Doesn’t Matthew’s writing apply to yesterday and today? In Matthew 23, the audience Jesus was teaching to and exposing them for their hypocrisy laid open their habits of wrongdoing which they had accepted as “approved.”
The people were following what the Pharisees, teachers of the law, elders and others said to do, but they were not following the law of Moses. They went ahead and followed the oral teachings.
Similar situations and circumstances apply for now. For example, if a law is inaugurated, who was this prophecy delivered to? The Pharisees, Sadducees, teachers of the law, elders and others were present “in the temple.”
In Matthew 24, Jesus was on the Mount of Olives in this private setting and the disciples wanted to know when would those things happen that He prophesied about and what would be the sign of His coming? On that point then, Jesus was there speaking to them, but He and His teachings were rejected!
Proof of the rejection of Jesus is well documented. They were conniving His death in the background of Matthew 23. The Pharisees and others were seeking diligently to find an excuse in His teaching and to entrap Him. They found no tangible evidence in the Law of Moses where He had bypassed the Law of Moses.
They yelled, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” That was their answer to our resurrected Savior. They gave a response of hate. This is in fact where we are going with this message. We ask, “How does that work into today’s war-military situation of Israel vs. Hamas and possible other territories?”
There are two areas which it appears the wars are arguing over – (1) the land and the boundaries deeded over through covenant of the God Almighty. It appears that the Palestinians want their own territory. Many have sorted out the details. These land boundaries are well documented in the Bible.
(2) Two of these questions are in Luke chapter 21, along with their answers: Question #1 – when? (Luke 21:8-24) and what? (Luke 21:25-28). The questions they asked led to Jesus’ proclamation of His two great prophecies in these scriptures: Luke 21:25-27, Matthew 24:29-30, and Mark 13:24-26.
Matthew 23 which has the scorching “woes” to the Pharisees, scribes, elders, teachers of the law, etc. There are other prophetic scriptures that can be researched from these with supporting evidence. We want to look at, as much as we can, where this is leading us as far as how do these things relate to today’s world affairs.
In Matthew 23:13, He has found they “devour widows houses.” How? If the widows need someone to help them with their real estate, they may not be honest. Remember the poor, destitute widow who gave all that she had into the treasury and the scriptures say, she gave more than those who had plenty.
Matthew 23:15 tells us that the Pharisees and scribes go out to convert others to the law of Moses, but because they do not follow the law themselves. They bring in others who, because they are hypocrites, the new ones coming in get to be worse than the existing hypocrites. There are eight “woes,” which point to the consequences of their bad behavior.
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is the founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A. 90043, 323-293-9826, www.todaysfreshstart.org, (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) “Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © Errors? Or Questions? Please let me know. Join Sundays for music and message at 11:30 a.m. by calling (712) 775-8971, code 266751. References: The Holy Bible.
