Description

Christ confronts the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. When it can be tempting to idolize human teachers or hero

es, we must remember that we only have on Teacher.

I. sit on Moses' seat - had Moses' authority and taught the Law. archeology found a chair at the front of a synagogue where a person would teach the OT law.

- phylacteries - small strip of parchment on which portions of the law were written and worn on the forehead and next to the heart. x. Dt. 6:4-9 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart... These words that i command you today shall be on your heart... you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes..."

- fringes - tassels on clothes to remind people of God's law. Commanded in Dt. 22:12.

\*rabbi - rabboni - title given to Jewish teachers and instructors. literally means, "master."

II. 7 \*Woes - Sorrow/Grief... used as a warning.... reminds me of the sermon on the mount - where Jesus said, "Blessed" or Happy...

1. ​ Woe - prevent ppl entering the Kingdom
2. ​ Woe - you make a proselyte - twice the child of hell!
3. ​ Woe - blind guides - taking oaths - all oaths are binding.
4. ​ Woe - heed the smallest detail but ignore the more important parts of the law - justice, mercy, faithfulness.
5. ​ Woe - clean up appearances but not the heart.
6. ​ Woe - Outwardly appear righteous but inwardly full of hypocrisy and lawlessness/sinfulness.
7. ​ Woe - decorate tombs of the prophets, but sons of those who killed them - Jesus foretells or predicts they will kill and prophesy the ones Jesus will send to them.

- one of those was Paul

- Guilty of shedding the blood of the righteous.

III. Jesus mourns over Jerusalem.

- His heart to gather them, despite their unwillingness.

- Desolate.

- You will not see me again until you say "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

- x. Psalm 118

**Truth** - Recognize that we have one father - God. One Teacher and Instructor - Christ.

**Application**:

- Hold Christ as the authoritative teacher in your heart. God is your Father, Christ your Rabbi or Teacher. Don't elevate men.

- Worship and honor God from the heart, not with mere outward religion. Don't miss the point.

**Human Teachers**

"It is our human tendency to elevate people. We tend to look at people as icons, saviors, or heros. But We should guard our heart from putting them on pedestals - reserve the throne of your heart only for Christ. Don't put your hope in men or women. When human teachers fall short - let it be a reminder that they are fellow brothers, and that we all have one Rabbi - Christ Jesus."

Read from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.