Jesus lesson was directed to the scribes and Pharisees. Now here’s a little information concerning the scribes and Pharisees that is important to remember for ever. Who are the scribes and Pharisees of our time? Anyone who condemns you for being a sinner falls into that category. I’m not condoning sin, I’m saying, if people are looking for Christians to be perfect people, they’re gonna be mighty disappointed, because the only perfect Christian was Christ. Because of our weaknesses, we rely on His perfection. So, if you ever find yourself feeling unworthy, remember this TRUTH. Write it down somewhere and say it to yourself whenever you need to strengthen your faith. By confessing and repenting for your sins, God forgives you for them, so admitting you’re a sinner will bring you closer to Him, (I John 1:9, Psalm 32:5). For more on this topic, see the Grace Page at Christianity Oasis, also known as the C-O-O-L Doctrine.

The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat. So do whatever they say to abide by, but don’t act in the same manner as they do, because they don’t practice what they preach. They put rules too difficult to observe on men’s shoulders, but they won’t take on those burdens themselves. They do all their works to get admiration from men. They make their phylacteries broad and their garments fancy. They love the uppermost rooms at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, to be recognized in the markets, and to be called Rabbi, Rabbi. But don’t you be called Rabbi, because only one is your Master, and that’s Christ, and all of you are brothers. And call no man on earth your father, because only one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be called masters (leaders) because only one is your Master, and that’s Christ. But whoever is greatest among you will be your servant. And whoever glorifies himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You make it too hard for people to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Because you don’t go in yourselves, you won’t allow those who are worthy to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You search the land and sea to make one convert, and when you do, you make him twice the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, you blind guides that say, Whoever makes an oath by the Temple, it doesn’t count, but whoever makes an oath by the gold of the Temple, he’s a debtor! You fools and blind, what’s greater, the gold, or the Temple that sanctifies the gold? And whoever makes an oath by the Altar, it doesn’t count, but whoever makes an oath by the gift that is upon it is guilty. You fools and blind, what’s greater, the gift or the Altar that sanctifies the gift? So whoever swears by the Altar, swears by it, and all the gifts upon it. And whoever swears by the Temple, swears by it, and by Him that abides in it. And whoever swears by Heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by Him that sits on it. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint and anise and cumin, and have left out the more important matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. You blind guides, who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they’re full of extortion and excess. You blind Pharisee, clean the inside of the cup and plate first, so the outside of them may be clean too. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You’re like whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful on the outside, but are within, full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. In the same way, you outwardly appear righteous to men, but within, you’re full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the graves of the righteous and say, If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have killed the prophets. So you admit that you’re the children of those who killed the prophets. Finish up then, the actions of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell? So I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you’ll kill and crucify and some of them you’ll beat in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city, so that you’re responsible for all the righteous bloodshed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel (Genesis 4:8) to the blood of Zacharias (2 Chronicles 24:21) who you slew between the Temple and the Altar. Truly I say to you, All these punishments will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that killed the prophets, and stone them who are sent to you, how often I wanted to gather your children together like a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you wouldn’t listen. Look, your house is left to you empty. I say to you, You will not see me from now on, until you say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.

OLIVET DISCOURSE