Matthew 23 is one of the most important foundations of the NEW COVENANT. It is what we can consider, God in Flesh telling us "What not to do". Paul uses the parabolic poetic pentameter of Matthew 23 every time he slips warnings in about tampering with the Revealed Gospel of Jesus Christ from Heaven, to Him.
Matthew 23 is spoken in a direct way that places the Pharisees in league with The Evil one by very chain of command. By calling them "Sons of the Devil"... Jesus inferred a literal reverse kingdom of Satan, that would be in direct contention with the KINGDOM of GOD.
Genesis 3:15 And I (GOD) will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman (My Bone of My Bone and Flesh of My Flesh, THE BODY OF CHRIST) , and between your offspring (sons of the devil John 8:44) and hers (Children of God);
The Kingdom of God is From the Father, to the Son... The Son is The Body's KING (Head) and through His indwelling Holy Spirit, we are VERY SPIRITUALLY bound to HIM. (Ephesians 5:28, 29, 30)
The kingdom of darkness is from Satan, to his angels... they are the head of that body and through the lies of darkness that men embrace, they are spiritually bound to darkness. (John 8:44)
Matthew 13:24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest
Matthew 23
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.
These individuals claimed to have "PERFECT DOCTRINE" and "Perfect Judgment of Humanity".
3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.
They Followed the LAW "PERFECTLY in the FLESH", while their Hearts were full of Hatred and Disgust with all of Creation that didn't meet their perceived standards. They saw anyone that didn't agree with their doctrinal standards as garbage to be thrown out and used accordingly for purposes of wealth or demonstration of their "god imbued" power.
4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.
Their doctrines left people feeling hopeless and their actions towards their fellow man were perpetually fault finding in nature, accusative and to make matters worse, they made the system of salvation "complicated" and "expensive" to all that weren't them. They boasted in their place of authority as those specifically chosen by God to dispense God's Laws and their view of God to humanity.
5 They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
Phylacte.... What?!? They wore portions of scripture on their head that demonstrated matters of Torah that they had mastered in the flesh, memorized and perceived that they could teach others flawlessly, about.
6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.
They loved to be seen as authorities on Torah, typically held high positions of power and were always greeted as important, righteous people, wherever they went. They were Bible superstars, perceived as religious idols to mankind.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.
This is Jesus asserting that God alone is our Teacher, asserting the future supremacy of the personal teaching of the Holy Spirit within us. Jesus also emphasizes equality amongst the brethren, as we were soon to be declared adopted Sons and Daughters in Jesus Christ.
9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.
Let's just get it out on this matter... Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 4:14 For even if you were to have ten thousand teachers [to guide you] in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers [who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you], for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the good news [of salvation].
Paul is establishing that his words, as always are not his words. He is making it clear that Heavenly Jesus Christ speaks through him. To be direct, if the church ever had a true "Pope", it was Paul. His words of Christ's remain to this day, while Paul is now in Heaven. The "Hat" that Paul wore was a very heavy hat, and that "Hat" is now gone. As Jesus intended, Christ's words are before us in Scripture, which the Holy Spirit within each member of The Body will be taught accordingly by. 1 John 2:27
10 You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Any person that does not speak on behalf of the Holy Spirit, with humility and admission of fallibility of themselves, established only within Canonical scripture... is not to be trusted. Jesus goes on to contrast His future Humbling unto Death out of Love for all Creation, with the sheer Pride in themselves and their self serving doctrines that the deceived perpetually exalt.
13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.
This is a HARD, HARD passage. Jesus is saying that the lies of the deceived not only shut the door of Heaven to themselves, but then go on to shut the door of Heaven to anyone that they deceive. It also echo's that the actual Pharisee's that Jesus is describing, truly believed that only the chosen of Israel could be saved. They believed in their hearts that God didn't Love others, as much as He Loved them.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!
These deceived people didn't care about bringing people to the Relational Love of God, but instead to their massive volumes of Doctrines that they had built upon man after man, venerating themselves, in place of God.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’ 17 Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?
I won't apologize for this... because my IDOL said it and I Love Him with all of my being.
Gold to God is the very Eternal Ghost/Spirit/Soul within all Living Beings that only HE has the power to destroy..
Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear HIM who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will. [30] But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
Psalms 84:1 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
It is blasphemy to devalue one single life. Even the very Sparrows, who were valued by the Religious elite as cheap and near worthless, are of INFINITE value to God. If a single Sparrow, who's lifespan is only 3 years, matters to our Infinite Creator, how much more, do you think that God values and Loves... EVEN the Wicked Angels and Human Kind? Don't get me wrong, I thank God for every delicious Steak and Brisket... but God genuinely Loves and Cares beyond our comprehension!
Jesus is the TRUE TEMPLE of God. The Money of His Temple is Human, Eternal Souls.
The deceived didn't understand that Jesus was saying that the deceived valued financial Gain (Worldly Success in the Eyes of fellow Mankind) above God's desire that NONE should be LOST, but that the
incontrovertible number of ALL come to repentance. Even more powerful than that, as always, Jesus is Simultaneously Parabolically defining that HE is The Temple that Justifies Humanity. His BLOOD poured out to Reconcile ALL of Creation unto Himself. HE desires that ALL would respond, yet though He is the very DEFINITION of INFINITE POWER (Power is the ability to make people do one's own Will, despite it being against their own Will.... by definition), He has accepted the part of an Unrequited Lover, in many instances. He is truly, the patient Man of Sorrows! He is genuinely incomprehensibly GOOD, full of FAITH, HOPE and LOVE towards ALL!
18 Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’ 19 Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
He is THE ALTER THAT SANCTIFIES us through the Fires of genuine Chaos that has sprouted from the blessed gift of Individual Libertarian Sovereign Agency given to all Creation. What God gives in earnest and Love, is not to be blamed for what Creation has done with this gift.
Jesus is outright saying that the Shadows of Him, that have been under the eyes of the deceived are mere matters of teaching. He is revealing that He is the Creator of the Alter (Earth) and the Sacrifice upon it (The Spotless Lamb) that will heal ALL of Creation, in His time, not ours, as All of Creation individually CHOOSES WHO it serves.
20 Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. 21 The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by him who sits on it.
This is God revealing that He is the One that created EVERYTHING and no matter what is sworn upon, will always lead back to Him, alone.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.
Every action of the deceived is a self serving side step of God's highest precepts which are His desire to become our own pursuits.
I think of people like "
Oskar Schindler", who were a mess, as far as "Christian Evaluation" is concerned, but managed to liquidate his entire wealthy empire for the sake of saving 1200 innocent lives. He failed at many points of the Law, yet exemplified God's highest standards. Men like him, are the opposite of the deceived.
24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!
This is a direct reference to building doctrines that are so intricate that they appear to be poured through a gnat strainer, to ensure a perfect cup of tea. Yet, imagine them lifting this "gnat free" cup of tea and somehow managing to swallow an entire camel! Jesus is putting the deceived on full blast, being humorous and wielding the sword of HIS very voice in a razor sharp manner that indeed confirms that: "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.
He said this one in such a way that even the deaf guides could hear and understand it! He wasn't holding back at this point.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
He's so upset at this point that He is just speaking plainly.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors’ sins!
God's ways are truly not mans ways. Jesus is now full on warning the deceived that they are about to participate in the Murder of the most important MESSENGER that God has ever spoken to them, through. Immanuel!
33 “Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell? 34 This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
This is a specific picture of every intended word that follows, within the soon to come epistles, that is known as "Condemnation" scripture. It's not towards sinners, or saved Christians that struggle.... or anything in this world. It's towards those that once knew the blessed way, but then exchanged it for lies of the father of lies.
35 So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.
Jesus now finishes by adding those that are servants of Satan in twisted doctrine and hearts full of secret hate to the very Condemned fate of the Devil himself, since they chose to become the evil one's adopted offspring in heart, soul, doctrine, proselytization and daily practice.
The Saved? Praise Jesus for them. They are sheep in the fold of the GOOD Shepherd. It is the wicked and the unsaved that I pray for, daily. I, a worthless, only worthy by His Love and Design, Saved Sinner... who cries out: "Amazing Grace that saves a wretch like me", daily, count myself lower than the wicked and unsaved, daily. Why? Because... that's what my Idol did and does.