Grace Community Bible Church Sermons

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 23:13-36

In Matthew 23:13-36 Jesus pronounces seven woes on the scribes and Pharisees that reveal to us four characteristics of the life and ministry of false teachers.

1. False teachers live and teach a false gospel.
   1. By shutting the door to the kingdom (the first woe, v. 13).
   2. By teaching disciples their own religion (the second woe, v. 15).
2. False teachers live and teach legalism.
   1. By providing loopholes in the law to allow for sin (the third woe, vv. 16-22).
   2. By majoring on the minors and minoring on the majors (the fourth woe, vv. 23, 24).
3. False teachers live and teach moralism.
   1. By pretending that external character equals internal character (the fifth woe, vv. 25, 26).
   2. By striving for external righteousness while lacking internal righteousness (the sixth woe, vv. 27, 28).
4. False teachers live and teach the same as enemies of God throughout the ages by rejecting the prophets of God (the seventh woe, vv. 29-36).

Note: lost the first minute due to an audio problem, sorry.