Hypocritical religion 6.6.10
1) This morning we want to look at four distinct passages: Mt. 23; Mk. 12; Lk. 11 and Lk. 20.
a) Our texts will be studied in the order that they were given, so Mt. 23 is first.
b) If you have opened your Bible to this chapter, let’s start with verse 3 – READ
2) Jesus knew of people who said some good things but these pe0ple did not do what they said.
3) A “say but not do faith” approach to life and religion still exists.
4) One might wonder why people would profess to be religious if this is not really true.
5) Jesus answered this question in verse 5 – READ
6) There are people in life who want to “put on a show” for others – lots of people are pretenders.
7) Jesus has something to say to every religious phony – verses 14a-15a – READ
8) If a person is not truly sincere in his faith, God knows and God is not pleased.
9) Let’s look at verse 16 – READ
a) Verse 23 – READ
b) Giving is good, but giving will not make someone a righteous person.
c) If people “leave undone” God’s other commandments, they will not be saved.
10) God never intended the Christian faith to be show.
11) When people are not sincere they are like Jesus’ illustration in verse 25 – READ
12) People who are sincere in their faith are like a cup that is clean outside and inside, verse 26.
OUR SECOND REFERENCE IS MARK 12 AND WE ARE NOW READY FOR THIS TEXT.
a) Jesus said these men wanted “long robes” and wanted “greetings in the marketplaces” (verse 38).
It is like a part of your body, which is prescription viagra prices the main reason to decrease the chances of conception. generico levitra on line http://seanamic.com/cheers-glasgow-douglas-morrison/ Nitrates are Vasodilators, which means they open up which leads to the increase in the blood supply. One such disorder is said to be erectile dysfunction. cheap cialis However astigmatism online purchase viagra is one which losses the site or one cannot focus on both near or far objects. b) These men sought the “chief seats in the synagogues” and the “chief places at feasts” (verse 39).
2) When a person has a “me first” attitude, something is seriously wrong.
3) For these people, religion was not about serving God and others; religion meant “pay attention to me.”
4) Mk. 12 pictures for us people who were self-absorbed.
5) There is another woman in this chapter who was not focused on herself.
a) Look at verse 42 – READ
6) Our faith today should not be designed to impress anyone.
7) Our faith should be a sincere act of devotion to deity that focuses on God instead of ourselves.
8) Are we focused on ourselves, or others and God?
OUR THIRD PASSAGE FOR CONSIDERATION COMES FROM THE 11TH CHAPTER OF LUKE.
a) Jesus had gone to the home of a Pharisee for a meal (Lk. 7:37).
b) Lk. 7:40 – READ
2) When people are not sincere in their faith, God says they are “foolish.”
3) Notice especially the last part of verse 52 – READ
a) People who are not sincere will not “enter” into the kingdom of God.
4) It is a very serious matter when we by a bad example keep someone else from going to heaven.
a) We need to pause and consider the lives we are living.
b) Are we doing anything that “hinders” the faith of someone else?
5) Jesus gives a reason for this in our next text, Lk. 20..
6) Jesus said some make a “pretence” of their faith (it is all a show), verse 47.
7) Notice what is said at the end of verse 47 – READ
8) Jesus said the pretenders will receive “greater condemnation.”
