Matt 23:2-3: (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 not do it.)
The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat, meaning they represent Moses and the laws; they teach the law for people to observe, but they themselves don’t follow it.
They put a heavy load on people, but they won’t lift it with their fingers; this is the reason the Lord warned us that we should let our righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees to be able to enter the kingdom of God.
They’re righteous, but their righteousness is within the component of their fallen nature; it’s not advanced to the righteousness of Christ.
This made them fall short of the Lord’s demand and missed the purpose for which they were created.
Hierarchy and papacy in the kingdom are the perfect example of the way of the scribe and the Pharisees in our present generation; this is exactly what Jesus condemned, and we are doing it to make the curse and condemnation come to pass on the head of our leaders.
When I read the book of Matthew chapter 23 from verse one to the end, I discovered what was confirmed by the Lord concerning the offices of Pharisees and the scribes extended to this generation; all that He described them to be is what is manifesting in the life of our leaders, which many don’t take Cognisant of.
They have hijacked the position of the LORD among His people to themselves, blocking men from accessing His presence by their doctrines and ideologies.
They fight for the highest position in the church of God to be reverence as godfather; most of them fight with diabolical means to retain the post for themselves and still keep it for their coming generation if the lord tarries.
They preferred to be called Daddy or Master, when the LORD says, We should not call anyone father in the world, that our Father is the one in heaven.
They preferred to be called masters; when the LORD says, He is the only one qualified for that post in the life of His people, all reverence belongs to Him alone; we are all brethren.
This hierarchy order led many people to add more titles to their names to receive reverence from their congregations “like Doctor, Teacher, Evangelist, Reverend, and Apostles.” They forget that their status has nothing to do with their ministries; God chose men according to their spirituality, but men chose leaders according to their titles.
Our theology academic qualification in Bible colleges doesn’t have anything to do with our spirituality; our money can help us get it, but we need to learn at the feet of the Lord to have spiritual qualifications.
This is what caused backwardness among the congregation, where men hide the key of knowledge from people; they won’t enter but prevent others from entering, which in turn makes their followers twice candidates of hell in the end.
This is a pure manifestation of the spirit of the serpent, which Christ came to condemn. Even though Moses lifted up the image of the serpent in the wilderness, which represents religion, for them to be saved (the serpent represents all religions in the world, even practicing Christianity as religion to get to God), now it’s the image of Christ hanging on the cross. By looking at it, it is what will give us total salvation from sins and their consequences.
That is a step above the righteousness of the Pharisees, which we need to aspire to be, not staying with religious formalities.
We can see their manifestations on social media, where they’re attracting the gullible that are in search of miracles to bypass the road of Calvary to enter into the presence of God.
They’re looking for the easiest way, not knowing that any road that doesn’t start with Christ will surely lead to hell. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; whoever wants to have all this while living must pass through Him.
Many are fighting for microphones in the church while souls are perishing out there; souls are ripe for harvest, but who is ready to reach them and bring Christ to them?
Our LORD showed a perfect example of reaching the lost outside; he didn’t struggle for pulpit in the congregation but went out and brought the lost into His kingdom. Even though the Pharisees were ready to chase them out of the temple, their names have entered the book of life, which cannot be deleted.
Calling someone father on earth aside your earthly father or heavenly father is idolatry, or acknowledging man as master aside the LORD Jesus is sacrilege in the house of God. Jesus Christ is the only teacher, and we must be taught by Him to be able to enter the presence of God.
This hierarchy order has created avenues for men to establish their own empire within the church of God; they’re directing men to themselves instead of Christ; they’re ready to hand over the sceptre of authority to their children after they die; as people serve the father, they’re also ready to serve the children, neglecting Jesus Christ, who paid the price for their freedom from slavery.
This character is the result of the fall, where men tried to build a tower that would reach the presence of God without passing the proper avenue to get there.
But in the end, there language was confused, and everyone got back to where they could understand each other, but those who belong to the Lord’s side will find their way through the direction of light that’ll illuminate their path to His presence.
Prayer: Father LORD, lead me through this journey; don’t let me distract out of your sight in Jesus name, amen.
