In the last election cycle, both "sides" were claiming Jesus as their own. Liberals were claiming the tolerant, compassionate Christ, while Conservatives basically acted like Jesus was a Republican and Donald Trump was the next Messiah.
As we moved in our study of Matthew to chapter 23, I think the text addresses both of those issues. On the one hand, the woe and judgment from Jesus (here as well as several other places) shows that He is anything but the uber-tolerant pushover that winks at sin and looks the other way. And on the other hand, we are reminded that His harshest condemnation was often reserved for the religious "conservatives" of His day.
In the end, the church needs to be reminded that the world will never be reached by a bunch of self-satisfied, arrogant, prideful Christians looking down our noses at them. We need to heed this warning from our Lord about avoiding the pride and hypocrisy of the "scribes and Pharisees." Instead, in humility, knowing all we have we have by grace, we share that grace with others.
Here is Sunday's message on Jesus' Judgment Of Pharisaical Religion:
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