Matthew 23:29-33 serves as the capstone on this series of seven woes—these covenantal indictments against national Israel. Central to understanding this ‘woe’ is a right understanding of the fifth commandment; honor your father and mother. The scribes a Pharisees said ‘If we’d been living in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partners […]
Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to Those Who Beautify that Which Defiles
It’s one of those uber-familiar texts: Mt. 23:27 You’re like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they’re full of dead men’s bones. But most people are not familiar with its Old Testament roots in the book of Ezekiel. Listen as Pastor Matt explains how Ezekiel used the analogy of whitewash to […]
Matthew 23:25-26 Cleaning the Wrong Side of the Cup
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 23:16-22 Woe Unto You Blind Guides
How are we to understand swearing, vows, and oaths? Didn’t Jesus say not to swear at all? Yet Deuteronomy commands, “You shall fear only the Lord your God… and swear by His name.” How do we reconcile these texts? The Scribes and Pharisees embraced a loophole-laden system of vows — silly as children crossing their […]
Matthew 23:15 Woe Unto You Evangelists of Hell
Is. 49:6–7 I’ll also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Kings will see & arise, Princes will also bow down. The scribes & Pharisees postured as those very messengers—God’s agents summoning the nations into covenant blessing through the coming Messianic King & […]
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 23:13 Woe to the Gatekeepers Outside the Gate to the Kingdom
They claimed to be guides into God’s Kingdom — but they were standing on the outside, slamming the gate shut on those who would enter. The hypocrisy of Israel’s false shepherds was undeniable — men who didn’t love the people, didn’t know the way, and yet presumed to speak for God. Jesus’ first woe in […]
Matthew 23:13-36 The Covenantal Implications of the Seven Woes
We hear it all the time from warmongering politicians: “God will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse Israel.” They say it with conviction—rarely with context—and insist it’s self-evident, even axiomatic. But what if I told you that Jesus cursed Israel? Cursed them to the point that He took the Kingdom from […]
Matthew 23:11-12- The Lowly High Calling of the Kingdom Citizen- Part 2 of 2- The Humble Path to Exaltation- Pastor Matt Cooke
Matthew 23:11 is one of the more familiar texts in the Bible: “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably always taken this as a simple encouragement to serve others. Something like, “If you want to be the greatest, then serve the most,” or “In the Kingdom, […]
