Recall that Jesus has been denouncing the scribes and Pharisees for seeking the recognition of men. Besides loving the place of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greeting in the marketplaces, what else does Jesus mention they loved that illustrates their desire to be noticed by men? See Mat 23:7. …
What four examples does Jesus give in Mat 23:6-7 that illustrate the desire of the scribes and Pharisees to be noticed and recognized by men? What did Jesus mean by the place of honor at banquets? Note: In large houses there was a raised platform for the “top table” where honored guests would be received. …
Besides tying up heavy loads that were burdensome for the people to carry, what other main charge does Jesus make against the scribes and Pharisees that reveals their true nature as hypocrites? See Mat 23:5a, cf. Mat 6:1-2,5,16. What two examples does He give of them making a show of their religious deeds to be…
When Jesus says to the crowds and His disciples about the scribes and Pharisees, “all that they tell you, do and observe”, or when Paul says that “every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities” (Rom 13:1), are we to understand them to mean that we are to uncritically obey such authorities…
Did Jesus say to the crowds and to His disciples that because of the religious pretense and hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees they should just ignore their teaching? See Mat 23:3a. Because of their education and role as teachers of the people who sit in the seat of Moses, what did Jesus say the…
What is meant by the “chair of Moses” in Mat 23:2? Cf. Ezr 7:6,25, Mal 2:7 and think: although God had given His “great and glorious” law (Isa 42:21) that was “holy and righteous and good” (Rom 7:12) through Moses to the Jews, by what means did they actually come to know and understand it,…
Recall that it is Tuesday of Passion week and Jesus is in the temple where the religious leaders have made multiple attempts to ensnare Him in something He might say by posing various questions (Mat 21:23, 22:15,23,34). From envy (Mat 27:18) they were seeking some reason to deliver Him up to the Roman authorities to…
Besides teaching us about the divinity of Christ, what else may we infer about the Messiah and His kingdom from the prophecy in Psa 110:1 that Jesus posed to the religious leaders? See Mar 16:19, Act 1:9, 2:34. What does “Sit at My right hand” indicate about the completed nature of the Messiah’s work prior…
In light of today’s growing secularization of the Christmas holiday many sincere and devout Christians have come to question its origin and are wondering to what extent they should participate in its festivities. On the one hand, they know that its celebration is in honor of the advent into our world of our great God…
Recall that after having posed many questions to Jesus in order to catch Him in something He might say, Jesus has now posed a question to the religious leaders, not to ensnare, but to instruct them. Were they able to answer the question Jesus asked them? See Mat 22:46. What is the answer to His…