Matthew 23 - 25

Practice What You Preach

Today's reading is the fifth major discourse in Matthew and covers all three chapters.  This sermon is directed to His followers, disciples, and religious leaders and speaks about a wide variety of subjects.  In chapter 23, the Lord indicts the religious leadership of Israel essentially telling them they are not worthy of the title "Rabbi" (23:8). They have manipulated the Law only to their favor and to the condemnation of everyone else.  Jesus never condemns the Law, but He does tell the people that the leaders are hypocrites and stating in verse 3, "Practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they preach." In verses 13 through 26, Jesus pronounces seven "woes" on the religious leaders for the following:

1. Not directing people to the Kingdom of Heaven but away from it, i.e. Christ.
2. Converting people to themselves instead of to the Lord.
3. Emphasizing the lesser (e.g. the gold in the Temple) instead of the greater (the Temple).
4. Keeping commandments which are convenient for them, but not manifesting the spirit of the Law.
5. Obsessing with outward appearances.
6. Presenting themselves as "holy" and as a source of life, when they are full of spiritual death.
7. Killing the prophets - God's mouthpieces.

In chapter 24, the Lord predicts the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem.  This intrigues the disciples and motivates them to ask Him three questions: (1) When will the destruction of the Temple come? (2) What is the sign of His return? (3) When will the end of the world come?  The Lord answers the questions with an extended and detailed response. I will comment on this chapter when we get to Revelations and discuss the Seven Seals. He ends the chapter with more parables about his return (v. 32-36) and the unknown suddenness of His return (v. 37-41).  He emphasizes the importance of watching for His return, comparing it to a "thief in the night."

Chapter 25 continues the sermon with a parable of the 10 virgins, five of which obtain oil, and five which do not.  This represents the Bride (those with oil) and the Church (the nominal believer) in the end-time.  The Bride is taken by the Bridegroom and avoids judgement, while the foolish virgin (virgin represents purity, so they are believers but not filled with the Holy Spirit, the oil) is left behind to face the judgement.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.