THE KING'S INDICTMENTS (Matthew 23)

THE KING'S INDICTMENTS (Matthew 23)

H. A. IRONSIDE

MATTHEW 23 - The term “Moses’ seat” indicates the place that the Pharisees and the scribes occupied as the recognized teachers of the law given by Moses. When they read and explained its precepts their hearers were responsible to obey, not because of any inherent authority vested in them, but because of the truth they made known. But He drew a marked distinction between their words and their ways. They expounded and preached to others what they did not attempt to practice themselves. It is a terrible thing for those who occupy the place of preachers or teachers of the Word when they simply traffic in truth that has never affected their own lives. 

These leaders in Israel formed a kind of clerical caste who were most outspoken in denouncing the sins and frailties of the people in general, but they themselves were simply complacent as they gave punctilious attention to the outward signs of religion. They knew nothing of genuine piety and holiness of heart and life.

They were not concerned about the approval of the God they professed to honor, but were constantly looking for men’s applause. It is always a snare when one feels he has a certain reputation of godliness to maintain before his fellows. It is so easy to succumb to the temptation of trying to appear more devoted than one really is. The only right thing is to live before God and to be utterly indifferent to men’s praise or blame.

  The Pharisees sought to attract attention to their religiousness even by their garb. Wearing the broad phylacteries that seemed to indicate greater reverence for the Scriptures than others, and with the fringes on their garments conspicuously enlarged they delighted in the reverence accorded them; so that they were given the seats of honor at the appointed feasts and in the services of the synagogue; while in public places generally they were greeted with their highly prized titles of “Rabbi, Rabbi!” Who can fail to see in all this a picture of what is very common today in many ecclesiastical circles? 

  MATTHEW 23:13 - This judgment is pronounced because of opposition to the Word of the Kingdom, in which they had no interest, and they endeavored to hinder others who might become concerned. It is a very serious thing to stand in the way of anyone who might otherwise be prepared to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  

  MATTHEW 23:15 - It is characteristic of sectarians generally that they are far more concerned about obtaining adherents to their special beliefs than winning lost souls for Christ. Those thus perverted become ardent advocates of the system with which they identify themselves, and as a rule trust in their association for ultimate salvation, so entering into a worse state than before they were proselytized. It is harder to reach and awaken the adherent of a false cult than to bring a godless worldling to see his lost condition and his need of salvation. 

   MATTHEW 23:29-33 - So these Pharisees honored the memory of Isaiah whom their fathers sawed asunder, or Jeremiah who was imprisoned in a filthy dungeon by the religious leaders of his times, or Zechariah, slain between the porch and the altar by zealous contenders for that which the prophet denounced. Yet there was no evidence that these scribes and Pharisees accepted and acted upon the admonitions of those whose sepulchers they garnished, but they showed by their attitude toward the King in their midst that they were of the same spirit as their ungodly fathers. It was for them to fill up the measure of their fathers in the final rejection of the Lord of glory.