I can't count the number of Christians who were raised to believe that it is wrong to point out false teachings and other kinds of evil, let alone to name who these false teachers are! When I attended Bible college and seminary I chose theology as my major for a reason...to know how to find the truth in scripture! Does the Bible teach that Jesus was never harsh with anyone? Is this what we read in the scriptures? Many tell me that Jesus never spoke a harsh word to anyone. I've spoken to pastors and elders who hold themselves in such high regard that to tell them they are wrong is blasphemy! They hold their congregations in absolute fear by their false teaching. They are guilty of what Jesus said the Pharisees were guilty of...shutting out heaven for men and placing the heavy yoke of false guilt upon the shoulders of those they are to serve..not LORD OVER!
The title of this post is taken from the very act our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, did when speaking to the religious leaders in Jerusalem. Let’s take a Scriptural look at a side of Jesus that most Christians will not believe, even when they see Him in their own Bibles.
Who were the Scribes and Pharisees?
The Pharisees were not the priests, but rather a religious political party who were very pious and strict keepers of the Law of Moses. They constantly adjusted the Law to fit the changing world according to their traditions and own desires. Among the more educated of the Pharisees were the Scribes, the rulers of the Jews:
"In the modern sense they [the Scribes] were the religious scholars or theologians … sometimes called lawyers … or teachers of the law …could make judicial decisions based on Scriptural exegesis, occupied important positions in the Sanhedrin … played a major role in bringing on the crucifixion of Jesus" and they "mainly belonged to the party of the Pharisees" (WYCLIFFE Bible Dictionary, p. 1536).
Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees "fools, hypocrites, blind guides, whited sepulchers, murderers, a generation of snakes," and many such epithets. Jesus called them "hypocrites" seven times in one chapter. He spoke with scathing derision to the Scribes and Pharisees throughout His ministry; very few of them received a kind word from Him.
And yet many Christians and unbelievers tell me that Jesus never spoke like this or ever said a cruel or angry word in His life. Therefore when I sometimes write with an edge, I am accused of not following the example of Jesus. Oh but Jesus surely did speak harshly, demeaningly, and with great anger in His voice to the Scribes and Pharisees—the religious leaders of the day. Jesus was not mild and soft-spoken when it came to the sins and hypocrisy of these religious leaders. Too many Christians have read the teachings of Jesus with rose-colored glasses covering both their eyes and their minds.
When the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why do your disciples…?" Jesus didn’t softly answer their question, rather He retorted back with, "Why do YOU…?" Jesus was never on the defensive, but always on the offensive. Using the vernacular, He was "IN THEIR FACE!"
Do any believe Jesus was referencing farm animals when He said not to cast pearls or give what is holy to "the DOGS and PIGS?"
Jesus referred to the recalcitrant Jewish leaders as, "an EVIL and ADULTEROUS generation," "SERPENTS and SNAKES," and "children of the DEVIL." Why He even told the Scribes and Pharisees regarding the royal and mighty King Herod: "Go ye, and tell that FOX [that JACKAL]…"
JESUS UPBRAIDS THE CHURCH LEADERS
There are many examples of Jesus upbraiding the religious leaders for their gross sins [selections from Matthew 23]:
"But WOE unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES… FOR YOU SHUT UP THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AGAINST MEN…
…THEY BIND HEAVY BURDENS and GRIEVOUS to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but will not move them with ONE OF THEIR FINGERS
WOE unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES… you DEVOUR WIDOW’S HOUSES… you shall receive the greater damnation.
WOE unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES…
WOE unto you, ye BLIND GUIDES…
WOE unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! You… have omitted… JUDGMENT, MERCY, and FAITH…
You BLIND GUIDES, which strain out a gnat, and SWALLOW A CAMEL.
WOE unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES… within they are full of EXTORTION (fear mongering) AND EXCESS.
You BLIND PHARISEES…
WOE unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! You are FULL OF DEAD MEN’S BONES, and ALL UNCLEANESS… and HYPOCRISY and INIQUITY…
WOE unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES!… you are the children of them which KILLED the prophets. FILL YOU UP then the measure of your fathers.
You SERPENTS, you GENERATION OF SNAKES… you KILL AND CRUCIFY… you SCOURGE in your synagogues… Behold your house is left unto you DESOLATE"!!
WOW! Every one of these comments from Matt. 23 were spoken directly to the "Religious Scholars and Theologians" centered at the Temple in Jerusalem. Would Jesus speak in the same manner to the Religious Scholars and Theologians in God’s Church today? YES! Especially those who exchange the gospel of GRACE through FAITH for a WORKS, WRONGFUL SUBMISSION, and DEEDS for redemption gospel! You see the real truth is that Grace through Faith in a living gospel unctions us to good deeds because of our great love for our God who reached down to sinful man and calls us righteous who believe on Him! That AWESOME ALL-POWERFUL GOD who seals us by His Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Does Jesus "change"? NO. Has the Church changed in the past 2000 years? YES. In some cases it has gotten WORSE as there are ABUSE churches which teach a phobic gospe! They could not hold a congregation in any other way except by placing a yoke of guilt and fear on their backs!
In the scriptures, Jesus many, many times had serious confrontations with the religious leaders of his time. In fact it was the religious leaders who ultimately called for his death. (As mostly is the case......same is true for today) All through His life, they were waiting for the right moment.
“…For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him,
because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God
His own Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18
“Some therefore of Jerusalem said, Is not this He who they
seek to kill? And lo, He speaks openly, and they say nothing
to Him…” John 7:25-26
“And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might
put Him to death; for they feared the people. Luke 22:2
“Now after two days was the feast of the Passover and the
unleavened bread: and the chief priests and scribes sought
how they might take Him with subtlety and kill Him…” Mark 14:1
“But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against Him,
how they might destroy Him Matt12:14
“So from that day forth, they (the chief priests and Pharisees
and council) took counsel that they might put Him to death. John 11:53.
