Lesson 20: “Woe unto You, … Hypocrites”," New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2002)
There is a lot material in the outline that we didn't have time to discuss during our lesson today.
1. Introduction
a) We are coming to the last few days of Jesus’ mortal life
b) He has demonstrated his powers as the Son of God in more and more visible ways
i) More people are following him and recognizing Him at least as a prophet, if not the Son of God
ii) The corrupt religious leaders among the Jews have become more and more concerned about Christ
(1) Afraid they will lose their place and power
(2) Plotting to cause Him to make a mistake that will get Him into trouble with the Roman authorities or reduce His popularity among the people
(3) Their refusal to recognize Christ is one of the greatest evidences of their corruption.
(4) Reading 1 – 2 Nephi 10:5
But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified.
(a) ASK – What are priestcrafts?
(b) Reading 2 – The Encyclopedia of Mormonism defines priestcraft in part as follows: The Book of Mormon says, "Priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the Welfare of Zion…. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish" (2 Ne. 26:29, 31). Inherent in this definition is the concern that Church leaders must labor to build Zion into the hearts of the people, and not for their personal aggrandizement or reward. When leaders "make merchandise" of men's souls (2 Pet. 2:3), they turn religion into a business, and pride, materialism, and unrighteous dominion follow.
2. Jesus makes a triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
a) Jesus enters Jerusalem on a Sunday, the day after the Jewish Sabbath.
b) Reading 2 – Matthew 21:1-11
1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
i) Verse 2 - Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
ii) Verse 3 - if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them
(1) Authorizing disciples to identify Him as The Lord
iii) Verse 4-5 - that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
(1) Reading 3 – Zechariah 9:9
¶Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
(2) In the account of Solomon’s ascension to the monarchy, we read that he rode on “the king’s mule” to the spring of Gihon, in the Kidron Valley between Jerusalem and the mount of Olives, where he was anointed by the high priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan. (1 Kings 1:5-46)
iv) Verses 8-9 - 8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
(1) These actions would have great significance to observant Jews
(2) The apostle John specified that these were “branches of palm trees.”
(3) Although this was the Passover, the palm fronds were from the Feast of Tabernacles
(4) Today as anciently, on the feast of tabernacles, Israelites carry palm fronds while reciting the Hallel Psalms from the Bible. When they arrive at Psalm 118:25 (“Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord”), they shake the palm fronds. The Hebrew text rendered “save now” is “hosha-na,” from which we get “hosanna.”
(5) The title “son of David” denotes the legitimate king of Israel and was also a common way of referring to the Messiah.
(6) The people greeted Christ by saying, “Save us now, Messiah.”
v) Verses 10-11 - And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee
vi) READ – Luke 19:38 describes the people saying: Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
c) Reading 4 – Luke 19:41,43-44
41¶And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
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43For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
i) Reading 5 – Elder Bruce R. McConkie quotes bible scholar F. W. Farrar about the fate of Jerusalem 70 years after the crucifixion of Christ: "Titus [of Rome] had not originally wished to encompass the city, but he was forced, by the despair and obstinacy of the Jews, to surround it, first with a palisaded mound, and then, when [these fortifications] were destroyed, with a wall of masonry. He did not wish to sacrifice the Temple--nay, he made every possible effort to save it--but he was forced to leave it in ashes. He did not intend to be cruel to the inhabitants, but the deadly fanaticism of their opposition so extinguished all desire to spare them, that he undertook the task of well-nigh exterminating the race--of crucifying them by the hundreds, of exposing them in the amphitheatre by thousands, of selling them into slavery by myriads." (Mortal Messiah, 3:341-342)
(1) Luke 19:44 – This happened “because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
3. Cleansing of the Temple
a) After entering the Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple and cleansed it for a second time, chasing the moneychangers and those who sold doves for sacrifices out.
b) The Temple was built upon a hill that was biblically known as Mt. Moriah. It was to here that Abraham brought Isaac to be offered as a sacrifice to the Lord (Gen. 22:2)
c) The Temple, the courts, and the large outer wall were known as the Temple Mount-the Hebrew term for the Temple Mount is literally "the mountain of the house."
d) The stairs leading from the main entry into the temple opened into a large open court known as the Court of the Gentiles.
i) As the Salt Lake Temple is surrounded by Temple Square, so this court surrounded the Temple proper
ii) Received its name from the fact that gentiles could proceed no closer to the Temple proper than this court.
e) Surrounding the Court of the Gentiles were porticoes two columns deep and each 25 cubits high upon which lay a flat roof.
i) No temple rituals performed in the Court of the Gentiles;
ii) "rather, its colonnades served as a gathering place for the people before and after worship, or for those who ascended the Temple Mount to hear the words of the Law ...
iii) Business transactions relating to the Temple, as for example the purchase of sacrificial doves, oils, wines, and even the money changing, were conducted on the outer court of the Temple Mount
4. Christ Teaches Parables to the Scribes and Pharisees
a) In the temple, almost certainly in the Court of the Gentiles, while Christ is teaching the chief priests and Pharisees come to him.
b) Structure of the Jewish religious authorities
i) The chief priests consisted of (1) the high priest, who was always from the Sadducean party, (2) the captain of the Temple, (3) the director of the weekly course, (4) the director of the daily course, (5) the temple overseer, and (6) the treasurer.
ii) One of the chief duties of the Temple administration was the collection tithes and offerings necessary for Temple worship. The economic demands of the Temple were extraordinary.
