As a hypocrite: At Matthew 23:2-3, jesus acknowledges the Divine authority of the Scribes and Pharisees. Yet later in the same chapter at 23:23-33, jesus makes a generalized attack and damns all the Scribes and Pharisees.
At a first glance it may appear to be a contradiction. Take a closer look. Jesus is talking about two different things.
2 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. (Matthew 23:2-3)
In Matthew 23:2-3 Jesus is telling his audience they must obey the teachers but not mimic their behavior. Just because someone is worthy to be a teacher that does not mean the student should emulate the behavior of the teacher. One has nothing to do with the other. I have met Pastors that knew the Bible backwards and forwards, but I would never copy there behavior.
Put not your trust in the great, in mortal man who cannot save. His breath departs; he returns to the dust; on that day his plans come to nothing. (Psalm 146:3-4)
In Matthew 23:23-33 Jesus is giving reasons why his audience should not mimic the behavior of the teachers.
23 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spicesmint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the lawjustice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a came.25 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.27 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.29 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started! 33 You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (Matthew 23:23-33)
Right results can only be attained by right motivation. The purpose of the Torah is to be honored by God, not to be honored by man. Judaism is a religion of action. Simply put, Jews do stuff. The stuff Jews do must be fueled by humility not arrogance. A parrot can mimic Jewish prayers and a monkey can do the physical actions required by the Torah but neither of these animals have a humble and contrite heart.
Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)
Jesus had no problem with the Torah. He had a problem with the abuse of the Torah. He had no desire to change it or abolish it. He did not reinterpret it. He understood the true meaning of the Torah. The meaning is to lead the Jews to God. Its not about being noticed by men. Its about being noticed by God. The ancient Jewish prophets had made the same point numerous times in Jewish scripture. All the author of the Gospel of Matthew had done was to put it into a story format.
The Pharisees are depicted in Matthews Gospel as being more concerned about their outward profusion of faith rather then there inward conviction of faith. They were more about show and tell.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. (Matthew 23:25)
In essence what the Pharisees had done during Jesuss time was to throw out the baby with the proverbial bath water.
My understanding of the New Testament is much different than the majority of Christians and Jews.
8 But you are not to be called Rabbi, for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth father, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. (Matthew 23:8-11)
The Jesus of Matthews Gospel is telling his audience Jesus is the only teacher. The question to ask would be, Who or what is Jesus? Matthews Gospel is making a connection between Jesus, the suffering servant of Isaiah, the Torah and the nation of Israel. In some of my previous posts I had mentioned Jesus is a metaphor. I know this is a very radical view that neither Christians nor Jews will accept. Take the time to search Google for Matthew Midrash. You might be surprised on what comes up.
