July 13, 2013

“Woe”

Blessings folk!

Todays reading is long!
Take your time.

Matthew 15:1-9; 23:25-36; 23:13
Mark 7:1-9
Luke 11:37-54

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Religious arguments.
They have existed since the Garden of Eden.
Adam and Eve had one commandment.
They rebelled against it.

Here, we see Jesus confronting the religious rulers and “their” laws, rules and regulations.
Think not that the same does not occur today.
It does, to a greater degree.

The Pharisees and scribes inquired of Jesus as to why His disciples broke the traditions of the elders. They were not washing their hands correctly.

Jesus confronted them forthrightly.
“Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?”

In Matthew we see how they abusing their parents in the “name of the Lord.”
We see the great “woe” passage. Look at what they did/who they were.

• cut off the Kingdom of Heaven from people
• did not enter the Kingdom of Heaven
• cleaned outside of cup/full of robbery and self-indulgence
• blind
• like whitewashed tombs...outside beautiful, inside full of dead bones
• build tombs of prophets/killed prophets
• brood of vipers
• they neglected the commandment of God to hold to the traditions of men
• they were experts at setting aside the commandment of God to keep their traditions
• paid tithe of the smallest things
• love the chief seats/respectful greetings
• weigh men down with burdens

They were hypocrites.
They still exist in the professing church.
So many self-proclaimed leaders are nothing but modern-day Pharisees who abuse the people in the name of the Lord.
Be not one.
Repent.
Confess.
Press on.