Intro: Jesus is about to expose the truth about false religion. Prior to this in this chapter there was a very shocking accusation against Christ. Accusing Christ of casting out demons by Beelzebub the ruler of demons (Satan). What Jesus did was the clearest sign that His miracles were of God. He warns them that if they don’t receive the gospel they will be cast into outer darkness. He points out how this evil generation does not hear His Word. It was a warning to those who think they have light but in reality are in darkness.
The Pharisees up until this point are collecting data to try and trap Jesus and discredit Him. (V53).
The worst sin today is offending someone’s faith or religion or that we need to accept all religions. False religions grow like an infectious disease. Some or others say you don’t need Christ as long you do good. Jesus did not remain silent about this here and warns false teachers of false religion. Beware of false religion. It’s not something to admire. Romans 1. False religion is not light it is darkness. The scribes and Pharisees are blind men with sinful hearts. They are very religious (outwardly) but inwardly are dead. False religion is all hypocrisy. Roman Catholicism, Islam, Progressive Christianity are all false.
Pharisees in the eyes of the people were seen as the most righteous and the most religious. Jesus is challenging here this mans religion.
John MacArthur says this about false religion “False religion goes] way beyond what the New Testament teaches, adding almost endless rituals, routines, ceremonies, regulations, because there’s nothing on the inside but you can create a bigger illusion that way.”
Jesus goes in and sits right down at their table. They marveled that He did not first washed before dinner”
1- False Religion focuses in the external and forgets the internal:
It wasn’t about hygiene for them it was about ritual. He was avoiding a cleansing ceremony. The word used here is baptizō. There was no commandment for this in the old testament. Jesus intentionally avoids this because they were adding their tradition to scripture. They were teaching that their tradition was the way to God, how we are righteous before God. In Matthew 15 the Pharisees question Jesus about their tradition.
Matthew 15:2 (NKJV) “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
Jesus answers them why do you overrule Gods command for the sake of their tradition? They are focused on the external but not the internal. He gives an illustration of this (V39).
2 – False Religion is from an evil inside:
He is saying they are thieves and wicked on the inside. Their motives for the false religion is greed, selfishness, personal profit. Mark 7:9 –
“He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Mark 7:9 NKJV
They steal by violent force. The greek word: harpagē – the act of plundering, robbery – plunder spoil. Jesus addresses the heart problem. The only way to be saved is through repentance and faith in Him.
3 – False religion is completely irrational v40
Jesus calls them fools. He is telling them they aren’t thinking correctly focusing on the outside and not the inside. Did not He who made the outside but also the inside? They claim God is Holy but doesn’t He also care about the heart? Do we not think that God can see? Foolishness. He cares about total holiness which begins in the heart. This is a warning to us that false religion ignores the heart and gets so caught up in the superficial and the external. “Give alms of things within” – then all things are clean. – He is saying give from heart. Examine your motives. Examine yourself and check your motives. Jesus says in Matthew 6
“”Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” Matthew 6:1-2 NKJV
4 – False religion elevates what is secondary over what is first V42
Jesus says woe to them if they remain this way. Matthew 23. They focus on minor things but overlook the most important matters in Gods Word. We see people that get caught up in small things but do not focus on loving God and neighbor. Mat 23:23
“”Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Matthew 23:23 NKJV
5 – False religion desires men’s approval above God v43
People here were honoring them and they loved it. They loved the titles and the greetings. They loved authority and their status. They were proud. But without Christ we are nothing. False religion elevates man. One God and one Father and He is in heaven. They are seeking to bring God down and raise themselves up. Jn 5:44
6 – False religion and their subtle defiling v44
At this time touching a dead or a grave was avoided. That’s why He called them white washed the tombs. Jesus says you are like these tombs. People who follow them become defiled like the pharisees are defiled. He calls them sons of hell (mat 23) they make their followers twice the sons of hell.
Repent and believe! Follow Jesus Christ and you will be clean! He will bring you from the darkness to light.
“How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” John 5:44 NKJV
Romans 1:22-23 (NKJV) 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Luke 11:53 (NKJV) And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail [Him] vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things,
Luke 11:37-44 (NKJV) 37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 When the Pharisee saw [it,] he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. 39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. 40 “Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 “But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. 42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 43 “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 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.]”