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A Doomed System and True Worship Compared
Matthew 23:1-39,
In Pride and Prejudice, George Wickham was son of a rich man’s servant - but treated like a son by the rich man. He was educated in the best schools and given an inheritance of £4,000. That’s half a million dollars today. But he squandered it away. Then he tried to elope with the rich man’s daughter, to get her dowry of £30,000 or $4 million today. What do you do with such a wasteful and manipulative steward? How about an unproductive partnership? What does a business owner do, if he’s paid a vendor who consistently fails to deliver? Or when it comes to friendships, you’ve invested much into a person, but they always betray you. What do you do when it comes to toxic relationships, unfruitful arrangements, and ungrateful beneficiaries? You cut them off. But isn’t it more Christian to give second chances? Absolutely. God is a God of second chances - in fact, many and countless chances. But God’s also a God who cuts the persistent sinner off. We see this in our text. We examine these texts in 4 points. Firstly, the hypocrisy God’s people demonstrate despite their great privilege. Secondly, the judgment pronounced on apostates. Thirdly, Christ’s grief over a doomed system. Fourthly, the demonstration of faithfulness in a doomed system.
Firstly, the hypocrisy God’s people demonstrate despite their great privilege. In this last week of his humiliation, Christ exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. They’d been in power far too long, hurting and misleading people from a true worship to a false one. When he entered the temple on the first day, he came as a king. The next day, he cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple of its corruption. Then on Tuesday, he debated the leaders, side-stepped their traps, and confounded and angered them. He’d gone on the offensive. But he wasn’t done. Here, after speaking to the Herodians, Sadducees, and Pharisees, he spoke to the multitudes and his disciples; verse 1 - “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples.” He was still at the temple despite waves of conspirators. Why? He wasn’t done. Now, with them still around and within earshot, he warned the crowds.
What did he say? In verses 2-10, he revealed the leaders’ privilege and hypocrisy. Christ charged them with 3 kinds of hypocrisies. Firstly, the hypocrisy of teaching and not doing. The scribes and Pharisees were very privileged. They sat in Moses’ seat. In those days, teachers sat to teach, like Christ. They taught from the synagogue’s pulpit - the seat of Moses. Like the endowed chair at the university. So that was their privilege. They taught the word and applied it. But concerning their teaching, Christ said in verse 3 - “whatever they teach - insofar as it was correct - you must do - but don’t follow what they do.” Why? “for they say, and do not.” Their right teaching was good, but not their hypocrisy. So they were privileged - having been appointed to lead God’s people in the gospel, but they were hypocritical.
Secondly, they were interested in governing, but not in the people. Verse 4 - they coerced the people to obey difficult requirements but didn’t help them to do it. Like Pharaoh - who required slaves to make more brick, but refused to give the straw necessary. Like unjust parents who make lots of demands, but never give their children time, space, or encouragement to do them. And Christ was very descriptive. The requirements were heavy and excessive, like cargo given to beasts of burden to pull from their shoulders. Good cargo masters wouldn’t give too much, otherwise they can’t pull; but if they did, they’d exert their own strength to push the cart from behind. But these Pharisees wouldn’t even lift a finger. But why did they do this?
Thirdly, their hypocrisy consisted of being seen and honored. Verse 5 says their works were done to be seen. What works? They did things to draw attention to themselves. That’s why they were so austere. Some people admire the hard stance of extreme austerity. And how they showed it was by their outward appearance. In other parts, Jesus mocked their pained looks during fasting; but here, their weird religious vestments. They wore phylacteries, small boxes containing the scriptures that they strapped to their heads and arms. Yes, Deuteronomy 6 instructed Israel to bind God’s laws to their heads and hands - meaning to know and do God’s laws. But they took it literally. So they made and wore such boxes. The larger the box, the greater the appearance of piety. Additionally, Numbers 15 commanded Israel to wear tassels on the hems of their garments with a blue band. This distinguished them from Canaanites, like a distinct uniform. But the Pharisees took it a step further. It wasn’t enough to be distinct from pagans; they had to distinguish themselves from the less religious. So they broadened the hem and blue band, and lengthened the tassels. We see this even today. God had prohibited his people from shaving their heads to distinguish themselves from the Canaanites. But many didn’t only not shave, they kept long sideburns to distinguish them not from pagans but from the less religious commoners who wouldn’t go this extra mile. That’s why some even today say that if you really want to be spiritual, you wouldn’t wear blue jeans, or dye your hair, or have funky hair, you’d only wear collared shirts with slacks, but no flood pants so you don’t draw attention to your worldly shoes. But the Pharisees’ motive was just as worldly; to draw attention to their conservatism to gain honor. Verses 6-7 - they loved the best feast rooms, the choicest synagogue seats, and to be greeted in public with their titles - like the very Reverend doctor so and so or Father so and so. But if they were real teachers and leaders, they’d have known there was only one Father - God; only one leader/teacher - Christ. But despite their privilege as teachers, they didn’t know God or Christ. Israel was to have been a light to the nations - to obey God’s law. Instead, these leaders turned the law into a ladder for self-exaltation. So they had no right to their privileges.
