Introduction

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. As we gather here today, we find ourselves on the precipice of a journey, a journey that will take us through the winding roads of faith, the valleys of doubt, and the mountains of revelation. We are here to embark on a pilgrimage through the sacred scriptures, specifically the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 23, verses 1 through 25.

Our sermon today is titled "BAD RELIGION." Now, I know that might sound a bit harsh, a bit confrontational, but it's a title that carries with it a weight of truth that we, as followers of Christ, must be willing to shoulder. It's a title that challenges us to look beyond the surface, to question the status quo, and to seek the true essence of our faith.

Our main idea today is this: "AN EXPOSITION ON MATTHEW 23:1-25: CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ABOUT MAKING CONVERTS TO DOGMA BUT MAKING CONVERTS TO LOVE." This is not just a statement; it's a call to action, a call to transform our understanding of what it means to be a Christian. It's a call to shift our focus from the rigid structures of dogma to the boundless expanse of love.

Before we begin, let us turn to the Word of God. Please open your Bibles to Matthew 23:1-3 (NIV): "Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 'The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.'"

Let's take a moment to pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the opportunity to gather in Your name, to learn from Your Word, and to grow in our faith. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to the message You have for us today. Help us to understand Your Word, to apply it in our lives, and to share it with others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, I want you to imagine a tree. This tree is tall and strong, its branches reaching out towards the sky, its roots digging deep into the earth. On the surface, this tree seems healthy and vibrant. But upon closer inspection, we find that the tree is hollow inside, its core eaten away by disease. This tree, my friends, is a picture of toxic religion. It looks good on the outside, but inside, it's empty and decaying.

Just like this tree, toxic religion may seem appealing at first glance. It may seem to offer structure, certainty, and a sense of belonging. But beneath the surface, it's devoid of the one thing that truly matters - love. It's a religion that focuses on rules and regulations, on appearances and rituals, rather than on the transformative power of love.

As we journey through Matthew 23:1-25, we will see how Jesus confronts this toxic religion, how He challenges the religious leaders of His time, and how He calls us, His followers, to a different kind of faith - a faith that is rooted in love, a faith that is alive and flourishing, a faith that is not about making converts to dogma but making converts to love.

So, let's embark on this journey together, with open hearts and open minds, ready to learn, ready to grow, and ready to love. Let's step away from the hollow tree of toxic religion and step into the vibrant garden of love that is true Christianity. Let's begin.

The Hypocrisy of Toxic Religion

Friends, today we're going to take a journey through Matthew 23:1-25. We're going to see that Christianity is not about making converts to dogma, but making converts to love.

Jesus, in this passage, is addressing the religious leaders of His day. He's calling out their hypocrisy, their showy displays of piety, and their neglect of the true heart of the law.

First, let's look at verses 4-7. Jesus says, "They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues."

Jesus is painting a picture here of religious leaders who are more concerned with appearances than with genuine faith. They're all about the show, the outward display of piety. But inside, their hearts are far from God.

Now, let's take a closer look at the word "phylacteries." In the original Greek, this word is "phylaktērion," which refers to a small leather box containing Hebrew texts on vellum, worn by Jewish men at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law. It's a symbol of their devotion to God's law. But Jesus is saying that these religious leaders are making their phylacteries wide - they're exaggerating their devotion to the law for everyone to see.

As the great theologian Augustine of Hippo once said, "The measure of love is to love without measure." This is the heart of what Jesus is teaching here. It's not about the outward show of religion, but the inward transformation of the heart by love.

Moving on to verses 23-24, Jesus says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."

Here, Jesus is calling out the religious leaders for their meticulous tithing, even down to the smallest herbs in their gardens, while neglecting the weightier matters of the law - justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They're so focused on the minor details that they're missing the big picture.

Finally, in verses 25-26, Jesus says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

Jesus is saying that it's not enough to clean up our outward behavior. We need to allow God's love to transform us from the inside out.

Friends, the message of Matthew 23 is clear. Christianity is not about making converts to dogma, but making converts to love. It's not about the outward show of religion, but the inward transformation of the heart by love. Let's strive to live out this truth in our lives every day.

The Legalism of Toxic Religion

As we turn to Matthew 23:1-25, we see Jesus confronting the religious leaders of His day. He calls them out on their hypocrisy, their legalism, their lack of love. He paints a picture of what toxic religion looks like, and it's not pretty.

Jesus begins by addressing the crowd and His disciples. He warns them about the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. They sit in Moses' seat, He says. They have authority. But they don't practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them.

This is the first mark of toxic religion: it's burdensome. It's all about rules and regulations, do's and don'ts. It's about trying to earn God's favor through our own efforts. But that's not what Christianity is about. Christianity is about grace. It's about God's love for us, not our love for Him. It's about what He's done for us, not what we do for Him.

Jesus goes on to criticize the religious leaders for their love of honor and recognition. They love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, to have the best seats in the synagogues and at banquets. They love to be called 'Rabbi.'

This is the second mark of toxic religion: it's self-centered. It's all about me, my status, my reputation, my honor. But that's not what Christianity is about. Christianity is about humility. It's about putting others first. It's about serving, not being served.

Jesus then turns His attention to the religious leaders' tithing practices. They are meticulous in giving a tenth of their spices, but they neglect the more important matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

This is the third mark of toxic religion: it's superficial. It's all about appearances, about looking good on the outside. But that's not what Christianity is about. Christianity is about the heart. It's about love, mercy, and faithfulness.

In the book of Luke, chapter 11, verses 37-54, we find a similar confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders. Here, Jesus criticizes them for their obsession with cleanliness. They clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and wickedness.

