Matthew 23:27-39

Ø The hypocrisy of their profession, 23:27-28.

The issue here is profession as it was in Sardis, the church that had a reputation of being alive but were in fact dead (Rev. 3:1).  Tombs were customarily splashed with a lime-paint annually so they would stand out lest a Jew touch them and become unclean.  The whitewash made them temporarily attractive but, of course, they werre the abode of bones and rotted flesh.  The hypocrite is wickedly ugly inside, even if he appears temporarily or occasionally holy inside.

Ø The hypocrisy of their pronouncements, 23:29-36.

These religious zealots maintained the tombs of the prophets.  For example, Herod, in response to the leader’s request, had built a new monument over David’s tomb.  They used this occasion to announce their loyalty to the prophets.  But what was the reality?  They were ready to kill Jesus indicating they were consistent, not with the great prophets, but with those who had persecuted the great prophets.  Even at this moment they were engaged in plotting to kill Christ.  

This gets strong words again: Serpents, brood of vipers!  They are like Satan, their true father; thus they will get what Satan gets: the condemnation of hell.  They killed the messengers God had sent to them (Mt. 21:33-40).  Thus they would receive the judgment of those before them who had killed the prophets from Abel (Gen. 4, Cain killed him) to Zechariah (2 Chron. 24:20-22), the first and last martyrs in the Old Testament record.  [Note: Zechariah, the son of Berechaiah: in the OT record Zechariah the martyr has a different father.  It is unlikely there is a manuscript problem here since all texts agree with the reading.  It may simply be that Jesus knows something not recorded in the OT.]

Matt. 23:36 is an important transition.  Jesus says because of the hypocrites judgment will come upon this generation.  The problem with shepherds that are hypocritical is that they lead others astray.  You may remember this from David, in his great prayer of confession (Psalm 51).  He confessed his sin, and was concerned that what he did as king would impact the nation (51:13-15,18).

The judgment that will come came in AD70 when the Romans destroyed the city and banished Israel from the land.  Jesus would have protected them if they had trusted in Him, receiving Him as the Christ.  But instead they will not see Him, their Messiah, until He comes again, when all Israel will acknowledge Him with the words that many said at His triumphal entry (Mt. 21:9).  In that day the praise will be sincere, not the hypocrisy of Israel at His first coming.

For application to leaders in the body of Christ I commend to you Paul’s statement in 2 Cor. 4:2: But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.  Oh for such sincere, pure religion today!