1. THE WEIGHTIER PROVISIONS OF THE LAW Matthew 23:23

2. OVERVIEW OF MATTHEW 23  Jesus Exposes the Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees – vv. 1-12  Jesus Pronounces Woes on the Scribes and Pharisees – vv. 13-33  Jesus Prophesies Judgment of the Scribes and Pharisees (and Jerusalem) – vv. 34-39

3. OVERVIEW OF THE WOES  The word woe (Gr ouai) is an exclamation of grief meaning “how horrible it will be.”  The Lord pronounced several woes on the scribes and Pharisees – Matt. 23:13-33.  Woe Concerning Their Rejection of the Kingdom – v. 13

4. OVERVIEW OF THE WOES  The word woe (Gr ouai) is an exclamation of grief meaning “how horrible it will be.”  The Lord pronounced several woes on the scribes and Pharisees – Matt. 23:13-33.  Woe Concerning Their Covetousness and Pride – v. 14; see Mk. 12:40; Lk. 20:47

5. OVERVIEW OF THE WOES  The word woe (Gr ouai) is an exclamation of grief meaning “how horrible it will be.”  The Lord pronounced several woes on the scribes and Pharisees – Matt. 23:13-33.  Woe Concerning Their Destructive Evangelism – v. 15

6. OVERVIEW OF THE WOES  The word woe (Gr ouai) is an exclamation of grief meaning “how horrible it will be.”  The Lord pronounced several woes on the scribes and Pharisees – Matt. 23:13-33.  Woe Concerning Their Empty Oaths – vv. 16-22

7. OVERVIEW OF THE WOES  The word woe (Gr ouai) is an exclamation of grief meaning “how horrible it will be.”  The Lord pronounced several woes on the scribes and Pharisees – Matt. 23:13-33.  Woe Concerning Their Neglect of the Weightier Provisions of the Law – vv. 23-24

8. OVERVIEW OF THE WOES  The word woe (Gr ouai) is an exclamation of grief meaning “how horrible it will be.”  The Lord pronounced several woes on the scribes and Pharisees – Matt. 23:13-33.  Woe Concerning Their Inward Filthiness (Cup and Dish) – vv. 25-26

9. OVERVIEW OF THE WOES  The word woe (Gr ouai) is an exclamation of grief meaning “how horrible it will be.”  The Lord pronounced several woes on the scribes and Pharisees – Matt. 23:13-33.  Woe Concerning Their Inward Filthiness (Tombs) – vv. 27-28

10. OVERVIEW OF THE WOES  The word woe (Gr ouai) is an exclamation of grief meaning “how horrible it will be.”  The Lord pronounced several woes on the scribes and Pharisees – Matt. 23:13-33.  Woe Concerning Their Murderous Intent – vv. 29-33

11. THE PROBLEM OF HYPOCRISY  The word hypocrite (Gr hupokrites) carries the idea of “pretender” and is used throughout the woes.  The scribes and Pharisees were not condemned for their strict adherence to the Law – Matt. 23:23.  Their problem was overemphasis on externals to the neglect of the weightier provisions – vv. 23-24.

12. THE WEIGHTIER PROVISIONS  The word weighty (Gr barus) means “heavy” or “hard, difficult” or “important” or “serious.”  The weightier provisions of the Law are justice, mercy, and faithfulness – Matt. 23:23; see Lk. 11:42.  justice (Gr krisis): “judgment, condemnation, justice” – Jer. 22:15-16; Prov. 21:3; see Matt. 23:33

13. THE WEIGHTIER PROVISIONS  The word weighty (Gr barus) means “heavy” or “hard, difficult” or “important” or “serious.”  The weightier provisions of the Law are justice, mercy, and faithfulness – Matt. 23:23; see Lk. 11:42.  mercy (Gr eleos): “mercy, compassion” – see Matt. 9:13; 12:7; Lk. 11:42

14. THE WEIGHTIER PROVISIONS  The word weighty (Gr barus) means “heavy” or “hard, difficult” or “important” or “serious.”  The weightier provisions of the Law are justice, mercy, and faithfulness – Matt. 23:23; see Lk. 11:42.  faithfulness (Gr pistis): “faith, trust, belief, conviction” – Heb. 11:6; see Hab. 2:4

15. THE NEED FOR BALANCE  As Christians, we must balance all the provisions of the Law of God – see Matt. 23:23-24.  We should never follow the external rules merely as a hypocritical show to others – Matt. 6:1.  If we have a heart for God, we will obey all of His commands – Jn. 14:15; see Rom. 6:17.