(1) Besides the Roman taxes, the peasants were taxed by the Temple hierarchy-"the chief priests and scribes." These taxes were many.
(a) The annual tithe that was collected by local priests for the use and upkeep of the temple.
(b) The peasants were to supply Temple with animals, wine, and grain for sacrifices.
(c) Land taxes, personal vows, the ½ shekel per year tax, and so forth.
(d) The amount of taxes the peasants paid to both Rome and Temple were at least 40% of their productivity-in many cases much more.
iii) Temple History
(1) For the first several hundred years of Israelite history, legitimate locations for presenting sacrifices were found throughout Israel.
(2) During the time of King Josiah (c. 640-608 B.C.), the place of sacrifice had been centralized to the Jerusalem temple alone. Josiah did this to control heathen worship which had spread among the Jews.
(3) After Josiah's death, the Temple hierarchy began to misuse the religious practices of the law of Moses (as well as practices of heathen gods) for their own gain.
(4) Jeremiah referenced temple priestcraft when he declared in his great temple sermon: "Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?" (Jeremiah 7:11).
(5) By the time of Christ, the Temple had been turned into a very lucrative priestcraft by the Jewish religious leaders.
(a) The moneychangers and those who sold doves were operating under licenses they had purchased from the religious leaders of the Jews.
c) Parable of the Two Sons
i) Reading 6 – Matthew 21:28-32
28¶But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
(1) The Joseph Smith Translation changes the conclusion of this parable and puts John the Baptist in a more prominent role.
(a) READ - For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and bore record of me, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him; and ye, afterward, when ye had seen me, repented not, that ye might believe him. For he that believed not John concerning me, cannot believe me, except he first repent. And except ye repent, the preaching of John shall condemn you at the day of judgment (Matthew 21:32-34, JST).
(2) Christ is direct and confrontational
(3) Question – Verse 31 - Whether of them twain did the will of his father?
(4) The first son repented and obeyed his father
(5) The second son was a hypocrite
(6) The Pharisees had often criticized Him for associating with sinners – publicans and harlots – when the Scribes and Pharisees would not listen to Christ.
d) Parable of the Householder
i) Husbandman – tenant farmer – did not own the land, but cared for it on behalf of the owner.
ii) Reading 7 – Matthew 31:33-41
33¶Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
iii) This was even a more direct parable than the first
iv) Chief priests and scribes were plotting to kill Christ
(1) They pronounce their own judgment
5. The scribes and Pharisees try to trap Jesus
a) Reading 8 – Matthew 22:15-21
15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
i) Trap
(1) If Jesus said yes to the question, they could accuse him of supporting the hated Roman government.
(2) If he said no, they could accuse him of rebellion against the government
ii) READ - James E. Talmage said of the response of the Lord, “Every human Soul is stamped with the image and superscription of God” (Jesus The Christ, 546, 547)
b) Reading 9 – Matthew 22:23-32
23¶The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
24Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27And last of all the woman died also.
28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
i) This is confusing for those who are not LDS.
ii) LDS version of this question is, If the woman was married in the temple to her first husband, then he died and she married each of the brothers, to whom would she be sealed?
iii) If the woman was sealed to her first husband, would she be sealed to any of her later husbands?
iv) If the woman was not married to any of the brothers in the temple, to whom would she be sealed?
v) Foolish question from the Sadducees because Jesus and most Jews believed that the marriage covenant was eternal. Pharisees had already decided that in such a case, the woman would be married to the first husband.
vi) It was really a question about the resurrection.
vii) Reading 10 – Doctrine and Covenants 132:15-16,19
15Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.
16Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.
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19And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.
c) READ Matthew 22:34-40
34¶But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
i) The Jews had spent years examining the Law and had listed a total of 613 commandments.
ii) Frequent arguments about which of the 613 was the most important
iii) Reading 11 – Elder Howard W. Hunter said: "He loves the Lord with all his heart who...is ready to give up, do, or suffer anything in order to please and glorify him. He loves God with all his soul...who is ready to give up life for his sake and to be deprived of the comforts of the world to glorify him. He loves God with all his strength who exerts all the powers of his body and soul in the service of God. He loves God with all his mind who applies himself only to know God and his will, who sees God in all things and acknowledges him in all ways." (CR, Apr 1965, p58)
6. Jesus condemns the sin of hypocrisy.
a) Matthew 23 is a scathing rebuke, perhaps the most dramatic verbal chastisement given anywhere in holy writ.
b) READ Matthew 23:14
14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
i) The process of extracting temple taxes frequently left the common people in debt
ii) Failure to pay the debt would result in forfeiture of the land and house of the debtor
c) READ Matthew 23:23-28
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
i) The Pharisees were supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the Jews
(1) A higher standard
ii) READ - As Ammon taught King Lamoni, God “looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning.” (Alma 18:32.)
iii) Reading 12 – Elder Dallin H. Oaks has written: “God judges us not only for our acts, but also for the desires of our hearts. He has said so again and again. This is a challenging reality, but it is not surprising. Agency and accountability are eternal principles. We exercise our free agency not only by what we do,but also by what we decide, or will, or desire. Restrictions on freedom can deprive us of the power to do, but no one can deprive us of the power towill or desire. Accountability must therefore reach and attach consequences to the desires of our hearts.” (The Desires of Our Hearts, Ensign, June, 1986)
7. Conclusion
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