Matthew 23 | Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
Jesus has proven Himself to be the perfect Man, bearing the title Son of Man, the perfect Messiah, bearing the title Son of David, and the perfect Prophet, Priest, and King. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes have challenged Jesus to their own detriment. The overarching message of Jesus’ sermons is that no mere human is righteous enough to enter the Kingdom. Only Jesus has perfectly obeyed the law. It is only by His atoning death and resurrection that we may by faith receive the gift of His righteousness. In Matthew 23, Jesus proclaims woes on the Pharisees for following the signs (phylacteries, fringes, tithing, etc.) while neglecting genuine righteousness and faith. Notably, he said that the scribes and pharisees have not entered the kingdom and are “children of hell.” As we see, the way of the Pharisees is not merely an old model of faith; they are following a false religion and are facing judgment for killing the prophets of God.
Pastor Dan takes us through Matthew 23, explaining that faith in Christ is essential for salvation and the false religion of the Pharisees is going to be judged. Jesus provides further details about their judgment in relation to the destruction of the temple in the next Chapter (24).
Side note: There is strong evidence that Talmudic Judaism has its roots in the rabbinic tradition of the Pharisees. Some Pharisees eventually trusted Jesus. Those who did not face judgment in AD 70 as Jesus destroyed the means to practice Judaism. Rather than repent and believe in Jesus, those who denied Him developed talmudic Judaism, which ignores the gospel of faith in both the Old and New Testaments, diverging from the faith. What is now called “Judaism” is not the remnants of Old Testament faith but is a false religion which has broken off the true faith of God’s people. The New Testament demonstrates the new covenant fulfilled in Christ. The promises of God to Israel have been fulfilled in Christ Jesus (Genesis 12, Galatians 3). Christianity is true Judaism (Old Testament Faith) fulfilled. Talmudic Judaism does not reflect the Old Testament. It is a false religion.
