Thought to Guide Your Reading
Jesus gives the major issues He has with the religious scholars and Pharisees: they do not walk the talk.Summary in 100 Words or Less
Jesus trapped His opponents when they questioned His Authority.God would remove Israel from being His sole Chosen People.
Jesus answered the Pharisees and Sadducees. They could not answer His questions.
Jesus praised a poor widow for giving all.
The Pharisees and religious scholars failed to live the Law, prevented entrance to God's Kingdom, taught converts to argue, played games with promises, focused on the visible, and acted arrogantly toward their ancestors.
"Jerusalem, you would not come to Me."
The Temple would soon be destroyed. Although they could see signs of its destruction, they should ignore rumors of His Coming.
How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right
The Pharisees taught a high morality but lived a low morality.
Jesus' major problem with the Pharisees and religious scholars was their obsession with making themselves look good while making everyone else seem lesser in comparison all the while having dark hearts. They taught that God's Kingdom was so difficult to get into they discouraged many from even trying. They wanted their degrees and places of importance and were willing to stop at nothing to get it—walking on as many people as possible to get to the top. Beware teachers who have an unobtainable standard for being "righteous".In the Restoration Movement, we have struggled with these problems for the last few generations. We began, in similar fashion to the Pharisees, attempting to return to the Scriptures. In turn we began codifying more and more beliefs as "essentials". Although we did not do everything the Pharisees did we do have similarities—especially the one about going across the sea and teaching them how to argue.
The Pharisees thought they could game God's System.
What they forgot was God saw their hearts. You cannot game God's Righteousness. Setting things right is the only way to obey Him.The End will come without signs.
Jesus told His Disciples how to know Jerusalem would be utterly destroyed. However, He wanted to make sure they were not confused into believing He returned, too.Have you tried gaming God's Righteousness?
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