Consider the idea being communicated by Jesus when He got angry with the actions He seen in the temple.
The Temple Scriptures are (Matt. 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46, and John 2:16)
The key phrase that captures the core reason of Jesus reaction to them is,
“It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers” or “Take these things away do not make my Father’s house a house of trade”
Coming off of our study last week from Matt. 21:33-41, The Parable of the Tenants. The Vineyard in the parable is the Temple or My Father’s House as Jesus says. The Tenants are the scribes and the Pharisees, that Jesus will address starting in Matt. 23:13-33. They are Shepherds of God’s sheep and just like the previous text in Ezekiel 34:1-31, we see these leaders missing God’s standard of faithfulness, as a steward, just like their father’s did before them.
One last key idea before we get started with Matt. 23 text, is in Matt. 16:6, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The full paragraph consist of Matt. 16:5-12, and the key conclusion is in vs. 12, “Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
(Part 1) Speaking to the Crowds and His disciples about how to respond to the Temple Leaders
1.1-Matt. 23:1-3 (What kind of actions are pleasing to God?)
(John 18:13-14, John 11:49-52, Matt. 7:24&26)
- To Crowds and His disciples
- The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat
- So do and observe whatever they tell you
- But not the works they do
- For they preach, but do not practice
1.2-Matt. 23:4-7 (How should God’s Shepherd act around God’s sheep?)
(Matt. 11:28-30, Matt. 6:1-6)
- They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger
- They do all their deeds to be seen by others
- For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long
- And they love the place of honor at feast and the best seats in the synagogues
- And greeting in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others
1.3-Matt. 23:8-12 (How does God’s leadership structure work in Christ?)
(John 13:12-17, Luke 14:7-11, Luke 22:24-27, Luke 18:14)
- But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers
- And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven
- Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ
- The greatest among you shall be your servant.
- Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
(Part 2) Jesus makes His case against the leaders of His Fathers house and clearly condemns them of being guilty of poor stewardship of what they have been trusted with to manage. He points out they have not been obedient to the task expected of them to carry out for the Master of the House.
2.1-Matt. 23:13-14 (A Stumbling Block)
(Acts 13:6-12, Elymas the magician)
- Block the door to enter the kingdom of Heaven
2.2-Matt. 23:15 (Wicked Shepherd)
(John 10:1, 12-13, Ezekiel 34:1-10, Matt. 18:6)
- You corrupt those you disciple making them evil
2.3-Matt 23:16-22 (Errored Teaching)
(John 9:40-41, John 7:19-24)
- You are blind guides and blind fools
- You are wrong on how you teach the people about oaths
- You make the lesser thing the greater thing
- Gold over the Temple
- Gift over the Altar
2.4-Matt 23:23-24 (Miss Understanding the Key Point)
(Matt. 15:10-20)
- You tithe every little thing
- Mint, dill and cumin
- But neglect weighty things
- Justice, mercy and faithfulness
2.5-Matt 23:25-26 (What is on the inside is what matters)
(Mark 7:1-23)
- Tend to outside but neglect the inside
- Inside full of greed and self indulgence
- Cleaning the inside is more important
2.6-Matt 23:27-28 (Outwardly appear righteous)
(Mark 10:20-22)(Mark 10:17-27, Matt. 19:16-26)(The Rich Young Ruler)(Unwilling to go to the wine press)(The wine press is Salvation)(Surrendering All)(Dying to Self)
- Whitewashed tombs that outwardly appear beautiful
- But inside is dead bones and all uncleaness
- Outwardly appear righteous
- But within full of hypocrisy and lawlessness
2.7-Matt 23:29-33 (The Tenants Disobedience)
(Cain)(Gen. 4:8-10)
- You honor the prophets of righteousness
- You confess it was you fathers that killed them
- You say you would not have killed them
- How will you escape judgement on this?
(Part 3) Therefore because you are clearly guilty this is the state of affairs.
3.1-Matt.23:34-36 (To whom the word of God came)
(John 10:35)
- Therefore I send you prophets, wise men and scribes
- Some you will kill, crucify, flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town
- So that all the blood of those trusted with delivering the message will come on you
- All these things will come upon this generation
3.2-Matt. 23:37-39 (Stone those who are sent as God’s messengers)
(Matt. 21:34-39)
- O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!
- How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
- See, your house is left to you desolate
- For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”
It is my hope to after the “Zoom Campfire Call” to add any additions notes of closure to this spot. Be sure to check back later to see if anything has been added to the notes.
