Matthew 23:13-24

Woe to you scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites Matthew 23:13-24: Woes were pronounced because the Pharisees would not enter the kingdom themselves and hindered those that would enter. (Matthew 23:13) They did this by perverting what the prophets had foretold about the Messiah, and then teaching their perversions to people. Imagine a religion that would allow you to make long prayers and at the same time steal houses from widows. (Matthew 23:14) They would steal the widows house in the self-righteous pretense that it was for God.

The Pharisees would go around the world to make a proselyte and when he was made he was worse than they. (Matthew 23:15) They go out for converts and bring them under their own evil doctrines and practices of thievery. Just look around you in our modern day religious orders, the rip-off artist demand a high price in this day and use much of the contributions on themselves. Their schemes hammer on your emotions while they steel you blind. These people quote the scripture, however they never teach the scripture and are never touched by the scriptures.

The Pharisees even found ways to break their promises to God. "Whoever shall swear by the temple it is nothing" (Matthew 23:16-22)...etc. God is greater than anything. Therefore, those that serve Him are faithful to their word. The Pharisees got little things correct but fail in matters of mercy, faith and judgment. Jesus said that they were good about doing things that the law had not even expressly commanded, but when it came to doing the greater things they had omitted them! (Matthew 23:23-24)