Bear Vent

Matthew 23:1-4 NLT       ¹  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ²  “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. ³  So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. ⁴  They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. ——————— We read here how the Lord warned the people against imitating the example of hypocritical religious teachers. When they read the Scriptures to the people, then they are to be regarded. Their wrong interpretations, however, must be rejected; for our Savior on one occasion reproved them for teaching as doctrines mere human rules. ( Matthew 15:9 ) Verse 3 must therefore mean, that all the instructions they give, which agreed with God's word, must be followed, however wicked these teachers might be.

In the Gospels we read of religious leaders who were determined not to acknowledge Jesus to be the Son of God. Whether He cast out devils, or raised the dead; whether His lips spoke divine wisdom, or His face shone with heavenly goodness, they had already decided not to believe in Him, and they would also prevent the people from believing. Is it a wonder if the eyes they willfully shut would, as punishment, be sealed up in complete darkness? Those are in a dangerous state who refuse to think of their duty to God; but those are in a much more dangerous state who only have a facade of “religion,” and call it true godliness. They are the most bitter enemies to the truth. Heedless sinners often have a kind of respect for sincere Christians, and express a wish that they be like them; but those who trust in a mere outward appearance of piety, despise and hate real believers. While they purposely close their eyes against the doctrines of Christ, they confidently claim that they know the truth...