Sermons on Matthew 23:1-12:

"We Can Get So Off Base"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 1, 2014

A sermon about loving mercy.

"We Can Get So Off Base" Matthew 23:1-12 Micah 6:6-8 Like most of us, John Burke (pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas) assumed that he was not a judgmental person. But just in case he was wrong, he tried an experiment: for a whole week he kept track of his judgments about other people. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

O Lord It Is Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Oct 27, 2011

Being humble is difficult because as soon as you believe that you are becoming more humble, you in essence are not humble anymore! Reminds me of the old Mac Davis song O Lord it is hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way.

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture Readings before the Sermon. The Scripture Readings for this day were: Joshua:3:7-17; ; Psalm 107:1-7,33-37; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 and Matthew 23:1-12. A Texas rancher met up with a Vermont dairy farmer. The two men began ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Anglican

A Little Humility -- For Heaven's Sake

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 30, 2011

Contrasting the Gospel to the cultural gospel of loving yourself.

My daughter was a little upset when I called her last week. She had gone to the traditional service at her church in Tennessee, instead of the contemporary service they usually attend. The senior pastor who is proficient in both Hebrew and Greek, and taught at the seminary level, preached on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Strapped To God (Teffilin/Phylacteries)

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 18, 2011

Jewish people wore/wear the tefillin (or phylacteries) to remind them of their relationship to God. There are lessons from the tefillin for Christians as well.

1. Mendel’s Tefillin As the Nazis forced Jews into the death camps in WWII, they stripped their captives of even their most meager possessions. The Tefillin were rare ans precious commodities in the camps. Mendel’s Tefillin were confiscated as soon as he arrived at Auschwitz. Even in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Lose Friends And Inflame Enemies Series

Contributed by Chris Kelly on Jul 31, 2010

Ever wonder what it would be like to meet Jesus in person? The Pharasees did and it was an uncomfortable experience to say the least!

How to Lose Friends and Inflame Enemies Series: One on One With the Master February 28, 2010 Let me ask you a question. What do you think is the greatest threat to the church today? Persecution? Atheism? Materialism? No… Hypocrisy! Hypocrisy has done more to turn people away from God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-36

Denomination: Wesleyan

Johanan The Rabbi Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Aug 18, 2010

A narrative monolouge reply from a Rabbi who was present at the Temple to hear the words of Jesus spoken in Matthew 23. To highlight why Jesus had an issue with the Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, that he was concerned for their legalism.

Matthew 23, 22/08/2010 Jesus was to address the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law at the Temple. This occurred during the week preceding the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus mentions seven woes, The Pharisees were a legalistic and separatistic group who strictly, but often hypocritically, kept the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-39

Denomination: Salvation Army

Christians Are Such Hypocrites! Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 18, 2010

This message looks at the overall theme of Matthew 23: hypocrisy.

CHRISTIANS ARE SUCH HYPOCRITES: Hypocrisy is not practicing what you preach. - Matthew 23:3. - This is major accusation from Jesus. Here is Matthew 23, it shows up in vv. 3, 13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29. - There is a lot of truth to the accusation for the way we behave as the church today. We need ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

How To Be Exalted By God Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 18, 2010

This message looks at the need for humility and how God works through it.

OUR OWN BOOTSTRAPS: How often do we bring our plans to God as an afterthought? - Too often in church life and in our individual lives, we come up with our plans and then we bring them to God. - “Is this alright with You?” - “Please bless this.” - “God, make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Moving Past Religion That Weighs You Down Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 18, 2010

This message looks at the burdensome approach to religion that the Pharisees had and what Jesus offers instead.

PHARISEE RELIGION: “Got-to’s” and guilt lead to a heavy burden. - Matthew 23:4. - Cf. v. 3 – The Pharisees don’t practice what they preach, so they’re putting out a standard, but the “unwashed masses” don’t know how to avoid the guilt. In the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:4

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem With Religion That Looks Good Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 18, 2010

This message looks at the problems that come with living your life to impress others.

A LIFE GOAL: Live your life so that people will say good things at your funeral. - The Pharisees were doing things for an audience of people. - Key phrase is v. 5a – “done for men to see” - Three examples: a. Phylacteries and tassels. - These were things talked about in OT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

Leadership-Servant

Contributed by Tony Abram on May 28, 2006

GOD HAS CALLED ALL OF HIS PEOPLE IN SOME TYPE OF LEADERSHIP. OUR LIVES AWAYS CAUSE AN EFFECT ON SOMEONE ELSE. Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be cler

LEADERSHIP AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP May 20, 2006 I. LACK OF LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH AND IN ALL AREAS OF THE WORLD. A. What is a leader? 1. Has followers. 2. Power. 3. Charisma B. Titles and position does not make a leader. C. A leader touches everyone by his or her actions. D. We are influenced ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:11-12

Moving To The Head Of The Line Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 14, 2010

Jesus hated pride and used the Pharisees to highlight the evils of that sin. But why would God hate pride, and how would I know if I suffer from it?

Last Sunday we introduced the “Upside Down Teachings of Jesus”. The teaching of Jesus that just don’t make sense to most people. Today’s sermon will continue that theme by focusing on Jesus’ teaching: “the Last shall be First, and the First shall be Last”. OPEN: When my dad first married my mom, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Reflection On Servant-Leadership Series

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Nov 27, 2014

Jesus said “The greatest among you must be a servant.”(Matthew 23:11)

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted..”(Matthew 23:11-12) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden speech on the eve of India’s 68th Independence Day on 15th August 2014, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Heart That Is Powerful Series

Contributed by Andy Payne on Jan 18, 2011

Adapted from Tim Hawkings book and study Awesome on the inside.

Awesome on the Inside #1 A Heart that is Powerful Intro: Image is everything It is not hard to understand the message that the media tries to present as the “ideal” teenager or person or family. TV, movies, magazines, internet advertising and radio all tell us how our lives should ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Unmasking The Hypocrite Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 16, 2008

Jesus did something no one else had done...He stood up to the religious bullies that were leading people astray. There’s much we can learn about hypocrisy here. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint.

Unmasking the Hypocrite Matthew 23:1-39 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/UnmaskingHypocrite.html This is Jesus’ last public message before He dies on the cross. It is stunning...a scathing denunciation of false religion and hypocrisy. Let’s set the scene: Jesus is speaking to 3 groups of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-39

Denomination: Baptist