KEY SCRIPTURE: Matt 23:28 KJV” Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

In Matthew 23:13-29 the Lord Jesus spoke extensively about hypocritical leaders. The Lord gave different instances that these leaders act hypocritically and the problem that their actions will bring to them.

It appears the Lord was very harsh on these false leaders than those who were even caught in adultery. If an individual sin or commit an error, it may most likely have to do with him and at most a second or a third person. A bad leader may impact multitudes or even generations. This may be the reason the Lord was extremely tough on them. The thoughts He made about them are so revealing and so, we would consider them in turns.

Matt 23:13 KJV” 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.” The Lord said these hypocritical leaders shut up the heavens. How do they do it? Those who follow and listen to them become just like them, and so both teachers and students are all lost. They have shut up the heavens. In our days we have heard pastors or prophets who claim it’s been a long time since the bible said Jesus is coming. The claim, we must as well forget about that and focus on other things. Such a man is lost, including all who listen to him.

Matt 23:14 KJV “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.”

In the Lord’s second word to the scribes and Pharisees, the Lord said, these people devour widow’s houses. They use lots of scheming to take possession of the properties of these poor widows. Sadly, we have such leaders in our day, who act under all forms of pretences to rub their victims. There are many who sell all kinds of items to congregants, extorting money from them.

Matt 23:15 KJV. 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. This description is quite serious. Certain leaders do whatever they can to get converts, after winning them they pour out all the wrong natures they are to them.

Beware of these false teachers and prophets.

PRAYER

Lord, I pray for the body of Christ, that your Spirit will convince such false teachers to forsake their ways, as well as the followers, would be opened to the truth and turn to the Lord.

THOUGHT; FALSEHOOD IS CONTAGIOUS, STAY AWAY FROM IT

FURTHER STUDIES

Matt 23:16 KJV” 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!”

Matt 23:17 KJV “Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?”

For further studies into other related topics, please visit my website http://www.samuelsomuah.com