In chapter 23 we are in the last week of Jesus life. He spent teaching those that wanted to listen to what He had to say not about heaven or the life to come but He gave a warning. This is Jesus last public message. He is speaking to the multitudes, made up of the Scribes, and Pharisee’s and Jesus own disciples. Jesus has a crowd and uses this as a teachable moment. Jesus begins chapter 23 speaking to the multitudes and His disciples in verses 1-12 and the rest of the chapter in verses 13 on He will address the Scribes and Pharisee’s directly with 8 woes
The core issue Jesus is speaking to is hypocrisy. Saying one thing and doing another.
There is a Pharisee living in all of us. We need the Bible to speak to these areas’
If we are to properly represent Jesus in the world we need to pay attention to these teachings and warnings…
The Warning
November 17, 2019 • Mike Osthimer • Matthew 23
Betrayed
March 8, 2020 • Mike Osthimer • Matthew 26:31–75
What did Jesus say? “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me...” It would have been better for all the disciples to agree with Jesus than to think they could alter the course of human history. Everything we do in this life fulfills the Word of God one way or another. Instead of fighting God’s Word, we need to learn to surrender to it, to accept and understand Father knows best. No one has ever proven God wrong. Ever.
Remember Me
March 1, 2020 • Mike Osthimer • Matthew 26
Jesus Christ is transforming an ancient “Seder” meal into a different meaning. No longer does this speak up the temporary physical bondage out of Egypt but the permanent spiritual deliverance from sin. It's my blood. It's my body that is broken. And Jesus said, "You will do this often and you will do it in remembrance of me.
Undenying Love
February 23, 2020 • Mike Osthimer • Matthew 26:14–35
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests Judas as one of the 12 Only 12 people in human history had the privilege Judas had. Judas proved to be a bad man. English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon once said, "A bad man is worst when he pretends to be a saint." 15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. What will you give me? What they offered Judas says everything about the worth the chief priests and elders placed on Jesus. 30 pieces of silver for a slave that was gored to death by an ox of a neighbor. Exodus 21:32 “If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned” Judas Iscariot put the value of Jesus equal to that of a gored slave. Wow! The sin of covetous. The ungodly desire for more. “When I want something more than I want God” All sin leads to death. First its spiritual death and then ultimately its physical death. The first thing that goes with the sin of covetousness is my personal relationship with Jesus. It no longer brings me pleasure, its no longer enough. I begin to compromise my relationship with Jesus for more of something else. The pursuit of wealth, the pursuit of a relationship, the pursuit of anything that causes willful disobedience to the Word and will of God for my life.