Sermons on Matthew 23:1-28:

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

Unmasking The Pharisees

Contributed by Stephen Sheane on Jul 22, 2009

The teachers of the law looked like men who honoured God, but Jesus saw behind their masks.

UNMASKING THE BELIEVER A rather well-built young man saw an advertisement for a job at the zoo. When he went there, he was horrified to find that the only job they had open was for somebody to play the part of a gorilla. A lot of children were coming in the next few days, and the zoo, having no ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-7

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Call No Man Father! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jun 19, 2009

You must not be called ’Teacher,’ because you are all equal and have only one Teacher. And you must not call anyone here on earth ’Father,’ because you have only the one Father in heaven. Nor should you be called ’Leader,’ because your one and only leader

“Call no man ‘Father’” says Jesus. That’s part of our reading today from Matthew 23. Jesus says, “call no man ‘Father’”. What’s that doing here? And I don’t just mean what’s it doing here as this week’s reading. I mean, what’s it doing in the Bible? Since the (not so recent) publication of “The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:8-11

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jhhemtyd Part 3: Swearing (But Not Cussing!)

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Mar 30, 2009

Part 3 of a series regarding Jesus’ final words to the Pharisees

Jesus Hates Hypocrisy Even More Than You Do! Part 3 –Swearing (But Not Cussing!) Matthew 23:16-22 January 11, 2009 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT IS FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me/We: One of the most powerful phrases in the English language is “I swear.” When ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:16-22

Denomination: Wesleyan

Jhhemtyd Part 4: Majoring On The Minors

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Mar 30, 2009

Fourth in the series regarding Jesus’ words about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and religious leaders.

Jesus Hates Hypocrisy Even More Than You Do! Part 4 – Majoring on the Minors Matthew 23:23-24 January 18, 2009 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT IS FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me/We: How many in here today are detail-oriented? It’s okay, nothing to be ashamed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:23-24

Denomination: Wesleyan

Jhhemtyd Part 5: Outward Appearance Vs. Inward Reality

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Mar 30, 2009

Part five of this series on Jesus’ words to the religious leaders regarding their hypocrisy.

Jesus Hates Hypocrisy Even More Than You Do! Part 5 – Outward Appearance vs. Inward Reality Matthew 23:25-28 January 25, 2009 Me/We: I’m wondering something: in all our weeks of looking at the issue of hypocrisy as Jesus talks about it, has anyone gotten the idea that being a hypocrite is a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28

Denomination: Wesleyan

Changing Our Focus Series

Contributed by Carl Greene on Feb 6, 2008

People with humility don’t deny their power; they just recognize that it passes through them, not from them.

We have begun our journey into an understanding of what it means to be disciple of Christ. We’ve talked about the issue that sometimes we tend make becoming a disciple too hard, and too often when we here the word disciple, we tend to cringe and hide. It’s not that we don’t want to serve God, we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:12

Denomination: Methodist

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

A Reality Check

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Aug 28, 2007

Examining what it means to live a "real" and authentic Christian life

The text reveals four characteristics that describe a "real" Christian - a believer who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk. By asking four questions we can give ourselves a realtiy check. 1. Are you HONEST? (v. 3) We must be honest in the way we live our lives. Message paraphrase: "But ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

#2forget Not: The Power Of One.

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 31, 2007

With compassion one person can make a big difference. Submit to servant-hood and build a hedge and stand in the gap. The King needs what you have.

#2 FORGET NOT: THE POWER OF ONE! ONE WITH COMPASSION MAKES A DIFFERENCE. By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is part two of a two part lesson. I do this part in two parts. Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. I start this sermon with a metal ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

You "Are" The Salt You "Are" The Light (Short Homily)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 12, 2015

You "Are" The Salt You "Are" The Light! It does not state you could be the Salt or the light. It does not say you should be the salt and the light. It says you "are". It is a promise!

Our reading from Matthew .....is near the beginning .....of Jesus' most famous..... sermon,...... "The Sermon on the Mount." In our text, .....Jesus called his followers then...as well as us this day.....to the highest standards .....of conduct. (Pause) He challenged us .....to "turn the other ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28, Matthew 5:13-20

Denomination: Anglican

Writing Off The Future

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 15, 2014

Teaching Christian values without bringing our children to faith in the Risen Son of God, condemns them to eternal death. The Pharisees stand as a beacon warning Christians not to succumb to the lure of presenting Christian values.

“Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-15

Denomination: Baptist