1. Sermons From The New Testament

2. “Those Who Say And Do Not!” Text: Matthew 23.1-3 Next To Last Public Discourse… Hypocrisy & Desolation Hypocrisy Seen In… Rules Regulations Practice Performance

3. Rules & Regulations… Pharisees’ “Legalisms”— Not Unlike Those Who Bind Today Liberals’ Practices And Performances… Whether Binding Or Loosing… Are Contrary To I Corinthians 4.6

4. Desolation Seen In— Empty Religion… Void Of Truth [Mark 7.13] Empty Heart… Void Of Love For God Empty House… Void Of Comfort In Jerusalem Empty Promise… Void Of Hope For Heaven

5. Verses 1-12: Do What They Say… Not What They Do They Had Authority To Teach Character Of Law Personnel Does Not Determine Our Obedience True Of Spiritual & Civil Law If Not Contrary To God’s Law… [Acts 5.29] We Must Obey [Romans 13]

6. Verses 1-12: “Heavy Burdens” Temple Taxes And “Expectations” We Face Some Pretty Heavy Burdens And Taxes Today, Too! Some Leaders Just Seem To Love The “Limelight” Do Not Be Identified With Them “Pastor” “Reverend” “Father” “Doctor” “Brother” Rather: SERVE!

7. Verse 13: Now Turns His Attention To The Scribes & Pharisees They Were Guilt Of… Exclusivism— Who Can Be A Member Here? Whom Shall We “Invite” To Our Functions? “They’re Too Old…Young…Dirty… Poor…Rich…Fat…Skinny… Sloppy…Smart…Dumb…________”

8. Verse 14: Took Advantange Of The Destitute Widows Did Not Have Husbands… These “Experts” Of The Law “Lorded” Over These Women… The “Long Prayers” Were To Give Them “Guidance” They Expected To Be Paid For Such A Thoughtful Service! Maybe Become “Executors” Of Their Land

9. Verse 15: Converted To Them, Not Judaism “Son Of Hell” = Figure/Speech: “Hell Is His Mother; Devil Is His Father” An Exceedingly Wicked Person! Point: A Hypocrite Like You! Application: “International Churches Of Christ” Various “Anti” Groups Overseas

10. Verses 16-22: Loop Holes For Oaths… “But You Promised!” “Yeah, But That Didn’t Count” Jesus’ Point: You Swear By One… You Swear By All Connected In Another Text He Sums Up: Don’t Swear At All! Matthew 5.34!

11. Verses 23,24: Gnat And Camel… Be Sure To “Cover All The Bases” Some Conclude: “You Don’t Have To (Whatever)… As Long As You Have The Right Attitude. Love Is The Most Important Thing” They Miss The Point: Yes Do Those “Small” Things… AND The Weighter Matters Too.

12. Verses 25,26: False Cleansing… They Observed The External Ceremonies… Yet Practiced Graft, Corruption Application: Going Through The Motions

13. Verses 27,28: The Basic Fact: Dead Men! Not A Simple Gravestone… Big, Fancy Mausoleum Death And Corruption Stinks In Both “Resting Places” You Cannot Dress Up Hypocrisy! Striking Contrast Between Sanctimonious Appearances & Practice

14. Verses 29-36: False Zeal & Dedication “We Wouldn’t Have Done That!” They Confirmed: The Debt Of The Father Has Passed To The Son Not That They Were Guilty, But That They Must Do Better! Receive And Believe The Prophets (Jesus) That God Sends! If Not: Blood Comes To Them Too!

15. Snakes In The Grass! Where John Started 3½ Yrs Earlier He Knew What They Would Do To Him… What They Would Do To His Apostles… The Coming Judgment Upon Their City And Religion

16. Verses 37-39: It Did Not Have To Be This Way! Destruction Of Their “House”… Chapter 24 End Of The World And Judgment! Chapter 25