Matthew 23 - Hypocrisy

This chapter teaches important lessons about hypocrisy, and thereby some ideas of what a good focus should be.

These are some of the things that I notice.  

The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Some of the things that we should be avoiding:

• Saying, and not doing.
• Having others bear the burden, while not bearing the burden ourselves.
• Doing things to be seen, to be popular, famous, etc.
• Love to be called the Leader.
• Close the Kingdom of Heaven, change doctrines, tell people they cannot achieve it, etc.
• Do not go into Heaven, nor allow others into Heaven.
• Drain the widows, while pretending to be good, making long prayers, flowery, emotional talks, etc.
• Proselyte in a pretense of caring, and make the convert more evil than yourselves.
• Justify breaking covenants.
• Making things like tithing, etc., take precedence over the more important parts of the Law, like Justice, Mercy, Faith, etc.!
• Justify horrible sins in yourselves, but pick at little details in others.
• Look good on the outside, but full of sin on the inside.
• Say you would not have killed the prophets, but here you are mocking and saying evil of those sent by God.

Some of the things that we should be doing:

• Keep the Law of God.
• Bear the burdens.
• Do lots of good, do not be seen.
• Be humble, be a servant.
• Make the path strait.
• Go into Heaven, and show others how to go into Heaven.
• Care for the widows, orphans, infirm, victims, poor, etc., making sure they want for nothing!
• Proselyte, and help the converts rise further than you.
• Never break covenants!
• The important parts of the Gospel, Justice, Mercy, Faith, always come first, but we are still required to do the lesser parts of the Law as well.
• Get the sins out of ourselves, throw a cloak of charity over others.
• Clean the inside!  
• Feel, think, say, and do only good to others.  

If we are to believe the Saviour, hypocrisy is going to cause a lot of Grief.   

Best to get it out!   

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