That’s why secondly, Christ pronounced judgment on these apostates. The tone shifts from accusation to denunciation. He delivered seven woes - seven charges in seven lawsuits. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” We gather from this that he turned back from the multitude to face the religious leaders as he delivered the charges. What were they? Firstly, verse 13 - they didn’t preach the gospel, but obedience; thus preventing people from entering heaven. Secondly, verse 15 - they nurtured legalists. They made converts who were twice as much the children of hell, those who were hungrier in their pursuit of honor, with larger, broader, longer, bluer caricature like phylacteries and garment hems and tassels. Thirdly, verse 16 - Christ accused them of sophistry. They used word games and unsound reasoning, to circumvent God’s commandments and justify sin - like the Corban loophole. So they didn’t teach integrity, but justified lying. What did they teach? In making oaths, if you don’t intend to tell the truth, just swear on the temple - but just not on the gold that’s in the temple - otherwise you have to keep the promise; or you can swear on the altar, just not the offering on the altar; or you can swear on heaven, but not on God’s throne. And many Christians resort to such sophistry - like blue jeans are sinful in church because they’re worldly, but permissible on the farm. But Jesus’ point was this - when you swear on the temple, there’s gold inside; and the altar has continual offerings on it; and God’s throne is in heaven. And whether you wear blue jeans in church or on the farm, worldliness is still in your heart, and you continue to sin even if you don’t wear blue jeans. Fourthly, verse 23 - they neglected inner religion. They were so meticulous in giving that they’d even pluck 10% of the herbs that grew on their property to donate - but never focused on law, judgment, mercy, and faith. Proof - they never lifted their finger to help others, care for the sick who needed healing, nor ministered to the Gentiles. They were only interested in upholding Reformed orthodoxy. Fifthly, verse 25 - they were greedy inside, but thought themselves clean because they meticulously washed themselves - sprinkling themselves with hyssop water, dunking themselves at the mikveh, etc - but they didn’t focus on true spiritual heart cleansing. Sixthly, verse 27, they were spiritually dead. Looking good and respectable outside like a marble tomb, but with inwardly decaying corpses. And lastly, verse 29, they couldn’t even perceive their hypocrisy. They built monuments for prophets their ancestors killed. But they were about to do the same. Israel’s entire history was filled with leaders rejecting God’s messengers - from the first (Abel) to the last martyr (Zechariah). That’s why Christ pronounced these woes - charges in a covenantal lawsuit even as prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi had done before. But here, he spoke as the greater prophet. It was more than just moral failure - it was covenant apostasy. Why? Because what their ancestors started, they’d finish up, verse 32 - they’d kill Christ. They were about to commit the final sin of Israel. And judgment would come on them - “Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.” But remember, the greatest woe was implicitly pronounced on one of the disciples. Judas. He sat among the disciples. Outwardly he was religious - sell this and give to the poor; but inwardly he was filled with greed. He was interested in respectability. He’d seen Jesus’ miracles and heard his teachings - but ultimately didn’t believe. This is why after the leaders failed to trick the Lord here, and later outside the temple, hearing Jesus’ prediction of destruction in the Olivet discourse, Judas offered them the inside betrayal.
Now, to be clear, these woes weren’t pronounced on all Jews - but a judgment on that generation of leaders. They had every advantage but chose to free Barabbas instead. This is why the whole old system was doomed to termination. Why? Because the administration itself was rotten. Liberal, legalistic, and only loyal to self. But this too can be the church if we’re not careful. We can have a form of godliness, but deny the power. A person can be accurate and articulate in doctrine, but not in character. We can labor to build a beautiful building, done cheaply, but with great rivalry. We can maintain pristine liturgies, but not be worshiping God. You see, the same warning given to the apostates is also given us - don’t mistake your heritage for your heart. Christ isn’t interested in your stained glass if your soul is a graveyard. So the 7 woes given are not so far fetched as woes to us. Remember, Christ gave 7 threatening words to the 7 churches of Revelation.
