Conclusion of Jesus Denounces His Opposers

Sadly, his own disciples have been affected by this desire for prominence. So he counsels: "But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your teacher , whereas all you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called 'leaders,' for your Leader is one, the Christ." The disciples must rid themselves of the desire to be number one! "The greatest one among you must be your minister, Jesus admonishes.

He next pronounces a series of woes on the scribes and the Pharisees, repeatedly calling them hypocrites. They "shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men," he says, and "they are the ones devouring the houses of the widows and for a pretext making long prayers."

"Woe to you, blind guides," Jesus says. He condemns the Pharisee's lack of spiritual values, evidenced by the arbitrary distinctions they make. For example, they say, 'It is nothing if anyone swears by the temple, but one is under obligation if he swears by the gold of the temple.' By their putting more emphasis on the gold of the temple than on the spiritual value of that place of worship, they reveal their moral blindness.

Then, as he did earlier, Jesus condemns the Pharisees for neglecting "the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness" while giving great attention to paying a tithe, or tenth part, o of insignificant herbs.

Jesus calls the Pharisees "blind guides, who strain out the gnat but pulp down the camel!" They strain a gnat from their wine not simply because it is an insect but because it is ceremonially unclean. Yet, their disregarding the weightier matters of the Law is comparable to swallowing a camel, also a ceremonially unclean animal. Matthew 22:41-23:24; Mark 12:35-40; Luke 20:41-47; Leviticus 11:4, 21-24.

Next time: Ministry At The Temple Completed

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991