Sharing Bread Matthew 23:23-24

SHARING BREAD

²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin.  But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness.  You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. ²⁴ You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”

Matt 23:23-24 (NIV)

Sometimes it is easier to simply write a check is it not?  Give God our “tenth” and mark it off the list.  In all our busyness and worldliness surely that is all the Lord must requires of us?  Really…we are so important are we not?  We must get on with our all-consuming lives - keeping our sights, perspectives and energies focused on our goals and work and accomplishments.   Seriously, we desperately need to get over ourselves. Jesus here sets the record straight.

In our verses for today, the Lord tells us that to give our perfunctory tithe - a tenth of the “mint, dill and cummmin” - without much if any regard for the justice, mercy and faithfulness also required of us – as these pious religious leaders of His day - our actions will be weighed on the scales and still found wanting.  Both the small and great works are necessary in God’s economy of scale and we are not to neglect either.  Both are evidence of a changed heart, both demonstrate a Spirit led and empowered life.  Furthermore, Jesus places greater importance on the latter – the justice, mercy and faithfulness required.  The wording He chooses - “should have” - are translated from the Greek word “Dei”, a weighty word meaning an “unavoidable, urgent, compulsory necessity; a must, necessary by the nature of things.”  (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible – New Testament Lexical Aids).  I am reminded of the words penned by the Prophet Micah:

⁶ With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? ⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?  Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  ⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.   Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)

 

"A perfect man would never act from sense of duty…Duty is only a substitute for love."  C.S. Lewis

 

God does not want us to be related to Him in only a ritualistic, perfunctory way – simply fulfilling our duties.  Rather, He desires for us to relate to Him inwardly - from the heart.  To obey Him because we love Him, because we know He has our best interest at heart, because we believe Him.

 

"Something happens when we come to God for His grace and mercy--something that is so radical and so amazing that it can only be described as death to our old selves. It is the overwhelming desire to please the One who has loved us with such amazing and unconditional love...I may not get better overnight; I may not be the fine, upstanding, and wonderful Christian I thought I was, but I now have a desire to please the One who loved me (and gave Himself for me). That desire is the soil in which goodness grows--not perfectly, by any means, but it does grow."  Steve Brown

 

All the things of God’s law are important but the most important are those that express the inward holiness of heart – justice and mercy toward men and faithfulness toward God.  He longs for devoted and loyal hearts from His children who remain merciful and just to others.  This obedience is better in God’s estimation than sacrifice or tithe.  Hosea also tells us that mercy trumps sacrifice:

 

⁶ For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.   Hosea 6:6 (NIV)

 

Samuel gives King Saul similar words which we can take to heart as well.  Note the stinging critical comparisons presented against the rebellion and arrogance discovered among God’s people:

 

²² But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. ²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”   1 Sam 15:22-23 (NIV)

 

When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees which commandment in the Law was the greatest, He summed them up in two - all should flow freely from these – Love God – Love others:

 

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”   Matt 22:37-40 (NIV)

 

What I glean from these:

 

·       Both small (tithe) and great works (justice, mercy and faithfulness) are necessary in God’s economy of scale.

·       God desires our works to be motivated by love not duty – one being a diamond the other a paste gem.

·       I am to love God and to love others.   

 

 

Sharing Bread Matthew 23:16-22

SHARING BREAD

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? ¹⁸ You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. ²² And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.”

Matt 23:16-22 (NIV)

“Blind guides!”, “Blind fools!”, “Blind men!” – not sounding too good for these religious leaders of Jesus’ day.  In God’s estimation, those in leadership and teaching positions are held in higher accountability for the truth they profess as well as for their walk to match their talk.  Having professed to have a clearer knowledge of Truth, these teachers were all the more bound to obey it.  James tells us:

¹ Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.    James 3:1 (NIV)