And for what was soon to come upon this doomed system, we see Christ’s grief. That’s the third point. And that’s astonishing. Despite the seven woes and pronouncement of judgment, the Lord didn’t gloat. He wept. He wept for what was about to happen to the entire city because of these terrible leaders. Verse 37 - “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Why did he lament? Because the judgment would be terrible. Verse 38 - “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” The judgment would complete - it would come in AD 70 and Jesus would describe that judgment after they left the temple for the Mount of Olives that same day. And the destruction coming on the hypocrites was well-deserved. God would do it in his justice. But even so, the Bible calls it God’s strange work. Isaiah 28:21 - “For the LORD shall rise up (as in mount Perazim), he shall be wroth (as in the valley of Gibeon), that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.” So here in Christ, we see the heart of God. His delight was in gathering, protecting, and sheltering. Our Lord delights in showing mercy. That’s why he came - to preach the gospel - to save the children of Israel; to gather them and shield them from danger. But in spite of all this mercy, they were unwilling to receive him. Note the terrible word - you would not, you were not willing. It wasn’t that they were unable. It’s not that God decreed their destruction without offering mercy. Christ demonstrated and preached the gospel. He was offering them a righteousness that far exceeded the righteousness of the Pharisees. He would’ve gathered Jerusalem to himself as the true mercy seat, but they refused. These Pharisees would not, because they’d lose their privilege. They refused to be humbled. But that was the very cause of their downfall. Notice how the Lord said - “your house is left unto you desolate.” It wasn’t “my father’s house.” But your house. The temple was about to be the ex-temple. God’s glory would depart soon. And that’s why no one would see him until they admitted he’s Messiah - “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. But for that generation, the door was closing. The Lord Jesus modeled grief over the coming destruction. Christ judged but with tears. He preached judgment - but not as a Pharisee.
But in the midst of this pronouncement of judgment on a doomed system, there was a demonstration of faithfulness. That’s the fourth point. As they were about to leave the temple for the day, something caught Jesus’ eye. In the midst of that self-serving, honor-chasing fake religion, he saw selflessness and love for God. In Luke 21, the rich put their gifts into the treasury. Their 10% was a princely sum. And they were always proud of their giving. In Matthew 6 they often gave with trumpet blast - not literally a trumpet announcing their giving - but figuratively to indicate their giving was done with great show. Why parade their giving? To draw attention to receive honor. But if they were really that rich, they should’ve been able to give more. This was their corrupt and doomed system.
But as they were doing it, there was a demonstration of true worship and faithfulness. A poor widow put in two small copper coins - called a lepton - literally meaning “thin”. The coins were virtually worthless in the grand scheme of things. 20 lepta could buy you a loaf of bread, 2 lepta could buy you perhaps 2 grapes - not 2 bunches, but 2 grapes. But the Lord Jesus saw her giving. He said, truly, this poor widow has put in more than all of them - for they all gave out of their abundance a pittance, but she gave all she had to live on. So in the context of Jesus’ words, this was astonishing. He’d just pronounced the Temple desolate. How the whole system was doomed because of unbelief. And yet he commended a widow who gave her last two coins to that very Temple. Why? Was He endorsing the system? No. He was highlighting the heart.
She didn’t know the temple would fall in forty years; nor that the true temple standing before her was to be torn down and raised in 3 days. But she knew this - God was worthy. And she gave her all. This was the remnant; the true Israel. While the leaders were devouring widows’ houses, this widow gave her house - her entire living to God. Her sacrifice was a reflection of what Christ would do. It pointed to him, who on this very week, in the midst of all who wanted honor, would give himself to honor God. He wouldn’t give 2 coins, but his own blood - all he had to live on, out of his earthly poverty to make many rich. So what are some lessons and applications to draw from this text for our church?
Certainly there’s something to be said about our hypocrisy, even as Reformed believers. Sometimes, we place so much emphasis on right doctrine, and we argue so much on it that we behave like thugs more than saints. Right doctrine becomes our means of cleansing, our mark of orthodoxy and righteousness. But doctrine must fuel right character. And sometimes right doctrine becomes a mark of honor - we’re not studying it to be right with God, we’re studying it to be right before others. We’re studying it to have mental stimulation, not a humble heart. Big difference. The one who knows much must serve much.
Furthermore, in the midst of uncertainty around us, there’s no doubt some of us feel like we’re living in a doomed system. Where’s the church heading? Can we manage in times of change upcoming? Maybe some of us are waiting for a golden age - if only the church would do certain things better, then the church would be better. Beloved, we live in an imperfect system. But the Lord Jesus is the head of the church. So continue to give your two mites, serve those who are overlooked - because you see them, teach in that Bible study group of 3 - because they’re precious, visit those who are needy when others are unable or unwilling, press on in the ministry that the Lord has called you to. Why? Because you love the Lord Jesus Christ, and that’s what he’s called you to do. How genuine is your heart for the Kingdom?
1. The Hypocrisy of God’s People Despite Their Great Privilege
2. The Judgment Pronounced on Apostates
3. Christ’s Grief Over a Doomed System
4. The Demonstration of Faithfulness in a Doomed System
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2026, Rev. Mark Chen
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