The Gospels: Woe to the Hypocrites
Matthew 23
(v.4) Jesus exposes the Pharisees as men who were supposed to be helping the people to grow closer to God, and yet, they were making it more difficult! The Gospel is simple, and there is no need to add to it. God's love for us is more than sufficient...there is NOTHING we can do to earn our salvation, yet, the religious types seek to keep their power over the people by insisting that only through them are we to reach God.
(v.5) Phylactories are leather pouches (like a leather box) that the Pharisees would have strapped on their heads like a headband, and on their right hand as well. In them, they would have small scrolls of the Torah in them. This was commanded by God in Exodus 13:9 so that they would have God near them as a reminder.
However, these proud men would make these phylactories bigger and bigger, to "show" how devoted and holy they were. The talked the talk, but they didn't walk the walk...they gave the people more burdens and hardships when they should have been helping them.
(v.11) God wants us to serve one another. When we put other people's needs before our own, we are walking in God's will.
(v.13) This is an intense verse! I can think of many churches and denominations (not to mention all cults) that lead people away from God. Adding to God's Word only dishonors it. Be careful what church you are in, for if they have another book that is equal or greater than the Bible, you should leave it. Those groups are leading the herd over a cliff of eternal destruction.
(v.39) Jesus wept over Jerusalem before He entered it as its King...they had so many warnings from the prophets over the years, and all they did was ignore them and kill them. Jesus so wanted them to repent and come to Him, but their pride and idolatry in the world prevented them from seeing who He is.
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