PREPARING FOR THE SERMON
April 6, 2025
Matthew 23:13-36
Context:
The passage contains a series of woes directed at scribes and Pharisees who were hypocrites. Previously, Jesus directed people to listen to their teaching (which was based on God’s laws) but to ignore them. Jesus now confronts the teachers who do not live the standards they teach and are stumbling blocks for those who would be righteous.
Structure:
13-14 woe… shut the kingdom of heaven
15 woe… make proselytes a son of hell
16-22 woe… who swears by the gold of the temple instead of the temple
23-24 woe… neglect weightier provisions of the Law
25-26 woe… clean the outside but are full of robbery and self-indulgence
27-28 woe… appear righteous outwardly but are inwardly full of hypocrisy and lawlessness
29-33 woe… sons of those who murdered the prophets
34-36 I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; upon you will fall the guilt
Key Ideas: authentic faith and obedience, stumbling
Some things to think about: