Sermons on Matthew 23:23-36:

Best Practices Series

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 17, 2022

Working through the Gospel of Luke using consecutive expository preaching. Teaching sheet included at end of text.

"Best Practices" Luke 11:37-54 A sermon for 7/24/22 – Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Pastor John Bright Luke 11 “44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.” 45 Then one of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-54, Matthew 23:24, Philippians 2:5-8

Denomination: Methodist

I'm Glad I'm Not. . .

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Oct 27, 2022

do we pray like a Pharisee to impress God or like the tax collector to be impressed by God

God, I thank you that I am not like those conservative Episcopalians who walked away refusing to acknowledge gospel hospitality, love, and inclusiveness. God, I thank you that I am not like the agenda-driven liberal Episcopalians who neither understand nor respect the holy scriptures. God, I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Proverbs 16:18, Matthew 23:27, Isaiah 2:11

Denomination: Episcopal

Getting To The Heart

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Nov 13, 2022

Religion is about keeping and maintaining laws and traditions, but Jesus nullifies these rules and regulations in favor of a relationship, and within that relationship all the laws of God are contained and worked out. It is through this relationship that we can get to the heart of God.

Getting To The Heart Watch on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o5NlL02LPU There is a popular phrase that is used when we want to get to the bottom of something, or of our need to get to the most important aspect of something. We say that we need to get to the heart of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:23, Matthew 22:37-39

Denomination: Foursquare

Rapture Ready--Living With Authentic Faith Matthew 23 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Sep 14, 2025

To be rapture ready, we must move from empty religion to authentic relationship with CHRIST. JESUS condemns hypocrisy and calls us to authentic faith expressed in humility, obedience, and servant leadership. Outward show can’t replace inward surrender. Be watchful. Be faithful. Be ready.

2025.09.14 Sermon. RAPTURE READY_LIVING WITH AUTHENTIC FAITH_WOE TO HYPOCRISY, YES TO HUMILITY Matthew 23 William Akehurst, HSWC Scripture Readings Matthew 23:1-39, 2 Timothy 3:5, James 1:22, Philippians 2:3, Luke 12:1, John 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:5, Micah 6:8, Matthew 15:8, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-39, 2 Timothy 3:5, James 1:22, Philippians 2:3, Luke 12:1, John 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:5, Micah 6:8, Matthew 15:8, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 3:1-3, 2 Peter 3:9, John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 23:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Matthew 23:39  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon On The Amount

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 15, 2025

Tithing and Sabbath-keeping are not payments for God’s favor but grace-filled acts of worship—joyful, concrete responses to the God who first loved, first gave, and continues to work in us.

(God’s call on our time and tithe) Introduction – The Heart Before the Numbers You’ve heard of the Sermon on the Mount. This morning, I want to talk about the Sermon on the Amount. Now, don’t confuse that with a sermon based on the size of the offering. A pastor once faced a stifling summer ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 12:11-14, Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:8-10, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Acts 20:7, Matthew 23:23, Hebrews 7:8, John 3:16, Matthew 6:21, Philippians 2:13, Nehemiah 10:34-39, James 2:17, Luke 6:38, Ephesians 3:20-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Don't Be Fooled By Those Who Wear Holy Faces On Sunday But Harbor Poison In Their Hearts.

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Oct 20, 2025

Not everyone who wears Sunday clothes is a saint; some carry Monday poison....

The Mask of Deception In the realm of the righteous, where the Sunday best is donned with pride, beware the whispers of the wolf in sheep's clothing. For they come bearing gifts of deceit, their outward appearance a contrast to the venom that festers within. The Warning "Beware of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-35, Matthew 23:27

Holy Masks

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 3, 2025

True worship begins when performance ends; Jesus frees us from religion’s stage to live honestly before the Father who sees in secret.

If you’ve ever stood backstage before the curtain rises, you know that trembling hush—the buzz, the heartbeat, the thought: Will they like it? That’s performance. And you don’t need a theater to feel it. The biggest stage ever built fits in our pockets. Every post, every selfie, every opinion ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 23:27, John 4:23

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Religious Play-Acting

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 10, 2025

Jesus frees us from religion’s stage—calling us from performance to presence, from spotlight to sunlight, to live unmasked before the Father.

