Living Room Study

Matthew 23

“Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophet’s blood.’ You therefore testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ sins!!” Matthew 23: 29-32

When I was a teenager, I had a list of things I would never say when I grew up and had kids. Guess what? I say ALL those phrases to my kids!! They’ll probably say them to their kids. Like it or not, we are products of our upbringing.

The Pharisees and Sadducees had zeal that was commendable. They were both willing to suffer for what they sincerely believed. The problem was that they were sincerely wrong in their theological conclusions, mainly in that they did not recognize Jesus as Messiah.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day loved to work for the Lord; but their works were ultimately deemed ineffective for the Kingdom, because they had been taught attitudes & opinions that were contra to God’s heart. When the foundation is flawed, the structure built upon it is jeopardized. Israel’s spiritual leaders had mostly traded the solid foundation of Torah for the unsteady foundation of the Talmud (rabbinical opinions & judgments concerning the Torah). Learning rabbinical tradition had largely replaced personally seeking God’s revelation of His Word.

Religious leaders became so consumed with the “How”, that they lost the “Who”. Forms of worship overshadowed the object of Worship, the Lord.

What’s worse, these leaders believed they had evolved beyond the righteousness of their fathers, who had rejected the prophets! Jesus gave a simple exhortation: Like Father, like son.

To that end, they remind me of liberal church leaders in our generation. That is, there are some who believe today’s society has evolved beyond the Bible. They scoff at conservative church leaders who suggest we should take the bible literally when it comes to various issues like homosexuality, women in church leadership, or abortion. In doing so, they elevate their opinions above those of Moses, Paul, or even Jesus.

We mustn’’t accuse our fathers without recognizing we have inherited their sinful attitudes… absorbing them since the cradle. The only way to break a sin pattern is to humble ourselves, repent, and ask God to reveal the truth of His scripture to us. Then, we must commit ourselves to live within that truth, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular.

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins