Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:25-28.
The call of a believer in Christ Jesus is a call to live a life of a higher standard above every other people, tribes, colour and nations of the world who are not under the covenant of grace, - the unbelievers. The believer is like a city built on the hill which cannot be hid. It is expected of him to strive to live beyond the reproach of sin. He was saved and called to set the pace, by leading the way in doing everything as an of good things that everyone should see and to follow: in all things, be a pattern of good works. Titus;2:7. Believers should shine as light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, not a hypocrite, having renounced hidden things of dishonesty. These are parts of the things that accompany his salvation (Hebrews 6:9) running, fighting and journeying towards the fulfilment of his high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Not for self glorification, but these are the ways for others to see that he's representing and manifesting Christ who is now living in him. This is to practice righteousness, showing forht the Christ who now indwells in him, whom God has made rightoeusness unto him. Galatians 2:20.
Jesus answered the Pharisees, 'I am one of you, for Moses wrote and spoke about me while your fathers were in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. Do you not belived Moses words and writings? John 5:45-47.
Moses was the Saviour of the church who were under the law in the wildreness, but I am the Saviour of the church of the first born which are written in heaven: for he says, the Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. Deuteronomy 18: 15,18-19.
Well, because of the humbled manner of Christ entrance into the world, his place of birth, and for his poor background on earth, being born into the family of a capenter, many of the Jews hardened themselves against the testimonies of Christ and rejected the testimony of God concerning his Son for their condemnation.
Christ was the messanger of the new and better covenant established on better promises of the everlasting righteousness which is by faith in Him. But the Jews went about, seeking to establish their own righteousensss before God. This is what the scriptures says concerning this action of the Jews rejection of Christ as Messiah through Apostle Paul: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Romans 11:25.
The Pharisees love to wear long garment as a show of piety, the righteousness of the law with its condemnation. Isaiah 64:6. They rejected the spiritual white and pure garment of righteousness brought and offered by Christ through his righteousness. Isaiah 61:10.
I will refers you to my book ‘The purposes of the cross’ which you can get from amazon to know more concerning the two kinds of rightoeusness, one of law and the other of faith.
In this article, I will not write profondly on the righteousness of the law, but on certain practices and lifestyles of the Pharisees in regards to them practicing the righteousness which is of the law, which the Lord is callling our attention to do better because of the spirit of true righteousness which dwells in us, expecting and demanding of us to surpasse them in our practical righteousness as those that are born of God, that we might enter into the kingdom of heaven: little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteouss. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:7-8.
On the sermon on the Mount, Christ established his authority as the eternal and unchanging word of God, by obliging his hearers by declaring, I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed - surpasses the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.
The Son can say nothing, but what he heard the Father says. If Christ speak, then God has spoken. He never speak on his own, but whatever the Father speak, he utters out. John 12:49.
This is the Son who has come to make the Father and his will known unto us. John 1:18.
This is the Christ of whom the Father says, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am wel pleased, hear ye him. Matthew 17:5.
This is the Christ with the word of eternal life, given the promise to go and prepare a place for us in heaven (John 14:) but with a warning that 'except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.
This was the curse and destruction of the Pharisees hypocrites before God. For what purpose were they calling upon the Just God, but are not doing what is just, right and eqaul before him - God by whom actions are weighed? 1 Samuel 2:3.
The Pharisees, though they believed in the resurrection (Acts 23:8), none of them will attain unto the ressurrection of the just which is the first ressurrection because their works are evil. Their religion was for show, full of pretentions and wickedness.
We are not differrent from them, if we are not living in a better and higher standard by example, neither shall we escape the damnation of hell, though saved by grace, if we are living and acting religiously like the Pharisees hypocrites, using religion to cover up their evil works and lifestyles.
The Lord made declaration of eternal curses on the Pharisees ways of life and actions: 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. Note: long prayer is not condemned by him who always wake up early before the cock crow to pray during the days of his flesh on earth, but the wrong motivation of it which is to be seen by men is condemned. He that does all to be seen does nothing to the purpose. When you pray, to go your bedroom and pray to your Father which sees in secret who will reward you openly. Pray without ceasing. We should be men and women filled with the spirit of intercerssion and supplication and to continue instant in prayer, but not to become arrogant, showy, cruel and oppressive under a cloak and pretence of religion.
They exploited the vulnerable and weak to enrich themselves. They rob the poor of their right, and widows are devoured and spoils, while the orphans become the prey: this is the treasure of wickedness which profits not, but righteousness shall deliver from death. Proverbs 10:2.
Christ called those who are born again through the righteousness by faith in him not to do like the scribes and Pharissess, but to do better and greater: to do what is just and equal in the sight of God for everyone: to judge and defend the cause of the poor: to plead in favor of the widow and fatherless: not to take any advantage of the poor and widow to enrich self, but to speak in favour of the voiceless in the society: to fear God and keep his word, that they might enter into the kingdom of heaven. Exodus 22:22-23. Matthew 23:14.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 23:15.
In the natural world as well as in the kingdom of God, likes begat likes. A disciple is not above his master. If your ways and manners of life in Christ Jesus is not according to the gospel of Christ, do you not think it will affect the lifestyles of your converts or spiritual children in the Lord? If we are not immitators of Christ, how can our converts in the kingdom immitate Christ in us? How can we possibly enter heaven and those who have come to Christ by our testimony of faith if we are not taking heed to our ways and the word of God to save ourselves and our hearers and converts? 1 Timothy 4:16.
This is another curse and condemnation of the Pharisees hypocrites which the Lord denounced because they speaks, but never acted on thier words. Though, the Lord testify that what they speak are right, yet he encouraged to obey their teachings, but warned not to live after their misleading and bad examplary lifetyles. Should not the believers in Christ Jesus speak and do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty, if they hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven? James 2:12.
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Matthew 23:13.
If your life is a stumbling stone and rock of offense to others in the kingdom, don't you know that you are under the same condemnation of the Pharisees, even though you are under the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus? Matthew 18:6. 1 Corinthians 8:13.
If we are not immitators of Christ , through the fruit of the spirit, how shall our converts immitate in us? 1 Corinthians 11:1. How possibly can we enter heaven and those who have come to Christ by our testimony of faith, if we are only teachers, but are not doers of the word? This is another curse and condemnation of the Pharisees hypocrites which the Lord denounced because they speaks, but never acted on thier words: though, the Lord affirms that what they teaches are right; he encouraged to obey their teachings, but warned never to live after their misleading and bad examples. Matthew 23:3.
Hypocrites fancy themselves heirs of heaven, but, in the sight and judgment of Christ, they are children of hell and perdition. The rise of their hypocrisy is from hell, and the tendency of their hypocrisy is toward hell where they belongs to. They are called children of hell because their character was not rooted in Christ, but shows the semblance of Satan in nature, - you are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44.
Should not believer speak and do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty, if they hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven? James 2:12. Are we not deceiving ourselves if we only hear the word and not living by it? James 1:22.
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. Isaiah 5:3-7.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Matthew 23: 23-24. Note: money answers all things (Ecclesiastes 10:19), and the instruments of the altar and the ministers working in the temple to minister to the people must be maintained that he may have food for his household (Nehemiah 13:10-13), but religion is not about gain. It is not always about money because someone can still be sent to hell fire with their money spent on God. Acts 5:3.
When those who ought to live by examples for Christ are misrepresenting him before others, they likewise falls under the eternal curse and condemnations of the scribes and of the Pharisees. Each of those woes against the scribes and Pharisees are never curse causeless, but each has a reason annexed to it, containing a separate crime charged upon them, proving their hypocrisy, justifying the judgment and condemnation of Christ against them.
Christ never came to abolish the law but to magnify and fulfils it. Believer’s finacial obligations and dues ar not abolished by Christ teaching, but expantiate on the nature, motive and manners to do the giving, lest the offerings and tithes should not be rejected, but acceptable before heaven: so that the offerings, and he that gives should not be an abomination before God and be cast away before him.
Today, there are many false preachers, believers and unbelievers who are sabotaging the principle of tithing in the Church today. They are fighting against the economy of the church, dissuading worshippers not to give or pay their tithes.
