From the outside looking in, the scribes and Pharisees performed all the external shows of righteousness imaginable; with lengthened tassels, broadened phylacteries, scholarly robes, prominent seats, & respectful greetings in the marketplace. But they neglected the internal holiness that God requires; justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Listen as Pastor Matt warns against cleaning only the externals (the […]
Matthew 23:23-24 Straining Gnats & Swallowing Camels: The Central Reason for the Covenantal Curses
You’ve probably heard the phrase: straining at a gnat, swallowing a camel. We use it to describe people who major on the minors and miss the point. But what if I told you Jesus said it first — and He used it to warn of judgment? In this message, Pastor Matt shows why that warning […]
Matthew 23:14 Woe to the Wolves in Shepherd’s Clothing
Listen as Pastor Matt uncovers the horrifying irony of those who wore the robes of shepherds while devouring the most vulnerable sheep. Each of the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, reveals the same chilling indictment: religious hypocrisy dressed in pious theater, preying on widows and the weak. Listen in as Jesus thunders judgment from […]
Matthew 22:46-23:7 Jesus on the Attack: Exposing the Scribes and Pharisees
Jesus has finally silenced the relentless attack of the religious leaders. They don’t know how to answer Jesus’ question. Furthermore, they are so intimidated by His wisdom that ‘no one dared from that day to ask Him another question.’ One might expect Jesus to kind of, ‘live and let live.’ If the Scribes and Pharisees […]
Matthew 21_28-32 Delayed vs Pretended Obedience
After the chief priests and the elders refused to answer Jesus concerning the source of John the Baptist’s ministry, Jesus presented them with a question centered around a parable. In this parable one son rebels and then repents while another son pretends to be an obedient son but doesn’t actually obey. Jesus then asks which […]
Matthew 21:17-19 The Cursing of the Fig Tree (Part 1 of 2)
Have you ever read the story where Jesus cursed a fig tree for not having any figs on it? Doesn’t that story seem a bit weird? Did Jesus let His hunger and disappointment in not getting any figs cause Him to act rashly and out of character? Absolutely not! Everything Jesus did was under control […]
Matthew 15:7-9 The Damnable Religion of the Pharisees and Scribes
People today think taking a firm stand on issues of right and wrong is Pharisaical. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Jesus actually rebuked the Pharisees for ignoring God’s Law not for upholding it. Jesus corrected the Pharisees for teaching their almost universally held tradition as if it was God’s Law, when they ignored […]
Matthew 15:1-6 According to What Standard?
The Pharisees were committed to destroying Jesus. Why? Because He rejected the flawed ‘tradition of the elders’ and called them out for their hypocrisy. Some high ranking Pharisees and Scribes heard that Jesus disregarded their tradition, and came from Jerusalem to investigate the matter. Jesus was not intimidated. Listen as Pastor Matt shows how Jesus […]
Matthew 13:24-30 The Wheat & the Tares Part 1 The Parable
The Kingdom of heaven is an already but not yet reality. Jesus is reigning, but He is reigning ‘in the midst of His enemies.’ In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares we see the enemy sow tares amongst the wheat. Tares look almost exactly like wheat until the plants bear fruit. What is […]
