More on SCRIBES and PHARISEES

 Matthew 23:5

King James Version

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: 

they make broad their phylacteries, 

and enlarge the borders of their garments,

The LORD is truly magnificent!

In just one chapter, Matthew 23, He revealed the scribes and Pharisees.

Calling attention to their sins, and atrocities.

Which make people suffer, and are abominations to GOD.

This post is third in the series on scribes and Pharisees.

JESUS tells us more:

Matthew 23:16-22

King James Version

16 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!

17 Ye fools and blind: 

for whether is greater, the gold, 

or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, 

it is nothing; 

but whosoever sweareth 

by the gift that is upon it, 

he is guilty.

19 Ye fools and blind: 

for whether is greater, the gift, 

or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, 

sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, 

sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

22 And he that shall swear by heaven, 

sweareth by the throne of God, 

and by him that sitteth thereon.

Matthew 23:33-36

King James Version

33 Ye serpents, 

ye generation of vipers, 

how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

34 Wherefore, behold, 

I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: 

and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; 

and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, 

and persecute them from city to city:

35 That upon you may come 

all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, 

from the blood of righteous Abel 

unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, 

whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

36 Verily I say unto you, 

All these things shall come 

upon this generation.

Matthew 23:37-39

King James Version

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 

thou that killest the prophets, 

and stonest them which are sent unto thee, 

how often would I have gathered thy children together, 

even as a hen gathereth her chickens 

under her wings, and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

39 For I say unto you, 

Ye shall not see me henceforth, 

till ye shall say, 

Blessed is he that cometh 

in the name of the Lord.

If you are born again, you will appreciate all that JESUS is teaching.

It is for all, whether we be scribes, or Pharisees.

Whether we be in government, or are civilians.

Whether we be from the past, or live in the present.

We are all under GOD's law.

WOE unto HYPOCRITES

 Matthew 5:20

King James Version

20 For I say unto you, 

That except your righteousness shall exceed 

the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, 

ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

In the previous post, JESUS described the scribes and Pharisees.

What more does the LORD want us to know about them?

What other traits did they have that was not acceptable to the LORD?

Let's find out from Scripture:

Matthew 23:13

King James Version

13 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.

Matthew 23:14

King James Version

14 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.

Matthew 23:15

King James Version

15 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.

Matthew 23:16

King James Version

16 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!

Matthew 23:23-24

King James Version

23 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, 

and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, 

judgment, mercy, and faith: 

these ought ye to have done, 

and not to leave the other undone.

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, 

and swallow a camel.

Matthew 23:25-26

King James Version

25 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, 

but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, 

cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, 

that the outside of them may be clean also.

Matthew 23:27-28

King James Version

27 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, 

which indeed appear beautiful outward, 

but are within full of dead men's bones, 

and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, 

but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matthew 23:29-32

King James Version

29 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

because ye build the tombs of the prophets, 

and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, 

we would not have been partakers with them 

in the blood of the prophets.

31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, 

that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

What did "Woe unto you" mean?

What were the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees facing?

Matthew 23:33

King James Version

33 Ye serpents, 

ye generation of vipers, 

how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

You think JESUS is done?

He still has much more to say about scribes and Pharisees.

Head over to the next post.

Scribes and Pharisees

 Matthew 5:17

King James Version

17 Think not that I am come 

to destroy the law, or the prophets: 

I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

JESUS often spoke of them.

We refer to the scribes, and Pharisees.

Who hung on the LORD's every word.

That they may hang Him.

They waited in every corner, in ambush.

Challenging JESUS about His teachings.

Which they say doesn't conform to the law.

What did JESUS teach us about them?

Matthew 5:20

King James Version

20 For I say unto you, 

That except your righteousness shall exceed 

the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, 

ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 16:6

King James Version

6 Then Jesus said unto them, 

Take heed and beware of the leaven 

of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Why did the LORD specifically point these out?

Who were these scribes and Pharisees?

Why did JESUS warn us about them?

How did He describe them?

Matthew 23:1-4

King James Version

23 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, 

and to his disciples,

2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees 

sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid 

you observe, that observe and do; 

but do not ye after their works:

for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens 

and grievous to be borne, 

and lay them on men's shoulders; 

but they themselves will not move them 

with one of their fingers.

Matthew 23:5-7

King James Version

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: 

they make broad their phylacteries, 

and enlarge the borders of their garments,

6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, 

and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7 And greetings in the markets, 

and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

How did JESUS correct these scribes and Pharisees?

Matthew 23:8-12

King James Version

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: 

for one is your Master, even Christ; 

and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: 

for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: 

for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among 

you shall be your servant.

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; 

and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Of course, JESUS had much to tell us about them.

We're just warming up.

Scripture has much to say.

SPIRIT has much to teach.

All in testimony of the LORD's teachings.

And I'm on it.

We are not to be be like scribes and Pharisees.

JESUS could not stand their hypocrisy.

And that's for the next post.