Those who are Abraham's children by faith in Christ Jesus should also walk after the steps of his faith if they are to be blessed with Abraham' s blessings.
Jesus told the story of two men praying in the temple from the book of Luke chapter 18 verses 9-12. And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
The spiritual failure and problem of the man singing his own praise was his ignorance of the scriptures that we are not saved by our good works, lest any man should boast. He was found boasting in the temple as a tither as many are calling it today in the church to separate those who are faithful in their tithes from those who are robbing God of his due for the economy of his kingdom. Who shoud tithe and who shouldn't?
Unlike the arrogant and blind Pharisees, genuine spiritual men are always clothed with, live and walk in humility, knowing that God dwells on high with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. The fulness of God in man increases as much as any can empty themselves before him. Consecration has its place on how much we make ourselves available before him, but humility will be the deciding factor on how much of power, treasures and spiritual resources God will invest in his humble servants because he resist the proud, but he gives more grace to the humble.
Christ has never for once condemned the obedient and fulfilment of spiritual obligations of the Pharisee man who was praying in the temple: he has never been an extortioner, unjust or adulterer. He fasted twice in the week, gave tithes of all that he possessed: but his arrogant spirit and behaviour, his boasting over others, his meanness, judging and condeming the publican, though he appears spiritual in his own opinion, was condemned by the Lord: an hypocrite -ungodly man with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. Proverbs 11:9.
In the kingdom of God, tithes is a must to give, it is God's tax in the kingdom which he expect us to give lore than ten percent if our righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, but the offerings should be given according as we are led by the spirit of God to give.
A well known pentecostal pastor Adeboye from Nigeria once said, if you don't pay or give your tithes, you will not get to heaven, but afterwards retrived his words because of criticism on the issue of tithes from the confused believers. He was right. This was exactly the word of Christ because your righteousness is expected to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and of the Pharisees, you should give more than your tithes, but not to give tithes and offerings by stealing from others to give for religion purpose like the Pharisees. We should not take bribes to give ten percent of it to the church.
The proceeds from ungodly trade like cocaine bussiness and others,or sexual immorality like prostitution or unrighteous gain from stealing of any kind should never be given in the church: then said he unto me, this is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. Zachariah 5:3-4.
Today, how many so called believers in the name prosperity gospel are swindlers? How many so called Christians goes to supermarket and cheat ? How many so called Christians don't fully declared their income tax ? How many so called pastors has embezzeled church’s and other’s money? How many brothers and sisters has breached the trust because of money or other issues, betraying brotherly love? But except you do more and better than the Pharisees hypocrites, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.
Finally, I will speak a little about the fast of the Pharisee in the temple, he fasted twice in the week. Check for the article on the NEW TESTAMENT FAST ON THE WEBSITE FOR DEEPER TEACHING ON THE SUBJECT.
Certain spiritual yokes and burden cannot be removed and broken if we don’t give oursleves to constant fast.Matthew 17:21. If health problem is not involved, fasting is a way of life for New Testament believers, and there is no better remedy against sickness like fasting, for the bible says, your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you if you are fasting as it should be. Isaiah 58:8.
The disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast often according to the scriptures, while the disciples of Christ eat daily while he was with them. They were accused of not been spiritual, but glouttons. But the Lord set the record straight that when he shall be taken away from them to heaven, in those days, they shall fast. Luke 5:33-35.
The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but rightoeusness, peacer and joy in the Holy Ghost. Roamns 14:17.
The practices of righteousness in the kingdom consists of fasting, prayers, giving of alms, tithing and offerings, including abstention from sin, the fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
Christ says, when you fast. When you pray, and when you give. The Lord never says, if you fast, pray and give. Matthew 6:1-6. The word 'when' denote duty. How often do you fast to set yourself apart for God? How many times do you pray and commune with God daily? What about your spiritual priorities? Where is your heart? Where are you laying up your treasure?
As for the fasting, if the Pharisee who was without the help of the spirit of God was able to fast for two days in a week, why should you not be able by the grace of God fast thrice weekly?
Why should you not be able to pray and give more than the Pharisees? Remember the word of the Lord which says, except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.