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bigmike

Matthew 23:15 (NLT) 15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!
The scripture above is a perfect example of the words that Jesus used when confronting and exposing the religious leaders of His day.
He did not fear them. And they knew it.
His brazenness, and His persistence in rebuking them increasingly drew their ire.
Today, let’s look more closely at specific things that reinforce the fact that the religious leaders viewed Jesus as a rebel.
They accused Him of breaking the Sabbath.
John 5:18 (LSB) 18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
He constantly confronted them and accused them of being nothing but hypocrites. As proof of this, Matthew 23 gives examples of many “Woe to you” statements. This caused them to view Jesus as subversive and a threat to their authority.
He shocked the religious leaders by frequently eating with tax collectors, who were seen as traitors; reprehensible in their corrupt behavior.
Further, lies were propagated, accusing Jesus of speaking out against the Roman taxes, causing Him to be viewed as politically dangerous.
Luke 23:2 (LSB) 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”
He frequently “re-interpreted” Old Testament Law with the phrase, “you have heard it said... but I say to you.”
In these, Jesus would add more depth and address these laws in a way that caused people to examine their heart, and the motives with which they did these things.
No longer was this about rote reactions but about allowing God to touch the heart and change it, making it a heart that moves out of love for Him, not blind obedience to leaders who care nothing for people.
Let’s continue digging into this tomorrow.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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