This brings us to the fourth mark of toxic religion: it's hypocritical. It's all about pretending, about putting on a show. But that's not what Christianity is about. Christianity is about authenticity. It's about being real, being honest, being genuine.

Finally, Jesus condemns the religious leaders for their lack of love. They travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when they do, they make them twice as much a child of hell as they are.

This is the fifth mark of toxic religion: it's unloving. It's all about winning arguments, not winning hearts. But that's not what Christianity is about. Christianity is about love. It's about loving God and loving others. It's about making converts to love, not to dogma.

So let's be clear: Christianity is not about burdens, it's about grace. It's not about self, it's about humility. It's not about appearances, it's about the heart. It's not about pretending, it's about authenticity. And it's not about winning arguments, it's about winning hearts. That's the kind of religion Jesus calls us to. That's the kind of religion we should strive for.

The Call to Authentic Love

In the heart of the Gospel, as recorded in Matthew 23:1-25, we find Jesus addressing the religious leaders of His day with a stern warning about the dangers of toxic religion. This passage is a clarion call to all believers, reminding us that Christianity is not about making converts to dogma but making converts to love.

The first point that stands out in this passage is the emphasis Jesus places on the inner life over the outer appearance. He uses the metaphor of a cup and dish, saying, "You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." This is a clear indictment of the Pharisees' focus on external rituals and displays of piety while neglecting the transformation of the heart.

In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the law and their meticulous observance of religious rituals. They were the religious elite, the spiritual leaders who were looked up to and respected by the people. Yet, Jesus saw through their outward displays and called them out for their hypocrisy.

This is a reminder for us today that our faith should not be about putting on a show or trying to impress others with our religiousness. Instead, it should be about cultivating a heart that is filled with love, compassion, and selflessness. This is the kind of faith that Jesus calls us to. It's not about following a set of rules or adhering to a certain doctrine, but about allowing the love of God to transform us from the inside out.

As A.W. Tozer once said, "The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One." This quote beautifully encapsulates the essence of what Jesus is teaching in this passage. When we have God as our treasure, when we allow His love to fill us and transform us, we have everything we need. We don't need to put on a show or try to impress others with our piety. All we need is to love God and love others.

The second point that stands out in this passage is the warning Jesus gives about the dangers of hypocrisy. He says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence."

This is a strong rebuke, and it serves as a sobering reminder for us today. It's easy to fall into the trap of hypocrisy, to focus on the external while neglecting the internal. But Jesus warns us that this kind of religion is toxic. It's not pleasing to God, and it's not beneficial to us.

Instead, Jesus calls us to a faith that is authentic and genuine. A faith that is not about putting on a show, but about being transformed by the love of God. A faith that is not about adhering to a set of rules, but about loving God and loving others. This is the kind of faith that Jesus calls us to, and it's the kind of faith that we should strive for.

In conclusion, let us remember the words of Jesus in this passage and strive to live out our faith in a way that is authentic and genuine. Let us not be like the Pharisees, who focused on the external while neglecting the internal. Instead, let us be like Jesus, who loved God and loved others with all His heart.

Conclusion

As we draw to a close on our reflection of Matthew 23:1-25, we must take a moment to pause and truly absorb the weight of what we've discussed. We've journeyed through a passage that challenges us, that shakes us to our core, and that calls us to a higher standard of living. This is not a passage to be taken lightly, nor is it a passage to be quickly forgotten. It's a passage that demands our attention, our reflection, and ultimately, our transformation.

We've been talking about toxic religion, a concept that is as relevant today as it was in the days of Jesus. We've seen how the religious leaders of Jesus' time were so caught up in their rules, their rituals, and their self-righteousness that they missed the heart of God's law. They were so focused on the letter of the law that they neglected the spirit of the law. They were so intent on appearing righteous that they neglected to be righteous.

And Jesus, in His wisdom and love, called them out on it. He didn't mince words. He didn't sugarcoat the truth. He called them hypocrites. He called them blind guides. He called them whitewashed tombs. He called them out on their toxic religion.

And He calls us out too. He calls us out on our hypocrisy. He calls us out on our self-righteousness. He calls us out on our neglect of the heart of God's law. He calls us out on our toxic religion.

But He doesn't leave us there. He doesn't leave us in our hypocrisy, our self-righteousness, our neglect. He calls us to something better. He calls us to authentic faith. He calls us to genuine love. He calls us to true righteousness.

So, as we go into this coming week, let's take this message to heart. Let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's strive to embody His teachings in our actions and attitudes. Let's strive to love as He loved, to serve as He served, to give as He gave. Let's strive to be authentic followers of Christ.

And as we strive to be more like Jesus, let's remember that our faith is not about making converts to dogma. It's about making converts to love. It's about showing the world the love of Christ through our words and actions. It's about being the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that desperately needs Him.

Let's pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word and the wisdom it imparts. We thank You for the challenging message of Matthew 23:1-25. We ask that You would help us to take this message to heart, to reflect on it, and to allow it to transform us. Help us to reject toxic religion in all its forms and to embrace authentic faith. Help us to love as You love, to serve as You serve, to give as You give. Help us to be authentic followers of Christ. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

And now, as we prepare to leave this place, let's remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:14: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

May we carry this benediction in our hearts as we go into the world, striving to be more like Jesus, striving to love as He loved, striving to serve as He served. May we be a light in the darkness, a beacon of hope in a world that desperately needs it. May we be authentic followers of Christ, rejecting toxic religion and embracing genuine love.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

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