SORROW AWAITS YOU TEACHERS OF RELIGIOUS LAW, YOU PHARISEES AND HYPOCRITES
Saturday – May 10, 2025
Video link: https://youtu.be/e1rwotKwo50
Greeting children of God and welcome to Awake, Arise, and Triumph Ministries. Today I am continuing our in-depth study of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. This was the major theme of Jesus’ Ministry. Jesus either taught how the Kingdom worked or demonstrated how the Kingdom worked and how it didn’t work. Really if you give it some thought the whole of Scripture has to do with explaining the laws of the Kingdom and the consequences of obedience and disobedience. Yep, there are does and don’ts in the Kingdom of God like every other kingdom.
As we study together let’s not confuse “religious law” with the various laws in Scripture spoken from the mouth of God either directly or through His servants. This particular passage, teaching, chastising by the Master is quite lengthy but well worth studying and seeing if He is talking to us or to our Church. I presented the following Scripture passage last Sunday, the 4th, and am representing it in the New Living Translation of the Bible for greater clarity. Let’s not miss anything Jesus is saying. First, I will review Matthew 23:13 in the KJV.
Matthew 23:13 (KJV)
13 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.
The NLT text to follow we see the term “religious law” which from context we readily see that we are not talking about Truth but traditions of men and doctrines of demons. When I study the term “entering to go in” it seems like the person has entered the Kingdom of Heaven but that is it, they are like in the foyer of a great house. The teachings of the “scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” keeps all in the foyer. That is to say, none of them really enter the Kingdom but are just inside the door. Saved but no reward or partaking of the Kingdom of God in other ways. These are the people who don’t believe in healing, prosperity, five-fold Ministry, baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues, prophetic utterances, and so on. Now, carefully meditate on the condition that awaits the teachers of religious law and those who follow them.
Matthew 23:13-17 (NLT)
13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
14 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!
15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!
16 “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’
17 Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?
TAKE HOME:
- It is so important that we examine all that we believe, all that we are hearing. We must know what we believe and that it is fully supported by Scripture that we studied (not read) for ourselves. Yes, listen to people but search the Scripture to be sure it is True. Don’t be lazy, your life depends upon it.
- Let us all be sure we are walking according to the Laws of the Kingdom and not religious laws which are no more than traditions of men, and doctrines of demons all of which create bondage and keep one out to the fullness of salvation.
- Remember that the person speaking my be a blind guide in ignorance for a variety of reasons or perhaps know better but are actors (hypocrites). Our spiritual enemies tempt us to pride and control of people by power, money, or sex.
Lord willing, I will resume right here tomorrow. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
REMINDERS
Please take a moment before we continue with our study to share this teaching as widely as possible by every means available to you. Thank you for sharing.
If you find that this Ministry is helpful with your spiritual growth, give prayerful consideration to becoming a partner with this ministry.
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