Matthew 23:15 – The Third Woe to the Pharisees

Matthew 23:15 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”

When I was in junior high, I took debate as a class during my elective hour.  In this class, I was taught to eloquently defend my viewpoints by providing well-thought out arguments that proved the statements I was making.  Although I managed to get an A in the class, I wasn’t very good at it, for I did not understand how to logically defend my points while rebutting my opponent’s.  I thought that all I needed to do was find some ideas off of the Internet that would defend my case and put it together in a three to five minute speech.  But of course, with that attitude, I certainly didn’t win much of my debates, because I did not make the arguments my own; instead, I would just borrow and rehash some unfounded research.  I would not listen to the counter arguments very carefully, and I certainly had no way of responding back well, for I had not thought about what I was saying, I was just playing a record of someone else’s ideas.  If I had identified with whatever the issue was, turning a removed idea into a personal belief, then I would have certainly defended it with more rigor and care.

We can all attest to how passionately we will defend our beliefs/opinions no matter how trivial they may be.  There are times when we have almost thrown friendships away just because we don’t agree on a favorite movie or song or political candidate.  We will fight and fight until our “opponent” submits and admits that we are right and he is wrong.  This is even true in the church, for there are many denominational and “non-denominational” churches that will not even recognize another church that does not agree with every one of its “rules.”  Be careful to notice that I did not write the word doctrines, which should not be compromised but “rules” like how to handle church government or how communion is taken.  Occasionally, we even take our opinions and assumptions and turn them into doctrines like with the idea of the Rapture.  Some people believe that it happens after the Tribulation, others believe it happens before, and some believe it happens during.  Although we still don’t know which it will be for sure, some people will not move on the issue, holding to their own beliefs and treating anyone who disagrees with them as heretics.  There are issues with which version of the Bible to use to the point where some people say that if you don’t use a specific version then you aren’t a Christian.  These are all interesting things to discuss and talk about but should never be a point of contention in which we cause division in the church.  For the focus for all of us should simply be Jesus Christ and salvation coming from Him and Him alone.  Everything else is just toppings on the cake.  Sadly, too many Christians are too busy trying to make people converts of their opinions instead of disciples of Jesus Christ.

This third woe that the Lord spoke to the Pharisees was to address this hypocritical attitude that the Pharisees carried.  They were supposed to be the religious leaders of the day, teaching and encouraging the people to follow the Lord; but instead of doing that, they tried to convince people to follow them.  They wanted to create disciples of their beliefs not the Lord’s.  They were more concerned about creating proselytes of their opinion not the Lord’s laws.  Jesus reprimanded these religious leaders for losing sight of what they were supposed to do and getting caught up in their own pride, for it was pride that got them more interested in creating followers of them.  At that time, young students would flock to great religious leaders to learn from them.  They would sit under their teaching, follow them around, and serve in hopes that one day they would be able to take that same position.  This system led to many religious leaders becoming more concerned about getting more of their own students than teaching God’s laws.  Then those students who climbed up would follow that tradition and keep on escalating this new sect instead of lifting up the name of God.  Eventually, they formed groups like Pharisees and Sadducees and Herodians.  They became followers of tradition than God.  Christ at one point even said, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3).  They were more concerned about washing hands and following their additional laws and keeping their traditions than teaching people how to have a relationship with God.  It became about them not God.

We as disciples of Jesus Christ must take a note from this passage and watch our own hearts when we make disciples, for we can easily get caught up trying to create converts of our own opinion instead of followers of God.  We must always remember to point people to Jesus Christ not ourselves, especially when we are involved with more public roles of ministry.  Paul made it a point to preach nothing else but Christ crucified.  He kept his speech from beautiful oratory, so that people will look to Christ not to himself.  That is not to say that we should not speak well, but that we must keep in mind that our goal is to glorify God not ourselves.  If people are starting to follow you instead of Christ, then you need to step back and let God have the limelight.  Let us seek to lift up the name of Christ not our own, lest we be found creating proselytes instead of disciples.