Matt. 23:1-33.
JESUS’ denunciation of hypocrisy was directed against the Scribes and Pharisees. These men sat in Moses’ seat. That is they took the place of teachers of the law. And Jesus told the multitude to observe their teachings, but not to do as they did. Their life did not correspond with their teachings. They were hypocrites; that is, they pretended to be very good, when their lives showed that they were very bad. They bound heavy burdens upon others that they would not touch themselves. They did all their works to be seen of men. They thus sought honor from men, and not from God. They made a great show of their religion in making broad their phylacteries and enlarging the borders of their garments, and they loved the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called Rabbi, Rabbi.
All this was self-seeking and self-exaltation, and Jesus condemns it. He tells them not to be called Rabbi, nor to call men their father, for one was their Master, even Christ, and one was their Father, even God. So we are not to call our spiritual teachers Master, or Father. The greatest one is to take the place of servant, to take the lowest and humblest place, as Jesus did, in order to be a blessing to others. Then Jesus adds: “And whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
Then Jesus pronounces woe after woe upon the Scribes and Pharisees because of their ways.
They shut up the kingdom of heaven against men. They would, not go in themselves, nor would they suffer others to go in.
They devoured widows houses, and for a pretense made long prayers, and because of this they would receive greater judgment.
They compassed sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he was made, they made him twofold more the child of hell than themselves.
They were blind guides, and said, if a man swore by the temple, it was nothing, but if he swore by the gold of the temple, he was a debtor. Fools and blind, they did not consider that the temple was greater than the gold, and that the temple sanctified the gold. Again they said, if a man swore by the altar, it was nothing; but if he swore by the gift upon it, he was guilty, not considering that the altar was greater than the gift, and that the altar sanctified the gift. Then Jesus tells them that he who swore by the altar, swore by it and all that was on it; and he that swore by the temple, swore by it and by Him that dwelt in it; and he that swore by heaven, swore by the throne of God, and Him that sat on it.
All this is very solemn, and shows how wrong it is to swear by anything whatever.
Elsewhere Jesus says, “Swear not at all.” “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Matt. 5:34-37. Every form of profane swearing is wrong; and all such expressions as “My goodness,” and many other such things in common use, are condemned by the words of the Lord Jesus. “Yes,” and “No,” are enough. All else is sin.
We will do well to take heed to this lesson Jesus teaches in His condemnation of the Scribes and Pharisees. Many fall into the habit of using strong expressions in their conversation, and by words of different kinds, all of which Jesus condemns.
How much better it is to speak simply and truthfully in the fear of God, and to add nothing to our “Yes,” or “No.” In this way we do not offend God, and there will be a chasteness and dignity about our speech that will commend itself to our fellow-men, and our word will have far more weight than when accompanied by these sinful expressions.
ML 09/13/1903