Passion: Woe to False Teachers (part 2)•
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
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I. FIFTH “WOE” FOR SURFACE OBEDIENCE
A. CONDEMNATION
1. OUTCRY AGAINST LEGALISM
Mt 23:23a Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin
a. Majoring on the minors
b. Magnifying the insignificant
2. OUTCRY AGAINST NEGLECT
Mt 23:23b and have neglected the weightier matters of the law – justice and mercy and faithfulness. (These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.)
a. Weightier Matters Micah 6:6-8 “”With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?
b. Other matters are not “wrong”. Just not a “priority”
B. APPLICATION
1. PARALLEL TO THE 5TH BEATITUDE
Mt 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
a. More concerned about letter of the law than people
b. Should focus on mercy to others
2. FAILURE TODAY
Mt 23:24 Blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
a. Laughing at Legalism
b. Good Christian follow all the rules of the Church
II. SIXTH “WOE” FOR SUPERFICIAL CLEANING
A. CONDEMNATION
1. OUTCRY AGAINST DIRTY HEARTS
Mt 23:25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence
a. Unconcerned
b. Hidden Sins pointed out
2. OUTCRY AGAINST WRONG PRIORITIES
Mt 23:26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside may also be clean.
a. Change of Perspective
b. Both inward and outward righteousness
B. APPLICATION
1. PARALLEL TO THE 6TH BEATITUDE
Mt 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
a. Inward heart of the matter
b. Purity always comes inside out
2. FAILURE TODAY
III. SEVENTH “WOE” FOR SECRET SINS
A. CONDEMNATION
1. OUTCRY AGAINST DECEPTION
Mt 23:27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful but inwardly are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
a. Practice of the Jews
b. Whitewashing indication that there was NO dead body within, a safe for refuge in storm, threat
2. OUTCRY AGAINST EXTERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
Mt 23:28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
a. Spiritual façade
b. God is never fooled by what we show on the outside
B. APPLICATION
1. PARALLEL TO THE 7TH BEATITUDE
Mt 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
2. FAILURE TODAY
IV. EIGHTH “WOE” FOR SELF-STYLED HONOR
A. CONDEMNATION
1. OUTCRY AGAINST REWRITING HISTORY
Mt 23:29-30 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
a. They professed to venerate dead prophets but they rejected living prophets
b. Will not admit guilt
2. OUTCRY AGAINST THE PATTERN ACROSS GENERATIONS
Mt 23:31-32 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
a. Actions testify of Heart
b. Complete another generation of Rejecting Truth
3. OUTCRY AGAINST IGNORING PENDING JUDGMENT
Mt 23:33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how can you escape the judgment of hell?
a. Family of the Devil
b. Specific words chosen
c. Judgment IS coming
B. APPLICATION
1. PARALLEL TO THE 8TH BEATITUDE
Mt 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”