Summary: This is the second message in a series that looks at Jesus’ final few days on the way to the cross. This message looks at how Jesus’ confrontation of religious hypocrisy and his resulting challenge to his own followers.

INTRODUCTION

There are many images that come to mind when we think of Easter.

-- Easter Bunnies, Easter Baskets, Easter Eggs, etc

-- Easter Holidays - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc.

-- Easter Symbols -- Cross, Communion

There is a Challenge We Face...

-- Each time we experience the Easter season, it can Lose its Impact and become almost stale. We’ve heard the messages... we’ve seen the images... watched the plays... We’ve been shocked by the horror of all that Jesus endured - torture, crucifixion.

-- RESULT: Over time, it just doesn’t seem to be as "Amazing" or "Exciting."

We’ve been Following Jesus to the Cross... looking at the last few days of Jesus before His Death...

-- To see not only WHAT Jesus experienced for us, but also HOW He approached His death - to see Jesus’ Attitude.

-- What did Jesus do on the Way to the Cross?

-- What was Important to Jesus as the Time of His Death drew closer?

Stuart Weber - "Holman Commentary on Matthew"

"To this point, Jesus had tried to avoid OUTRIGHT CONFLICT, while at the same time, warning people openly about the poison of the Jewish leaders... However, at this point, Jesus launched a serious OFFENSIVE."

Why Did Jesus Confront The Jewish Religious Leaders?

-- What was His Motivation?

-- For what Reasons did Jesus go "toe-to toe" with the religious establishment?

1. FOR EXPLOITING PEOPLE AND HINDERING THEM FROM REALLY CONNECTING WITH GOD.

-- Jesus... began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves... Jesus said, "The Scriptures declare, ’My Temple will be called a place of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves." (Matthew 21:12-13 - New Living Translation)

Max Lucado - And the Angels were Silent

"It was Passover week... the highlight of the Jewish calendar. People came from all regions and many countries to be present for the celebration. Upon arriving they were obligated to meet two requirements. First, an animal sacrifice, usually a dove. The dove had to be perfect, without blemish. The animal could be brought in from anywhere, but... under the guise of keeping the sacrifice pure, the dove sellers sold doves - at their price."

"Second, the people had to pay a tax... rendered in local currency. Money changers conveniently set up tables and offered to exchange the foreign money for local - for a modest fee, of course."

"It’s not difficult to see what angered Jesus. Pilgrims journeyed days to see God, to witness the holy, to worship His Majesty. But before they were taken into the presence of God, they were taken to the cleaners. What was promised and what was delivered were two different things.

"Want to anger God? Get in the way of people who want to see him. Want to feel his fury? Exploit people in the name of God."

-- Jesus: "Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules... They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads." (Matthew 23:4 - The Message)

2. FOR THEIR ATTITUDE OF SUPERIORITY.

-- Jesus: "Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes... and extra long tassels on their robes. And how they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the most prominent seats in the synagogue! They enjoy the attention they get on the streets and they enjoy being called ’Rabbi’." (Matthew 23:5-7 - New Living Translation)

-- "One can almost picture them with a spiritual "strut," moving conspicuously through the community. Many of their religious observances and routines were exaggerated to achieve the maximum public display... The farmer would put down his hoe... and the merchant would lay aside his cloth; and in full view of everyone they would pray.... If the group had a key to its philosophy, it could be stated, "HOW DO WE LOOK?" (William Coleman -- The Pharisees’ Guide To Total Holiness)

3. FOR DISTORTING THE TRUTH AND LEADING PEOPLE ASTRAY.

-- Jesus: "You Pharisees and teachers... are in for trouble! You lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You won’t go in yourselves and you keep others from going in... You travel over land and sea to win one follower... you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are... You are supposed to lead others, but you are blind." (Matthew 23:13-16 - Contemporary English Version)

4. FOR THEIR HYPOCRISY.

-- Jesus: "Hypocrites! You are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law - justice, mercy, and faith... You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are filthy - full of greed and self-indulgence!" (Matthew 23:23,25 - New Living Translation)

-- Jesus: "You’re hopeless!... You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh... People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds." (Matthew 23:27-28 - The Message)

5. FOR REJECTING GOD AND HIS MESSENGERS.

-- Jesus: "Corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the way of life, and you didn’t believe him... you refused to turn from your sins and believe him." (Matthew 21:31-32 - New Living Translation)

-- Jesus: "It’s on account of people like you that I send prophets and wise guides and scholars generation after generation - and generation after generation you treat them like dirt, greeting them with lynch mobs, hounding them with abuse." (Matthew 23:33-34 - The Message)

-- "We can see why the Pharisees were His enemies. He emphasized the inner man; they were concerned with externals. He taught a spiritual life based on principles, while the Pharisees majored on rules and regulations. Jesus taught humility and sacrificial service; but the Pharisees were proud and used people to accomplish their own purposes. The holy life of Jesus exposed their artificial piety and shallow religion." (Warren Wiersbe - Be Loyal)

WHAT WAS JESUS’ CHALLENGE TO HIS FOLLOWERS?

-- Knowing that He was only days from being Crucified, what did He tell them?

1. BE FAITHFUL IN SPITE OF HARDSHIP.

-- Jesus: "People will arrest you, hand you over to be hurt, and kill you. They will hate you because you believe in me. At that time, many will lose their faith, and they will turn against each other... But those who keep their faith until the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:9-10,13 - New Century Version)

2. BE READY FOR JESUS’ RETURN.

-- Jesus: "They will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory... However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows... So stay awake and be prepared, because you do not know the day or hour of my return. (Matthew 24:30,36: 25:13 - New Living Translation)

3. BE ACTIVE IN MINISTRY.

-- Jesus: "It’s like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities... After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them." (Matthew 25:14-15,19 - The Message)

-- Jesus: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matthew 25:21 - New International Version)

-- Jesus: "You are a wicked and lazy servant!... Those who have much will get more, and they will have much more than they need. But those who do not have much will have everything taken away from them... Throw that useless servant outside." (Matthew 25:26,29-30 - New Century Version)

4. BE GRACIOUS TO THOSE IN NEED.

-- Jesus: "I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me... I’m telling you this solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to

someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me." (Matthew 25:35-36,40 - The Message)

Jesus was Drawing a Line in the Sand...

1. For those who were NOT His Followers.

- "It’s Time To Make A Choice!"

- Do you believe that I am the Son of God / the promised Messiah or not?

- You cannot remain Neutral!

2. For those who WERE His Followers.

a) "It’s Time To Get Serious!"

-- "You have to Stop Straddling the Line!"

-- "If you’re going to be my Follower, then Start Living like it!"

b) "Don’t become Stale & Rigid in your Faith!"

-- "Pay Attention to your Attitudes, your Actions, the way you Treat Others."

-- "Don’t fall into the Traps of Legalism, Pride, or Hypocrisy!"

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO US?

Jesus is Issuing the Same Challenge to Us! He’s Drawn a Line in the Sand... Now how are YOU going to Respond?