Yes, Jesus did indeed call the religious leaders of His day "whited sepulchers", "fools", "blind guides", "hypocrites", "serpents", "murderers", "a generation of vipers," and many such names. Jesus spoke this way to the religious leaders throughout His ministry. He virtually had nothing nice to say about them. But yet still today there are many in the church today who say that Jesus would never have spoken this way. The Old and New Testament are filled with warnings about listening to and being guided by FOOLS! Men who have their own religious agenda at heart, not the true faith involved in the the gospel message, and not the well-being of their congregation or family.
You know as well as I, that if Jesus were to return today, there are cultic fear-mongering churches who would NOT hire Him to be their “Pastor”. Not one! And why is that? Because the FOOLISH prize their POWER to CONTROL! They do not want to hear the truth. They believe they are outstanding men of the church who deserve to be followed. The only gospel they have is the gospel of WORKS FOR SALVATION and SUBMISSION TO THEIR MISAPPROPRIATED AUTHORITY! You see Christian the only real power we have comes from submitting ourselves to God, the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, and to one another.
The scriptures speak of things getting worse and worse, and if you read carefully, it’s not talking about just the world, but the church and the leaders in the church!
To be sure, when it came to the common people, Jesus was the "Humble Servant.” His ministry to them was marked with compassion. He “was moved with compassion for them.”
He gave the gospel to them.
He fed them.
He healed them.
He wept with them.
He spoke gently and mildly to them. “Martha, Martha,"………"Simon, Simon."
He identified with the people and knew many were distressed, as sheep not having a shepherd.
When it came to the common people, Jesus ministered to them in meekness and gentleness, as His words showed. But when it came to those in the church; when it came to the “great ones”; when it came to the church leaders and so-called experts in the law, something changed. His ways, His mannerisms, His countenance, His words “EXPLODED.”
In all of His confrontations with the church leaders, you could see the difference in His whole attitude, especially in His words. Jesus was exposing their evils. He was exposing their false teachings and hypocrisy like no one ever did before. And in so doing, many others were starting to “see the light.”
His words were as the voice of a trumpet sounding a clarion call to the faithful to stand for truth and not accept the yoke of religious bondage again.
Likewise today, there is much evil lurking in many churches and in those in positions of “church leadership.” The unbiblical authoritarianism and spiritual abuse within the ranks of the so-called “eldership” is rampant.
The hijacking of true and loving shepherding principles within the church and marriages by these wolves in sheep’s clothing resulting in the destruction of many lives is evil beyond words. To speak of these atrocities in anything less than an angry, forceful tone would be almost impossible. Anger doesn't have to be sin, just like God’s anger that is mentioned probably hundreds of times in the scriptures, is not sin.
The time is passed to express a righteous anger at what is going on with these wicked shepherds who are killing the message of grace through faith and holding God's flock for ransom because their own egocentric lust for power. The time has come for true believers to express a righteous indignation at these spiritual monsters who deliver their poisonous and blasphemous theology to so many unsuspecting souls, parents, and innocent children... men who make submission to immature and cruel authority the ultimate guide for redemption. Those who wickedly elevate men in a position of authority in their homes to lord over those in their care rather than shepherd by Godly example.
As these words are being typed, there are many WHO KNOW what is going on. They can see it ruining the faith of those in their churches, their marriages, their family life, and wreaking havoc on a gospel of love and grace. As this is being typed, there are those in the church today who would readily stand up and say “NO” to the spiritual bullies and to flee from them and to deny them their control over them! Yet, for some, they also know that to do this would only invite persecution, shunning, and a living death within their own families who must disown them because of poor theology...so they remain in yoke of bondage.
But wouldn't you rather suffer for the truth than to deny the real gospel? Many choose serving their spiritual bullies, thinking all the while they are serving their Lord. Some also think that it’s wrong to name these people. They call it “spreading evil” or "trying to restrict this evil to only certain individuals and places." And what do the Scriptures say of this anyway? Look through the letters of the Apostle Paul. Many times he mentions specific individuals by name:
Galatians 2:11ff “But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him
to his face, because he was to be blamed……and I said to Peter before them all….”
1 Timothy 1;19ff “…which some made ship wreck concerning the faith,
of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander…..”
2 Timothy 2:17ff “…and their word will have growth like gangrene – of
whom is Hymeneus and Philetus, who missed the mark concerning the truth…”
2 Timothy 4:10 “…for Demas deserted me, loving the present age…”
2 Timothy 4:14-15 “Alexander the coppersmith showed many
evil things to me. The Lord will give to him according to his works.
You also guard against him, for he greatly resisted our words.”
In 3 John verse 9, John named Diotrephes as one who does not receive the brothers, but removes him out of the assembly.
Jude exposes the errors of Balaam in verse 11.
In Revelation Chapter 2, twice the Nicolaitans are singled out and the warning is given concerning their wrong motives for works and their teaching.
And there are many more from the Old Testament too!
We are living in a day when false teachers and their dastardly deeds abound. A faithful messenger will warn those in the churches. They will identify these churches by name, as well as their "leaders," calling a spade a spade. Just like the Lord Jesus did; just like the Apostle Paul did, and others as well.
Fear-mongering kills real faith! Submission to bad authority only brings misery and pain. The real answer to truly living out your faith is through grace and the recognition that it is all about HIM not us. He did it all so that we could have fellowship with the living God of creation, the King of Kings who laid down his life as the Good Shepherd so that we, through faith, might know Him and the power of His resurrection. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, the same Spirit that was in creation now takes up residency in those who believe in the finished work of the cross. Praise you Lord Jesus! To you alone be all honor and glory AMEN!
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