Sunday: False Concepts of the Pharisees — Matthew 23:1-12
The Pharisees had assumed an authority not granted by God. Jesus pointed to three major flaws: (1) a false concept of righteousness (vv. 2-3), which to them meant outward conformity to God’s Law, while ignoring the inward condition of the heart (see Psalm 51:6); (2) a false concept of ministry (v. 4), handing down laws to the people to add to their burdens (see Matthew 11:28-30), but not applying those laws to themselves; (3) a false concept of greatness (vv. 5-12), showing off their dress, titles, and position to be praised by man (see John 3:30; 13:12-17).
Monday: Shutting Up the Kingdom — Matthew 23:13-14
The first two woes Jesus spoke against the Pharisees were: (1) shutting up the kingdom of God to those who wished to enter in, obscuring the way of salvation by teaching man-made traditions instead of the truth of God; (2) taking advantage of the very people who needed their mercy and assistance, by acting supremely pious so that even widows would forfeit any inheritance from their husband’s estate to support the “spiritual” work of the temple. They had no heart for serving the needy but instead found them easy prey for deception. It has always been the strategy of false religion to use those who are vulnerable.
Tuesday: Condemning Souls — Matthew 23:15
By introducing converts to their legalistic system of religion, the Pharisees were actually obscuring the living God! By leading people down the wrong spiritual path, they were leading them to destruction. A “son of hell” is equivalent to a “child of the devil.” It is literally a person who has rejected God’s way of salvation to embrace his own religious self-righteousness. To make it worse, a convert often shows more zeal than his teacher, so this misguided, extra devotion produces even worse error and condemnation.
Wednesday: Hearts of Avarice — Matthew 23:16-22
With their priorities confused, the Pharisees were blind to life’s true values. To make their vows more valid, they vowed by the gold in the temple and the gifts left upon the altar but never made vows by the temple or the altar. The reason for this is that the gold and the gifts had more “intrinsic” value. This system of swearing vows was wrong altogether, but the way they did it showed their covetous avarice.
Thursday: Majoring on the Minors — Matthew 23:23-24
Legalists are sticklers for tiny details and blind to great principles. Faithfulness, justice, and mercy are the character qualities to be developed, but the Pharisees had overlooked them. Religion devoid of the living God becomes an empty, superficial thing. Despite their religious efforts, they were lost.
Friday: Clean Without, Defiled Within — Matthew 23:25-28
A most graphic illustration of hypocrisy is declared concerning the cups and platters, and sepulchers. On the outside, these can be entirely clean and sanitary, but real defilement comes from within. The Pharisees were meticulous in keeping the “appearance” of their lives to be deeply spiritual and zealously dedicated, because they cared most about receiving honor from men. But God focuses primarily upon the heart.
Saturday: Persecutors, Liars, Murderers! — Matthew 23:29-36
Jesus’ final declaration against the Pharisees identifies them directly with the evil serpent, Satan (Genesis 3:1). From the parable of the tares, the Master taught that Satan has a family (Matthew 13:38). Satan is a liar and murderer, who delights in persecuting God’s representatives and leading men to destruction. These were men who had vast knowledge of the Scriptures, and yet they knew not God! They would likewise stand against the early church (vv. 34-35), and it would ultimately be their doom.