Matthew 23:13, 15-22

Jesus begins his Woes speech against the Pharisees. Their continued behavior in opposing Him not withstanding, they were still behaving as enemies of God. Because they were enemies of God. Now no one can literally stop another person from entering the Kingdom of God.

These leaders however, in the interest of protecting their power, can burden the people with religious laws God never intended. By this behavior, they can block others from responding to the Gospel with no intention of ever entering themselves.

And here we have to mention that verse 14 is one of the verses that is in dispute for the simple reason that many of the older manuscripts do not contain it. There is no reason to doubt it as the same teaching is found in Mark 12:40

[40] who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.” and,

Luke 20:47
[47] who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”

So here's another verse that liberals like to use as proof the Bible isn't to be trusted when it doesn't get close to doing so. And since Jesus uses the same words elsewhere there really should be no controversy. What the Pharisees were doing was using the Law to seize the homes of widows for personal enrichment.

Jesus’ clear warning is that they will receive harsher judgment than those who disobeyed in ignorance. Without sounding flippant, as I do not intend to do so, their judgment will be endless torture, pain, and loss for everyone who rejects Jesus. How much worse then is it for those who use religion the same way the Pharisees did?

Next Jesus condemns the proselytizing the Pharisees do as they travel the word passing their own distortions of truth on to a group of new Pharisees who are as morally bankrupt as they were.

Then Jesus hits their habit of swearing by the temple. The Pharisees were guilty of making vows, then breaking them and justifying doing so by ridiculous methods. They could swear they will fulfill a promise, much like this,

“I swear I will do such and such by the temple of God.” Then when it didn't get done excusing it with, “but I didn't swear by the gold of the temple”. An oath to these people was extremely important but these people were essentially not only making excuses for lying but justifying it as well.

He repeats Himself but then uses swearing by the altar versus swearing by the gold on the altar. The conclusion is this “Let your Yes be Yes and your No's be no.” In other words your character should be able to be judged based on the words you swear by, not by the object being sworn by. An oath adds nothing to the words of an honest man.

Jesus isn't giving instruction on how to swear an oath, He's telling us our promises, our words don't need an oath. And He's not done. Stay with us tomorrow as he continues just ripping the Jews to pieces, metaphorically speaking.





[13] “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation
[15] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. [16] “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ [17] You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? [18] And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering that is on it is obligated.’ [19] You blind men, which is more important, the offering or the altar that sanctifies the offering? [20] Therefore, the one who swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. [21] And the one who swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells in it. [22] And the one who swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.


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