The LORD's priesthood

 Psalm 110:4

King James Version

4 The Lord hath sworn, 

and will not repent, 

Thou art a priest for ever 

after the order of Melchizedek.

What is the nature of the LORD JESUS' priesthood?

What made Him a priest, apart from all priests?

Scripture reveals it, through these verses:

Hebrews 7:13

King James Version

13 For he of whom these things are spoken 

pertaineth to another tribe, 

of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

Hebrews 7:14

King James Version

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; 

of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Hebrews 7:16

King James Version

16 Who is made, 

not after the law of a carnal commandment, 

but after the power of an endless life.

Hebrews 7:17

King James Version

17 For he testifieth, 

Thou art a priest for ever 

after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 7:20

King James Version

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath 

he was made priest:

Hebrews 7:21

King James Version

21 (For those priests were made without an oath; 

but this with an oath by him that said unto him, 

The Lord sware and will not repent, 

Thou art a priest for ever 

after the order of Melchisedec:)

Hebrews 7:22

King James Version

22 By so much was Jesus made 

a surety of a better testament.

Hebrews 7:24

King James Version

24 But this man, 

because he continueth ever, 

hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Hebrews 7:25

King James Version

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them 

to the uttermost that come unto God by him, 

seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:26

King James Version

26 For such an high priest became us, 

who is holy, 

harmless, 

undefiled, 

separate from sinners, 

and made higher than the heavens;

Hebrews 7:27

King James Version

27 Who needeth not daily, 

as those high priests, 

to offer up sacrifice, 

first for his own sins, 

and then for the people's: 

for this he did once, 

when he offered up himself.

Hebrews 7:28

King James Version

28 For the law maketh men high priests 

which have infirmity; 

but the word of the oath, 

which was since the law, 

maketh the Son, 

who is consecrated for evermore.

Now, we know that JESUS came from the tribe of Juda.

And from the order of Melchisedec.

Making His a powerful kind of priesthood.

But who is Melchisedec?

That's for another post.

Related material:

PRIEST of the NEW TESTAMENT

REVOLUTIONARY priesthood of JESUS CHRIST

JESUS the HIGH PRIEST

What JESUS knew

JESUS as PASSOVER

MINISTRY of JESUS

JESUS

MINISTRY of JESUS

 Colossians 2:9

King James Version

9 For in him dwelleth 

all the fulness of the Godhead 

bodily.

Who was JESUS?

What was He called to do?

What did His ministry consist of?

Who called Him to do this sacred work?

Who better to tell us than JESUS Himself:

Luke 5:32

King James Version

32 I came not to call the righteous, 

but sinners to repentance.

The Messiah's ministry as prophesied in the Old Testament:

Deuteronomy 18:15

King James Version

15 The Lord thy God 

will raise up unto thee a Prophet 

from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, 

like unto me; 

unto him ye shall hearken;

Isaiah 61:1-3

King James Version

61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; 

because the Lord hath anointed me 

to preach good tidings unto the meek; 

he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

to proclaim liberty to the captives, 

and the opening of the prison 

to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, 

and the day of vengeance of our God; 

to comfort all that mourn;

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, 

to give unto them beauty for ashes, 

the oil of joy for mourning, 

the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; 

that they might be called trees of righteousness, 

the planting of the Lord, 

that he might be glorified.

And as JESUS communed with GOD, the Father:

John 17:2-3

King James Version

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, 

that he should give eternal life 

to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, 

that they might know thee the only true God, 

and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

John 17:4

King James Version

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: 

I have finished the work 

which thou gavest me to do.

John 17:6-8

King James Version

6 I have manifested thy name unto the men 

which thou gavest me out of the world: 

thine they were, and thou gavest them me; 

and they have kept thy word.

7 Now they have known 

that all things whatsoever thou hast given me 

are of thee.

8 For I have given unto them the words 

which thou gavest me; 

and they have received them, 

and have known surely that I came out from thee, 

and they have believed that thou didst send me.

John 17:12

King James Version

12 While I was with them in the world, 

I kept them in thy name: 

those that thou gavest me I have kept, 

and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; 

that the scripture might be fulfilled.

John 17:14

King James Version

14 I have given them thy word; 

and the world hath hated them, 

because they are not of the world, 

even as I am not of the world.

John 17:17-19

King James Version

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: 

thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, 

even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, 

that they also might be sanctified 

through the truth.

John 17:20-23

King James Version

20 Neither pray I for these alone, 

but for them also which shall believe on me 

through their word;

21 That they all may be one; 

as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, 

that they also may be one in us: 

that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me 

I have given them; 

that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, 

that they may be made perfect in one; 

and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, 

and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

John 17:24

King James Version

24 Father, I will that they also, 

whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; 

that they may behold my glory, 

which thou hast given me: 

for thou lovedst me 

before the foundation of the world.

John 17:26

King James Version

26 And I have declared unto them thy name, 

and will declare it: 

that the love wherewith thou hast loved me 

may be in them, and I in them.

In a revealing verse, apostle John tells us more:

John 21:25

King James Version

25 And there are also many other things 

which Jesus did, 

the which, if they should be written every one, 

I suppose that even the world itself could not contain 

the books that should be written. 

Amen.

Related material:

PRIEST from JUDA

The LORD's priesthood

REVOLUTIONARY priesthood of JESUS CHRIST

JESUS the HIGH PRIEST

What JESUS knew

JESUS and sinners

JESUS

On PROFANE priests

 Jeremiah 23:11

King James Version

11 For both prophet and priest are profane; 

yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, 

saith the Lord.

What does "profane" mean?

What makes for profane priests and prophets?

Here's what other Bible versions say:

Jeremiah 23:11

Amplified Bible

11 “For both [false] prophet and priest are ungodly (profane, polluted);

Even in My house I have found their wickedness,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:11

Common English Bible

11 Both prophet and priest are godless;

    I even find their evil in my temple,

        declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:11

Complete Jewish Bible

11 “Both prophet and cohen are godless;

In my own house I find their wickedness,” says Adonai.

Jeremiah 23:11

Contemporary English Version

The Lord Will Punish Unfaithful Prophets

11 The Lord told me to say:

You prophets and priests

think so little of me, the Lord,

    that you even sin

    in my own temple!

Jeremiah 23:11

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

11 For the prophet and the priest are defiled: and in my house I have found their wickedness, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:11

Easy-to-Read Version

11 This message is from the Lord:

“The prophets and even the priests are evil.

    I have seen them doing evil things in my own Temple.

Jeremiah 23:11

1599 Geneva Bible

11 For both the Prophet and the Priest [a]do wickedly: and their wickedness have I found in mine [b]House, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:11

Jubilee Bible 2000

11 For both prophet and priest are feigned; even in my house I have found their wickedness, said the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:11

Legacy Standard Bible

11 “For both prophet and priest are polluted;

Even in My house I have found their evil,” declares Yahweh.

Jeremiah 23:11

The Message

11 Now for what God says regarding the lying prophets:

Prophets and priests devoted to desecration.

    They have nothing to do with me as their God.

My very own Temple, mind you—

    mud-spattered with their crimes.” God’s Decree.

Jeremiah 23:11

New Century Version

11 “Both the prophets and the priests live as if there were no God.

    I have found them doing evil things even in my own Temple,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:11

New Life Version

11 “For both the men of God and the religious leaders are sinful. I have found their sin even in My house,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:11

New Living Translation

11 “Even the priests and prophets

    are ungodly, wicked men.

I have seen their despicable acts

    right here in my own Temple,”

    says the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:11

Wycliffe Bible

11 For why the prophet and the priest be defouled; and in mine house, saith the Lord, I found the evil of them. (For the prophet and the priest be defiled; and I found them doing evil, even in my own House, saith the Lord.)

In SUMMARY, "profane" means:

ungodly (profane, polluted)

godless

think so little of me

defiled

evil

do wickedly

feigned

polluted

devoted to desecration

live as if there were no God

sinful

ungodly, wicked men

defouled

In contrast?

The LORD JESUS' priesthood.

Related post:

PUNISHMENT for profane prophets, pastors, priests, and people

SPIRIT-filled ministers

2022 articles

SPIRIT-filled ministers

Psalm 119:32

King James Version

32 I will run the way of thy commandments, 

when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

How are GOD's ministers to be?

How shall they preach the gospel?

What shall their heart consist of?

How shall they study theology?

What must they be taught at seminaries?

Here are some vital quotes from the late prayer and revival preacher, Leonard Ravenhill, who SPIRIT led me to:

Do you know what you do when you go to seminary?

You get a swollen head and a shrunken heart.

I say, 

if your preacher doesn't weep, 

you weep over the preacher.

Live in a state of brokenness.

How can we be whole 

when the world is damned 

and rotting before our eyes?

Do you have a course on weeping, father?

And when they graduate, 

do you have a course on howling?

GOD controlled weakness

He ignored the whole bunch.

He went to some smelly fishermen, 

and said, "Come on, and follow me."

They were unlearned and ignorant men.

Not intellectuals, 

bishops, 

and presidents of colleges.

God's going to bypass organized religion 

and systems before very long.

I believe that many denominations 

are breathing their last right now.

And the world will say you've got nothing real, 

and vital and powerful!

No life.

We've got the letter but no life.

We've got the words but no Spirit.

We've got the terms but no reproduction.

the word of God is alive

The Church has become so carnal...

the glory of the Lord doesn't fill the temple.

I don't believe the modern Christians 

come to church to meet God.

They come to church 

to hear a sermon about God.

In place of a sermon about God, Ravenhill implores churches to MEET God, citing a particular verse spoken by the LORD JESUS:

John 17:3

King James Version

3 And this is life eternal, 

that they might know thee the only true God, 

and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Related posts:

GOD is HOLY

REVIVING a CHURCH

The RIGHT church

Video:

"To the Preacher" - The Idolatry of Intelligence, by Leonard Ravenhill