Read the whole chapter of Matthew 23:1-39. The scribes and Pharisees epitomize the ceremonial sword.
1. (v.2). They loved to sit in Moses’ seat, but they were nothing like Moses. Numbers 12:3 says: “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Moses was intrinsically meek, but they were inherently proud.
2. (v.3). They talked with their mouths but did not carry it out in their actions.
3. (v.4). “They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Jesus Christ, on the other hand, lifted burdens from the brokenhearted. He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4 and 60:1-3).
4. (v.5). They did everything for men to see. They loved the praises of men. Jesus was “meek and lowly of heart” (Matthew 11:28-30).
5. (v.5). They broadened their phylacteries (small cases for carrying Scriptures), but they did not show it in their lives. It could be said of them: “The bigger the Bible, the bigger the hypocrite.”
6. (v. 5). They lengthened the tassels of their garments. They were prideful and religious show-offs.
7. (v.6). They loved the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues. I am sure that when Jesus went to the synagogue that he didn’t sit in the chief seat. A thousand times no. He would have sat amongst the people.
8. (v.8). They loved religious titles and to be called Rabbi or Master.
9. (v.14). For a pretense they prayed long prayers.
10. (v. 27). These ceremonial swords are described as “whited sepulchers,” looking beautiful outwardly, but within were “full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness . . . full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell