Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites - Matthew 23:13

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be you called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse thirteen of his book Matthew shared how Jesus called the, “scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” where we read:

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither suffer you them that are entering to go in.

The verse reads, “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men:”. Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “woe unto you” or “as an expression of grief or denunciation to those religious leaders who are”, “scribes” which refers to “men who are learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings as interpreters and teachers” “and Pharisees” or “the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”, “hypocrites” which means “actors, stage players, dissemblers and pretenders”! “for you shut up” or “because, since and on account that the scribes and Pharisees close off and obstruct the entrance to” “the kingdom” which means “the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule” “of heaven” or “belonging to the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings” “against men” which means “in opposition to people whether male or female”. Matthew shared how Jesus spoke more directly to the “scribes and Pharisees” as He called them “stage actors” who close off “Heaven's Kingdom” from people.

The verse continues “for you neither go in yourselves, neither suffer you them that are entering to go in.” Matthew added the words, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “you neither go in yourselves” which means “the scribes and Pharisees do not enter the kingdom of Heaven themselves”, “neither” or “no and not in any way” “suffer you them” which means “allow and permit the people” “that are entering” or “who are making entrance into the kingdom of Heaven” “to go in” which means “to enter”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “scribes and Pharisees” did not enter into “Heaven's Kingdom”, and they prevented other people from entering.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see Jesus expose the “hypocrisy” of these “religious leaders”. Not only did they not “enter” into God's “Heavenly Kingdom”, but they kept other people from entering as well. God wants every person to have a relationship with Him in His Kingdom through His Son Jesus, and when a person yields their life to Him, He promises to give them “everlasting life” with Him. Everyone should “enter” God's Kingdom of Heaven and no one should be like these “scribes and Pharisees” who did not “go in” and prevented others from “entering”.

Next time we see Matthew write how Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees, “for a pretense make long prayer”, 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.