Sermons on Matthew 23:1-17:

Pharisee Or Holiness?

Contributed by Craig Benner on Oct 22, 2014

There are many who would argue that a Pharisee and one who believes in holiness are one in the same. I beg to differ. True holiness affects the external and the internal. It affects the acts and the attitude.

Are you a Pharisee or are you Holiness? Let us see if there is a difference and determine to understand why some people have trouble differentiating between the two. Pharisee = a person in the role of religious service who believes that his or her title and/or office automatically make him or her ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-33

Denomination: Pentecostal

"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

Idol Worship Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Aug 12, 2014

Idols we worship. Part 3 of 3.

Idols - part 3 Matthew 23:1-28 July 20, 2014 Well, today, we are going to end our 3 week look at the idols we have in our lives. Of course you don’t need to be reminder what today is. It’s Selfie Sunday! You need to know what I look like, just on the happenstance that you forgot! ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

A Critique Of Pharisaic Hypocrisy

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 20, 2014

To say and to do not, versus the grace of humility.

A CRITIQUE OF PHARISAIC HYPOCRISY. Matthew 23:1-12. Turning away from the Pharisees, Jesus addressed both the crowds and His own disciples (Matthew 23:1). From the outset, Jesus acknowledged the legitimacy of the Pharisees as a party within Judaism: they “sit in Moses’ seat” (Matthew 23:2). ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Respond To Humbling Circumstances

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 26, 2017

At times God brings a Christian through humbling experiences. Why would He do that? How are we to respond when that happens? What are the benefits of responding in the right way?

1 Peter 5:6 04.26.15 A paradox is a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet perhaps true.i Jesus stated a paradox in Matt 23:12 when He said, “…whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”ii The world does not believe ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6, Matthew 23:12, Philippians 2:5-8, Isaiah 9:8-13, James 4:10, Isaiah 57:15, Luke 14:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Symptoms Of Pride

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 26, 2017

Eight symptoms of pride are discussed.

Proverbs 18:12 5-10-15 For the last couple of weeks, we have been talking on the subject of humility. I feel the Lord would have me continue that theme today. Why all this talk about humility, because humility is the ticket to your future. There are some places in God that you can only enter if ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:12, Isaiah 57:15, Psalm 138:6, Matthew 23:6-7, Philippians 2:1-10, Proverbs 16:18-19, James 4:4-8, 1 Peter 5:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Witnessing To The Culture Of Death Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 7, 2020

We must work and pray, as St. Benedict told us to do. Work for the spread of the kingdom in our families and communities, and vote as a Christian must, for godly men and women who will resist the culture of death and legislate for life, peace, and goodness.

Tuesday of the 2nd Week in Lent 2020 For our first reading today, I have chosen to begin earlier in the first chapter of Isaiah than the Lectionary suggests, and to add the verses the Lectionary omits. The Lenten readings take a great deal of the very long prophecies of Isaiah, but they omit ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-20, Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Warning: Pride Will Destroy Your Life

Contributed by Eduardo Quintana on Mar 10, 2020

"Warning: pride will destroy your life". We live in a nation of NO FEAR. We’ve all seen the bumper stickers, we’ve all read the T-shirts. NO FEAR! It’s not just an American slogan. It’s an American state of mind.

"Warning: pride will destroy your life". We live in a nation of NO FEAR. We’ve all seen the bumper stickers, we’ve all read the T-shirts. NO FEAR! It’s not just an American slogan. It’s an American state of mind. I would have no problem with it being the slogan of or our military. I would ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 9:19-20, Matthew 23:12, Romans 1:30, 2 Timothy 3:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer For Saving Grace Series

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on Jan 17, 2020

Greetings in the Holy Name of Jesus Yahshuah, My brothers and sisters, the love of God is with us, for without His love, there is no us.

Prayer For Saving Grace by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (January 17, 2020) “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10, 1 John 4:7-10, Matthew 16:23, Matthew 23:1-38, Matthew 16:1-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Friends

Not To Be Called Rabbi, Father Or Teacher? How's That? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 25, 2020

Not only did the Son of Man come to serve, not to be served, He insisted that the ones who follow Him take that as the pattern of life.

Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Course 2020 St. Thomas Aquinas This Gospel from a late chapter in St. Matthew’s Gospel has caused a great deal of ink to be spilled, especially in the dialogue or dispute between Catholics and Protestants. Catholics call priests “Father,” and the pope the “Holy Father.” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:8-12

Denomination: Catholic

Please Use The Servant Entrance

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 23, 2020

We naturally want to be in control of our lives and focus on taking care of ourselves first. But Jesus set the example of being a servant.

If you were to ask me what my favorite TV show is right now, I think I would have to answer “West Wing.” I’m really enjoying the opportunity to see something of the inner workings of the white house and how policies come together. Today’s text, the story of the birth of Jesus, leaves me thinking ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, Philippians 2:7, Matthew 20:26, Matthew 23:11

Build-A-Bear Jesus

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on May 18, 2019

We were created in the image of God. Now many are trying to create God into an image that is comfortable for us.

Build-A-Bear Jesus Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30, Luke 19:10, Genesis 1:26-27, John 2:15, Matthew 23:16-36, Matthew 11:20-24, John 3:16, Matthew 25:41, Romans 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Judging The Scriptures Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Sep 23, 2019

You might be a “modern day Pharisee” if you judge the Scriptures rather than being judged by them

NOTE: This is a manuscript, and not a transcript of this message. The actual presentation of the message differed from the manuscript through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible, and even likely that there is material in this manuscript that was not included in the live ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

When I Think I'm Better Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Sep 23, 2019

You might be a “modern day Pharisee” if you think you’re better than other Christians

NOTE: This is a manuscript, and not a transcript of this message. The actual presentation of the message differed from the manuscript through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible, and even likely that there is material in this manuscript that was not included in the live ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:5-12

Denomination: Baptist

Clones Or Discsiples? Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Sep 23, 2019

You might be a “modern day Pharisee” if you are more interested in making clones of yourself than disciples of Jesus

NOTE: This is a manuscript, and not a transcript of this message. The actual presentation of the message differed from the manuscript through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible, and even likely that there is material in this manuscript that was not included in the live ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-15

Denomination: Baptist