Matthew 23
Posted September 21, 2005
Updated June 6, 2006
Romans 8:1-14 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. v.1
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. v.2
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: v.3
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. v.4
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. v.5
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. v.6
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. v.7
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. v.8
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. v.9
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. v.10
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. v.11
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. v.12
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. v.13
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." v.14
A person that is walking in the Spirit of God will be ministering as Christ ministered when he was on this earth. You can see examples of the way Jesus spoke to the human race in the following verses.
In Hebrews 13:8 it says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
In Matthew 23, Jesus speaks to the multitude and to his disciples, speaking correction to the scribes and Pharisees and instruction to his disciples. In verse 2 & 3 he states, "Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: v.2 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. " v.3
Jesus states in verse 3 that those that sit in Moses' seat tell you what the law says, but they do not obey the law. He speaks to the religious people in John 5:39-47 stating, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. v.39
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. v.40
Religious people frequently believe that they have eternal life in the word and not in the resurrected Jesus.
I receive not honour from men. v.41
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. v.42
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. v.43
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? v.44
We see from verse 44 that a person that receives honor of man does not believe God.
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. v.45
We see in verse 45 that the law accuses us.
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. v.46
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" v.47
In verse 47 Jesus says, "If you do not believe Moses, how shall ye believe my words?" Today people that teach the law do not believe the law.
In Matthew 23:25-33 Jesus says, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. v.25
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. v.26
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. v.27
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity (lawlessness - rebellion). v.28
Verses 25-28 describes modern day so-called Christian's. They want to clean up the outside and not have God deal, through the gospel, with their hearts.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, v.29
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. v.30
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. v.31
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. v.32
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? "v.33
Jesus in verse 33 calls these so-called Christian's serpents and vipers, and he asks how will you escape the damnation of hell.
God bless you,
Doyle Davidson