In our verses for today Jesus exposes the duplicitous character of the religious elite who tricked their following by making fine lines of distinction that could possibly invalidate oaths.  They were forever allowing mental reservations within their vows. Bottom line, they were not truly seeking to abide by their word.  In God’s estimation, oaths are not something to tinker with or taken lightly – FYI.  God detests any breach of faith whatever the case may be.  We are to be honest before our Creator and His creation and careful of every verbal commitment we utter.  God never looks lightly upon unfulfilled vows freely falling from our lips – our words and actions matter very much to Him.  He sees all and judges even the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts.  We are told in Deuteronomy to be sure to do whatever our lips utter because we make our vows freely with our own mouths:

²¹ If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. ²² But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. ²³ Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.   Deut 23:21-23 (NIV)

 

Jesus took this a step further in the Sermon on the Mount by stating we are not to even vow at all, simply let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no’s” “no”.  We are to be a people so well known for living Truth and not deception that our word is our bond making vows unnecessary.  Our lives should back up our words.    All oaths tend to do is emphasize the wickedness in a man’s heart.

 

 ³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”   Matt 5:33-37 (NIV)

 

“When you read God’s Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, ‘It is talking to me, and about me.’”    Soren Kierkegaard

    

“Every time we resist the slightest temptation, we honor God.  Every time we overcome even the smallest problem by trusting and obeying our Lord Jesus, God is glorified in our lives.  Whenever we choose character over convenience, faithfulness over ease, or honesty over deceit, we bring honor to the Lord Himself.”  Robert J. Morgan

However we do find in Scripture both Jesus and Paul submitting to the world’s standards regarding vows yet it is not to be our regular practice.  Later in Matthew we discover the Lord Jesus finally stating under oath to the high priest that He was indeed the Christ after a period of silence.  This serves as an indication that it is not a sin to be forced to state an oath.  Sometimes it is necessary for Truth’s sake to submit to this practice as a confirmation to the world of the truthfulness of our word:

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer?  What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.  The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”  ⁶⁴ “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  Matt 26:62-64 (NIV)

 

Paul stated to the church in Corinth:

 

²³ I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 2 Cor 1:23 (NIV)

 

What I glean from this:

 

·       God calls teachers to a higher accountability.

·       It is important to God that I do what I say.

·       I honor God (or dishonor God) before others by my life and words therefore I am to be very careful.  It is important to Him how I live my life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Sharing Bread Matthew 23:13-15

SHARING BREAD

¹³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”

¹⁵ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.”

Matt 23:13-15 (NIV)

In our verses for today Jesus begins shooting His arrows of “Woes” - hitting the bull’s eye, so to speak, of His “prominent” targets.  Those “high-browed” teachers of the law and Pharisees were no doubt standing there shell shocked - wide eyed and open mouthed - over our Lord’s rebuking Words.  Jesus came to earth to bless and furthermore He loved to bless making these “Woes” all the more remarkably standout.  Jesus’ language of “Woes” was particularly amazing given the gentleness and meekness of His character.  His pronouncing them over the religious elite must have surely taken His rural followers by surprise as well.  Over and over in the Gospels we are told of the compassion of our Lord Jesus:

³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Matt 9:36 (NIV)

 

⁴⁰ A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹ Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.   Mark 1:40-42 (NIV)

 “Jesus, Thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love Thou art.”  Charles Wesley

Yet, we see here His anger kindled over the actions of those who were to be the leaders of His people.   These “Woes” stand in opposition to the beatitudes given earlier in Matthew by our Lord.  Actually in mercy, this was Jesus’ warning to the religious elite of their ultimate destruction if they continued on in their present path.  It is not wrong to yell “fire” when the house is burning down.  These “Woes” also denounce false religion as being totally abhorrent to God.  Those who lead others astray through feigned faith - according to Jesus - are headed for sure destruction unless they turn in repentance.  I am reminded of Jesus’ Word in Mark:

⁴² “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.”   Mark 9:42 (NIV)

These leaders were not only failing to enter the Kingdom of God they were also preventing others from entering by their poor example.  I am reminded of Paul’s earnest desire never to cause anyone to stumble:

³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ³² Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- ³³ even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.  ¹ Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.     1 Cor 10:31-11:1 (NIV)

 

These religious elite were hypocritical to the core.  They were mere stage players in religion acting out the part with no changed heart.  Their works and words were for mere men to see and applaud.  They were staunch enemies to the Gospel of Christ and consequently to the souls of men.  While in their positions they could have helped many to heaven they instead shut the kingdom’s gate to them – loving to lord their authority over them.  Being the big dog floated their boats.  They made it their business to prejudice many against the Lord Jesus and His doctrine through prideful bullying.  I am reminded of an incident in John clearly showing these leaders despicable ways:

 

⁴⁵ Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn't you bring him in?”  ⁴⁶ “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared. ⁴⁷ “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. ⁴⁸ “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹ No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law--there is a curse on them.” ⁵⁰ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ⁵¹ “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” ⁵² They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”   John 7:45-52 (NIV)

Finding humility distasteful, these religious leaders could not put up with a religion that demanded so much of it.  They were much too proud to stoop so low.  Also, repentance is the door leading to salvation and of course these great imposters were not thinking of turning from their wicked ways – nothing would have been more disagreeable to them.  But that was not all of Jesus’ fury with them.  They were not only forfeiting their souls by their refusal to enter the kingdom of heaven, they blocked those who were trying to.  Multitudes rejected the Savior following their religious leader’s leads.  They used all their wit and power against Him to serve their malice.  It is no wonder Jesus gives them a “Woe”, “Woe” for their deeply rooted enmity to the kingdom of heaven.    

“The man who has been born again, and who has the divine nature within him, is a man who is righteous and his righteousness does exceed that of the …Pharisees. He is no longer living for self and his own attainments, he is no longer self-righteous and self satisfied.  He has become poor in spirit, meek and merciful. He hungers and thirsts after righteousness…He loves God, yes, unworthily, alas, but he loves Him and longs for His glory…(this) is a righteousness that far exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.”  D. Martin Lloyd-Jones

 

What I glean from this:

 

·       Jesus came to earth to bless and He love to bless as well.   He was known for His compassion, gentleness and mercy.

·       The well-deserved “Woes” Jesus gave the religious elite directly resulted from their religious hypocrisy and their prideful heart’s desire to take others down the same path they trod.

·       Jesus’ humility was more than the Pharisees could stand.   

 

Sharing Bread Matthew 23:11-12

SHARING BREAD

¹¹ “The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matt 23:11-12 (NIV)

True humility of heart is definitely the brightest star on the “Christian’s tree” – topping our lives as the shining fruit which reflects upon all the others.  Indeed, the Prophet Micah tells us it is one of the three things God requires of His people:

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.   Micah 6:8 (NIV)

“Love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ.”    John Newton

In God’s eyes, he who advances to any place of dignity is through the door of humble service.  He who stands the highest in God’s favor is most submissively serviceable or in more common vernacular, he is the one who willingly stops the lowest – just like our Jesus.  Nothing is beneath the humble – no person, no service.  Paul tells us in Philippians:

 

³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!   Phil 2:2-8 (NIV)

   

“The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me.  This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time.”  Tim Keller

 

The Lord Jesus goes on to say in our verses for today that there is sure punishment pending for those who are proud in heart – those ever eager for their own exaltation.  In lieu of a crown they are so desirous to receive they are humbled instead – forced to bend the knee.  These that are proud in heart are much akin to our adversary Satan whose greatest desire is to be worshipped.   But silly Satan, there is only One God and no other – it is He alone Who is to be worshipped.  The Prophet Isaiah pens God’s Words to us regarding this for our knowledge and safety:

¹¹ “I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.”   Isaiah 43:11 (NIV)

 

⁶ “This is what the LORD says--Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:  I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.”    Isaiah 44:6 (NIV)

 

⁵ “I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, ⁶ so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me.  I am the LORD, and there is no other.”  Isaiah 45:5-6 (NIV)

 

¹⁸ For this is what the LORD says--he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited--he says: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.”  Isaiah 45:18 (NIV)

 

⁹ “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. ¹⁰ I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”  Isaiah 46:9-10 (NIV)

 

At the very least, I think we should be beginning to get the picture here! Jesus goes on to say in our verses for today that quite the opposite is true for those who willingly choose to humble themselves – they, in turn, will be exalted.  Interestingly, honor is like a shadow which flees from those who pursue it and grasp after it yet follows those who flee from it.  The way up is down.  The one bowed low becomes the lifted one.  There is a marked advantage to humility in God’s Kingdom economy – it will eventually bring honor.