Religious Play-Acting The Sermon on the Mount opens with blessing and ends with a choice: sand or rock, appearance or obedience. Between those two poles, Matthew 6 sits like a quiet heart—Jesus’ exposition of motive. Here the Lord shifts from what disciples do to why they do it. He moves from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 23:27, John 4:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Dead Church

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Jan 21, 2023

Many churches all over the world are dead churches. Why? Because they have forsaken the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are still living on past victories and faded glory from long past. They are not living the daily life with Christ the Lord and as such, have now grown cold to the Gospel.

Please turn in your Bibles to Revelation Chapter 3, as today we are going to look at verses 1-6, Jesus’ warning to the church at Sardis. John MacArthur, in his exposition of these verses, used an illustration that has stuck with me. I would like to begin with it. He talked about the phenomenon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:27-28, Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

How To Avoid The Worst Woes In Life - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jan 28, 2023

1. Don’t keep people from God’s Kingdom. Help them go in! (vs. 13). 2. Don’t be greedy. Be generous! (vs. 14). 3. Don’t make people worse. Make them better! (vs. 15). 4. Don’t treasure gold. Treasure the things of God. (vs. 16-22). 5. Don’t be satisfied with less. Strive for God’s best. (vs. 23-24).

How to Avoid the Worst Woes in Life - Part 1 The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 23:13-24 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared January 28, 2023) MESSAGE: *In this chapter you will hear the strongest words of condemnation Jesus ever spoke during His ministry here on earth. Eight times Jesus called these ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-24

Denomination: Baptist

Hypocrisy Series

Contributed by Louis Mare on Jan 31, 2023

men's ministry on the topic of hypocrisy:

I. Introduction A. Definition of Hypocrisy B. Importance of avoiding hypocrisy in our lives as Christians C. Brief overview of the sermon II. The Bible's Perspective on Hypocrisy A. Matthew 23:27-28 - Jesus rebukes the religious leaders for their hypocrisy B. James 2:17-18 - The danger of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:27-28

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Avoid The Worst Woes In Life - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Feb 3, 2023

1. Don't just care how you look. Care how you live (vs. 25-28). 2. Don't compare yourself to other people. Compare yourself to God (vs. 29-32). 3. Don't be condemned. Become a child of God (vs. 33). 4. Don't reject God's Word. Receive it! (vs. 34-36).

How to Avoid the Worst Woes in Life - Part 2 The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 23:25-36 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared February 3, 2023) BACKGROUND: *In 1 John 4 the Bible tells us twice that "God is love." And thank God that's true! Our God is full of love, grace, and tender mercy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-36

Denomination: Baptist

The H Word

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 17, 2024

Jesus, I give you all within me that is lie and all that fights against the good in me. I surrender my hypocrisy to you and ask you to transform it in order that I would be more like you. May I show grace to others.

THE H WORD MATTHEW 23:27-28 #hypocrisy INTRODUCTION… The H Word Liar, imposter, charlatan, phoney, deceiver, faker, imposter, storyteller, fraud, dissembler, double-dealer, pretender, bluffer, fabricator, fibber, fabulist. We are going to talk about a word today that has all of those words as a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:27-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Inside Out Christianity

Contributed by Dwight Davis on May 17, 2024

So often, we Christians--like everyone else get caught up on the outward appearance of our physical bodies, our homes, our cars and our families. Even more dangerous than focusing on the "appearance" of these things, we quite often focus on the appearance of our Christianity.

Have you ever met someone for the first time, and you were immediately struck by how nice-looking that person was? But after spending some time with them, all of a sudden, they didn’t look that good anymore? Not that their makeup got smeared or their toupee blew off; but once you talked to them and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28, Matthew 15:8-20, Jeremiah 17:9, Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 51:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

God's Perspective On Sin Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jun 8, 2025

God's justice requires punishment for sin...

God's Holiness: The Bible emphasizes God's holiness, which demands justice and righteousness (Leviticus 11:44-45, Isaiah 6:1-5). Consequences of Sin: Sin has consequences, as seen in Romans 6:23, which states that the wages of sin is death. God's Justice: God's justice requires ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10, Matthew 23:1-36