JESUS DENOUNCES SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, DCLM CHILDREN SEARCH
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he met religious leaders known as scribes, Sadducees, and Pharisees. They were against preaching, teaching, and the good things He was doing among the people. As a result, Jesus denounced them. To denounce means to speak against or to condemn. Christ preached to them the true gospel of salvation and condemned their hypocritical lifestyle. Hypocrisy means pretending or pretending to be what one is not. A number of children behave like the Pharisees today. They behave well at home and at school because their parents and teachers are with them. But whenever they have the opportunity to be away from their parents and teachers, they behave like sinners by lying, cheating during exams, stealing, fighting, and abusing others. These children are hypocrites who will go to hell if they do not repent. Christian children should follow Christ’s example in proclaiming the good news of salvation to sinners. We must also condemn and avoid the sinful practices of other children in our schools and neighborhoods. God’s word says, “Make no mistake: bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The Bible also warns us to “… Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1).
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES
Matthew 23:1-7,13-16,37-39; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 11:37–44
” Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.; (Matthew 23:1,21. Scribes and Pharisees are religious leaders who never believed in Christ and His message of salvation. They rebelled against him and sought the opportunity to take his word for him in order to accuse him (Luke 11:53,54). The Scribes and Pharisees:
(i) Are proud and deceitful.
(ii) Love the praise of men (eye service).
(iii) Sit in the “seat of Moses,” that is, they like high positions.
(iv) To say and not to say; thus, to make the service of God difficult for others.
(v) Making others do what they cannot do.
(vi) Like to be called master (rabbi) even when they are not right.
(vii) Performing religious activities such as paying tithing, fasting and praying, but neglecting holy life.
(viii) Pretend to be good, but they are corrupt and wicked.
(ix) Persecute God’s people and reject God’s word.
Their character prevents others from becoming children of God. True children of God should avoid the lifestyle of scribes and Pharisees. Today, those who have not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior are like the scribes and Pharisees. We must preach the gospel to them in our schools and neighborhoods so that they can be saved before it is too late. If your character is like that of the Pharisees, you must repent and turn away from your evil ways to avoid God’s judgment.
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THE CONDEMNATION OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES:
Matthew 23:13–16; 23-39; Luke 11:39–52
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither.. (Matthew 23:13). Jesus condemned the sinful lifestyle of religious leaders. They rejected Jesus’ warnings; therefore, He pronounced curses on them. The Bible says, ” He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” (Proverbs 29:1). The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that shall forget God” (Psalm 9:17). These scriptures will be fulfilled in the lives of those who refuse to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Be careful! God is merciful, but He is also a consuming fire. Give your life to Jesus today to escape the damnation of hellfire. Accept that you are a sinner, confess your sins, and tell Jesus to wash away your sins with His blood. Accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior and always continue to live a life of obedience.
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THE CHARACTER OF GOD’S CHILDREN
Matthew 23:8–12; Ephesians 5:7–11; Philippians 2:2–8; Colossians 3:12–15.
Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is the Prince of Peace. As children of God, our conduct, that is, our way of life, our character, and our behavior, should be similar to those of Christ who humbled Himself and obeyed Himself unto death on the cross at Calvary. Our lifestyle should be different from that of the scribes and Pharisees in everything we do. The characteristics of God’s children therefore include: humility, patience, obedience, love, kindness, honesty, meekness, long-suffering, as stated in Galatians 5:22,23. To bear the fruit of the Spirit, you must thirst and pray for the sanctification of your heart. Love God’s Word, read it every day, believe what it teaches, pray on the message, meditate on it day and night, and obey all its commandments. When you do all this, you will be prosperous and successful in all areas of your life.
THE QUESTIONS:
- How to identify hypocritical children?
- Mention five characteristics of the Pharisees.
- Did the Pharisees fast and pray?
- Is it good to fast and pray without obeying God’s word?
- List five characteristics of God’s children.
- How can a sinful child become a child of God and escape the fire of hell?
MEMORY VERSE: ” All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. (Matthew 23:3).
LESSON: God will bless those who obey God’s word without pretending.
THOUGHT: I will not be a hypocrite but an example of God’s children.
ACTIVITY: Children should discuss practical ways to avoid sinful practices in their schools and neighborhoods.
CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 47 – OBEIR ONLY
CHORUSES:
(1) Follow, follow
(2) Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.
(3) I live for Jesus, day by day.
HOMEWORK: Read and explain the following passages to a friend: Matthew 23:11, 12; Ephesians 5:7–11.
SEARCH FOR BIBLICAL WORDS
Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary.
- Hypocrisy
- Denounce
- Persecute
- Conduct
- Department.
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