary, to put a dead person's bones in.

The funeral to honor the deceased family member took place at the time of their death.

Thus, family priorities cannot assume a higher priority what we have for God.

Matthew 9:9  And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Jesus called a tax collector named Matthew to follow Him and he did.

Matthew 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Jesus told His disciples that they must deny themselves by setting aside worldly pleasures and vocations, in order to follow hard after Him, even if it meant martyrdom.

Matthew 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Jesus said to a rich, young ruler, that he must sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, and then to follow Christ.

The idea is that we seek first the kingdom of God because our Father knows our needs and will supply them.

What did Jesus say about following Him through His apostles?

1 Corinthians 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 

Philippians 3:17-19  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: :19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Paul tells us that we must follow the apostolic example. 

Each one of Jesus' apostles followed the Lord and left us an example of how to live here on earth, until Jesus calls us home to heaven.

We must not blindly follow a pastor or teacher if what they say does not conform with the scriptures.

We must not blindly follow a pastor or teacher if they preach sound doctrine but the live in sin.

This is why the Bereans were commended, because they studied the Word each day in order to verify the truth of preaching that they heard (See Acts 17:10-11).

Second, we must always remember that we have been bought with a price and that our body and spirit belong to God.

Therefore, our chief end is to do all that we do for the glory of God (See Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17; 3:23-24).  

Regarding making vows or swearing by the Temple, the altar or the throne of God, reminds us of our spiritual duties for our Lord.

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

We must present our body, soul and spirit to God as a living sacrifice.

Our goal should be learning from the scriptures how to live a holy life.

God sent His own Spirit to live in our heart by faith, and He will help us understand the Word and He will empower us to live in accord with the will of God.

Thus, each Christian can avoid being squeezed into the mold of a depraved, corrupt culture and we can have our minds renewed by the living scriptures and transforming work of His Spirit.

This calls for an active participation on our part and a yielding to the Holy Spirit each day.

Bob