Do But Not According to the Pharisees Works - Matthew 23:3

Matthew the apostle wrote, “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse three of his book Matthew shared how Jesus said, “whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but ...not.. after their works” where we read:

All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do;

but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not.

The verse reads, “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do;.” Matthew began with the word, “all therefore” which means “each, every, the whole and everything then, wherefore, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “whatsoever” which means “whatever command or thing” “they bid you” or “the scribes and Pharisees speak and say” “observe” which means “attend to carefully, guard and take care of” “and do” or “and produce, prepare and make ready”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the “multitude” to “carefully attend to” each and every command the “scribes and Pharisees” tell them to do.

The verse continues, “but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not.” Matthew continued with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, nonetheless, moreover and” “do not you after their works” or “the crowd was not to produce, prepare and make ready according to the scribes and Pharisees business, deeds, employment and that in which they occupy”: “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “they say” or “the Pharisees utter, declare and proclaim”, “and do not” which means “and do not produce, prepare and make ready”. Matthew shared how Jesus instructed the “multitude” not to follow after the “actions” of the “scribes and Pharisees” because their “works” did not match their “words”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see Jesus giving a direct statement from Jesus not only instructing the “crowd” and His “disciples”, but also as an indictment of the “scribes and Pharisees”. The “religious leaders” were telling the people the right things, but their actions were contrary to their teachings. God desires everyone to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and when He shares concerns about people who are directing their lives, they should listen carefully, obey and follow after His perfect ways.

Next time we see Matthew write how Jesus said, “they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.