Passion: Woe to False Teachers•
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
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I. FIRST “WOE” FOR SHUTTING UP THE KINGDOM
A. CONDEMNATION
1. OUTCRY AGAINST SELF–RIGHTEOUS
Mt 23:13a Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.
2. OURCRY AGAINST THE UNRIGHTEOUS
Mt 23:13b For you neither enter in yourselves nor allow those who are entering to go in.
B. APPLICATION
1. PARALLEL TO THE 1st BEATITUDE
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
2. FAILURE TODAY
II. SECOND “WOE” FOR STEALING FROM THE VULNERABLE
A. CONDEMNATION
In many translations of the Bible this verse is not included or in the margin. D.A. Carson “Verse 14 must be taken as an interpolation, derived from Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47. This is made clear, not only by its absence from the best and earliest Matthew MSS, but from the fact that the MSS that do include it divide on where to place it – before or after verse 13.” We will keep it here (or bring it in from Mark 12 or Luke 20.
1. OUTCRY AGAINST GREED
Mt 23:14a Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows’ houses,
2. OUTCRY AGAINST PRETENCE
Mt 23:14b even while in pretence praying at great length; therefore you will receive even greater condemnation.
B. APPLICATION
1. PARALLEL TO THE 2nd BEATITUDE
Mt 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
2. FAILURE TODAY
III. THIRD “WOE” FOR SUBVERTING CONVERTS
A. CONDEMNANTION
1. OUTCRY AGAINST FALSE EVANGELISM
Mt 23:15a Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte
2. OUTCRY AGAINST FALSE DISCIPLESHIP
Mt 23:15b and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
B. APPLICATION
1. PARALLEL TO THE 3rd BEATITUDE
Mt 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
2. FAILURE TODAY
IV. FOURTH “WOE” FOR SUBTRAFUGE
A. CONDEMNATION
1. OUTCRY AGAINST DECEIT
Mt 23:16-17 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
2. OUTCRY AGAINST DISHONESTY
Mt 23:18-19 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ Blind fools! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
3. OUTCRY AGAINST DUPLICITY
Mt 23:20-22 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.
B. APPLICATION
1. PARALLEL TO THE 4th BEATITUDE
Mt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
2. FAILURE TODAY
BLESSED if we see spiritual need; CURSED if we, like Pharisees, fail to see our need and slam shut heaven’s door.
BLESSED if we mournfully repent of sin; CURSED if we, like Pharisees, focus on gain and fake religion.
BLESSED if we meekly turn to God; CURSED if we, like Pharisees, replace it with our own agenda and religion.
BLESSED if we have a changed life. hungering for righteousness; CURSED if we, like Pharisees, play word games and live like (and for) the Devil.