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Why does Jesus admonish the scribes and Pharisees in Matt. 23:29?

Desert Snake

Veteran Member
Because they laid a heavy burden making it impossible for the average person to comply.



Jesus makes it quite clear;
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,
2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.



The Pharisees followed the oral tradition of the Torah, as did Jesus.
And of course you ignore the other verses. So, your idea is obscure.
 

Shad

Veteran Member
Matthew 23:29 King James Version (KJV)

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,

Is it wrong to honor the dead?

They were making money from it like tourism.
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
Matthew 23:29 King James Version (KJV)

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,

Is it wrong to honor the dead?
No, His point was that they admit that their forefathers killed the prophets(in the next verse) and then He explains they are just like their fathers and going to kill the people He sends to them.

Basically, He's not condemning them for building tombs but because they are a "generation of vipers" descendants from vipers.
 
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Thief

Rogue Theologian
To keep it in context it is necessary to realize that Jesus was condemning their hypocracy, not their teaching.
ok....a fine line.....but it's there

so....a teacher can tell the truth?....even if he cannot perform it
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
He wasn't saying that. He was pointing out that the religious leaders of His day
(no different to those today also) gave honor to the prophets. But they were
of the same mindset as those who killed those very prophets.
"If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with
them in shedding the blood of the prophets."
Well, these same men, who built the prophets tombs, killed Jesus, John and
many of the Apostles.

Excellent answer and exactly what I believe and latter Prohets have said (Baha’u’llah) that religious leaders of all ages have been the very first to persecute the Prophets of God yet claim allegiance to them. Rightfully termed hypocrites by Jesus.
 

Jonathan Bailey

Well-Known Member
To me the focus should be on the word "hypocrites" who do outward deeds while their hearts are full of fraud.
They honor the good and holy when dead but did they do so when they were alive?

It's like murdering somebody with a baseball bat then burying them in a solid gold coffin. I think I'm starting to get it now.
 

pearl

Well-Known Member
Are you saying they didn't read from the Torah?

No. But because they believed there to be an oral tradition that went back to Moses it could be interpreted as opposed to the Sadducees that there was only the written and no further interpretation.
 

Desert Snake

Veteran Member
No. But because they believed there to be an oral tradition that went back to Moses it could be interpreted as opposed to the Sadducees that there was only the written and no further interpretation.
Matthew 15:9

And since the law is fulfilled, via the sacrifice of Yahweh, and Jesus has all the power of heaven and earth, what are you saying?

Are you saying the law isn't fulfilled?

Are you saying that Jesus doesn't have all power of heaven and earth?

Matthew 15:9
'in vain do they worship Me...'

Worship Jesus, Jesus is saying He is already being worshipped because He is Lord, it is quite plain.

So your theory just doesn't make sense.
 

Shad

Veteran Member
It wasn't just that. The money was just a symptom of something
deeper.

Yes. Spiritual corruption then using the religion to enrich themselves and maintain power as collaborators while using the same religion to keep their charges (the people) under thumb.
 

IndigoChild5559

Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
Matthew 23:29 King James Version (KJV)

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,

Is it wrong to honor the dead?
Wow you really have a problem with figurative speech.

He is saying that hypocricy, especially the hypocricy of religious authorities, is the death of the good teachings of the prophets and righteous men.

You know, Jesus really isn't hard to understand. You just have to be able to discern his poetic speech.
 
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