 

¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.    James 4:10 (NIV)  

 

 “Christians who are real saints and the greatest in the Kingdom…humble themselves as a little child…They look upon themselves as children in grace...”   Jonathan Edwards

 

“Humility is nothing else but a true knowledge and awareness of oneself as one really is.”  The Cloud of Unknowing

What I glean from this:

·       God desires for me to be humble.

·       My role model is to be Jesus Who did not grasp equality with God rather took on the nature of a servant and humbled Himself even to death on the cross - for my sake.

·       In God’s eyes humility brings honor.

 

Sharing Bread Matthew 23:1-10

SHARING BREAD

¹ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. ³ So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”

⁵ “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’”

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.”

Matt 23:1-10 (NIV)

Practice what you preach.  Walk the talk.  One demonstrates what they believe by how they behave.  Words are cheap actions costly.  Whatever your mantra of choice, Jesus sizzles these teachers of the law and the Pharisees for spouting Truth yet living anything but that.  Their faith was all for show and nothing for substance.  Indeed, their secret life was their true life.  Their Delilah of pride sunk them like the Titanic.  They zealously guarded their reputations - masking them behind their lofty words - but inside they remained hypocritical to the core.  These feigned characters indulged their pride in the giving of the law to others yet leaned on ease when it came to their own practice of the same.  Jesus here exposes their shenanigans.  God is never fooled.  Neither will He be mocked.  Paul tells us in Galatians:

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.    Gal 6:7-9 (NIV)

 

“Pride is utter poverty of soul disguised as riches.”   John Climacus

 

God sees all – judging even the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts - it is who we are before Him that truly (and only) matters.  If we could come to terms with that, our lives would be so much simpler – not to mention more peaceful and joyful.  We are to live our lives for an audience of One.  What difference does it make what flesh thinks anyway?  I am reminded of the words in 2 Chronicles and Hebrews:

 

⁹ For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.   2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)

 

¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.   Heb 4:13 (NIV)

“All the commandments of God are commandments of love tending to our real good and great happiness; far from being grievous to those who have faith and love, the practice thereof is life and peace.   The world may think it a grievous burden; but this is a great mistake indeed.  Sin is grievous.  In hatred, envy, anger, revenge, pride, there is nothing but torment and slavery; but in love there is a sweet rest and pleasure.  Thus a sinner always punishes himself, and is robbed of great peace and blessing, by transgressing the commandments of God.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky

Fallen flesh has a tendency to be more concerned with what man thinks than what God thinks. We hide our innermost thoughts and secrets before men yet seem to have no embarrassment about them before Almighty God Who cannot be fooled by our silliness.  It is all too easy to fall into a prideful pattern – even among the religious as the Pharisees in our verses for today.  Nothing is more repugnant to God than to see His people puffed up and looking down on others.  The insidious nature of this deadly disease of pride will get us into a strong choking neck hold before we even realize it taking us down fast.  This is particularly true if we continually shut our eyes to its ways and choose not to keep our lives in check – refusing accountability. 

 

"We make our choices and then our choices make us.  Our everyday choices reveal what we really desire. The essence of sin is pride. The heart of sin is independence and the core of sin is demanding my own way instead of God's."  Pat Singleterry

“Pride is an insidious disease of the soul because it can turn even justice and kindness into self-righteous deeds.”  Chuck Swindoll

 

What I glean from this:

 

·       I live what I believe to be true.

·       God will not be mocked.

·       Religious pride is repugnant to God.