Matthew 23
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to His disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
Moses was the law-giver and here we have these scribes and Pharisees trying to rewrite the law.
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Don't take anyone's word or actions for being that of God. Check EVERYTHING out for yourself. Many put on a great show and things sound great but are contrary to The Truth.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
They hold themselves on a higher level than others and don't believe they need to do the things others do to walk with God. They will also say you need to do this or that in order to be saved just as in the world today, some say you must be baptized to be saved ignoring the sacrifice already paid.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
The "phylacteries" were slips of paper with written prayers so the people could see the "wonderful prayers" they were giving. It's all about the show with these.
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
You know these seats. They're where everyone can see just how wonderful they are in their big chair.
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
They love it when people call them by a title, nose in the air with a position of authority over others. I hope you see in my name, I don't give myself a title and with the Ministry I don't call it the ministry of Todd. It's not about us, it's always about God.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Christ Jesus and only Christ Jesus is our teacher. We that serve under Him and just that, servants of Christ. We spread His Word, not our own. It's not about us.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for One is your Father, Which is in heaven.
God is The Only One that made you. He is our true Father. All souls come from God.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for One is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
The person in the highest position is the one that must teach being the servant of God.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Serve to serve God, not self. All you have is because of God, see your blessings and be blessed in them.
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.
What these truly believe is hidden and The Truth is twisted causing others to stumble.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Rip off artist, given a show of words they don't believe themselves.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
They seek others to teach in their ways. So many pick up a false doctrine and run with it today. They don't even question it or take the time to really study it.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the Temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the Temple, he is a debtor!
What this is saying is, if you will swear by the body of Christ it means nothing, but if you swear by the tithe than God will answer you. Remember the temple today is the body.
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the Temple that sanctifieth the gold?
Christ wants to know, is He greater or the all mighty dollar?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Don't ever do something when you are forced, only when your heart calls to you to do so. God doesn't force you to love Him.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
We had better know where our blessings come from and it's never from a human. Just seeing another day is a gift from God.
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
Money and or traditions won't get you into heaven. ONLY Christ can give you The Way.
21 And whoso shall swear by the Temple, sweareth by it, and by Him That dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by Him That sitteth thereon.
It's God we pray to and understand that our blessings come from. It's He we give thanks to.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
"Pay tithe of mint" is paying attention to the smallest matters. They ignore God and spend time on worldly / fleshly things.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Camels are dirty animals. When unclean things enter the church, they looked the other way and put their focus on the littlest of things instead. Look how many put their focus on how they should dress, or if they can drink or smoke. When they should have church services that to call God, instead of the murder of baby's, homosexuality or the religions of the world trying to kill Christ off. How about teach The Word instead of worrying about the small things.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Everything looks great on the outside looking in, but once you enter in, it's the same as the worldly ways. Great words and show, but little time for God.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
If the church doesn't get back to teaching The Word and continue with their own doctrines and traditions, it will stay as the camel, unclean.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
You can look great in a suit or dress, but what lives within and comes out makes you who you are.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
It's all about the show for these kenite scribes, Pharisees and many in the world today. Most churches have a great program just waiting for you with very little in the way of God's Word being taught.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Kenites twist the words of the Prophets so that their message from God isn't even there. Then they place flowers on their grave sites. Looks good, but it's deception. Most churches look bright and beautiful, flowers outside and wonderful glass shines around them, but not much of any of God's Word is being taught in them today.
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
These kenties think because they didn't murder the prophets and their forefathers did, they are clean, but they are seeking to murder Christ.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
They know they're of the same bloodlines of the kenites.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Christ is telling them that there is no difference between them and their forefathers. Their all a bunch of evil hypocrites.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
This "generation" = offspring of "vipers" are just like the act of their dad satan, slithering in to destroy. They murdered the prophets, and they're going to murder Him.
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Christ is saying that He had sent prophets, real wise men and real scribes, but they refused them and The Truth and murdered them instead.
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
It started with satans child Cain, he killed Able. Zachraias was the last prophet to be murdered by this bloodline of snakes in the Old Testament.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
"This generation" = this offspring.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
They followed religion and rejected Christ when He was right in front of them. Nothing new today!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
He leaves them in their emptiness, their destruction, He leaves them to their religions.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He That cometh in the name of the Lord.
On that 7th trump = The Trump of God, Christ returns and NOT until then. Upon His return that one that made things desolate will be seen for who he is and many will see who they had been worshiping.