This is the seventh time that we have read Jesus’ words “woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.” There are other denunciations in this chapter, but this is the seventh time for this particular turn-of-phrase. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” for shutting up the kingdom of Heaven. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” for using your lips to pray for needy people while you chew them up with your cavity-filled molars. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” for creating proselytes more wicked than yourselves. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” for majoring on the religious minors, like tithing, while omitting mercy, judgment and faith. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” for your outward pretense of holiness, while your hearts harbor filth and rot – and even dead men’s bones.
Now we add one more “woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.” This particular charge is a bit more extended and complicated than the others. And once again, it is appropriate to ask ourselves whether or not it has anything to do with us. These Pharisees were an ancient sect of the Jews, but we are neither ancient nor Jews. Is this just an intellectual exercise with no other purpose than to check off another chapter in our study of the Book of Matthew, or are there real parallels between this chapter and us. Well, the answer is “both.” Some of this has little do with us, and parts of today’s message just satisfy a bit of curiosity. But at the same time the end result is the same – Pharisee, Sadducee, Philistine, or modern American.
This time the Lord began with the Jew’s DECEITFUL ARTISTRY – verse 29.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous.” Of course this statement comes on the heels of the sixth “woe.” “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. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
With verse 29, Christ Jesus takes us into one of the practices of the ancient Jews. What were the differences between “graves,” “sepulchres” and “tombs”? Briefly put, there wasn’t and isn’t much of a difference between “graves” and “sepulchres.” “Sepulchre” comes to us from Latin through the French language and speaks of “a burial place.” It is one of those words that students of the King James Bible have to learn, because it will probably not be used at any time during the ordinary course of the day. Some people suggest that “graves” might be dug out of the soil on level ground, while “sepulchres” were carved out of rock, and mourners may be level with a sepulchre rather than standing over it. Rarely would anyone use the word “grave” when thinking of a burial cave, but it wouldn’t be inappropriate to use the word “sepulchre.” In either case, graves and sepulchres would be dug or perhaps carved. But Jesus, quite appropriately, used the word “build” when He spoke of the Jewish tombs. Tombs are more like little buildings built over a grave or at the mouth of a cave-like sepulchre. Generally speaking, graves and sepulchres are dug, but tombs are built or constructed.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous.” But what is wrong with building a tomb? Isn’t that like erecting a memorial stone over the burial place of a loved One? Perhaps it is. The problem lays in the reason that we are doing it. What are we trying to say or do with this memorial? Some people actually worship their entombed ancestors, and obviously that would be idolatry. And there are many people who love their relatives more than they love the Lord – again that is idolatry. Some tombs are even built with hatred toward the sovereign God, for taking a loved one.
But these things were not a problem for these Pharisees, as we shall see in the next couple of verses. For centuries Israel had been erecting beautiful tombs over the burial places of their great prophets and spiritual leaders. But many of those great men died hated by their neighbors – and some of them had even been murdered. I will come back to this, but some Jewish records say the burial place of Elijah was at Mount Carmel. I am not sure if it still exists, but there used to be a beautiful tomb covering that spot. And yet how many of Israel would have mourned the death of Elijah? Not many. And the same might be said of his successor – Elisha. How popular were Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel? Most of the minor prophets – those whose books are relatively small – those men were not honored and respected people during their lives.
Christ, here, speaks of a certain Zacharias. Some say that it was the prophet whose book is in the Old Testament, but that man’s father had a slightly different name. Some modern scholars refer to some other, now unknown, prophet. And others say that it was John the Baptist’s father, murdered by the Jews for having a ministry much like his son. It really doesn’t matter who the man was because the illustration and net result were the same – murder. As Christ Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”
But in the decades and centuries following their deaths, some in Israel decided to rewrite national history. Up rose fancy tombs over the places where it was thought their famous prophets were buried – sometimes absolutely erroneously. Did you know that some Jews said that Adam and Eve were buried in the cave of Machpelah, where Abraham, Sarah and others of their family rested?
Those Jews were living in DENIED HISTORY – verses 30-31.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.”
It appears to be a component of fallen man – to change history. I’m not talking about changing the course of history, which may or may not be a bad thing. I’m talking about rewriting past history in order to make ourselves, or our ancestors, appear better than what is true.
Go back to Elijah for example. In the days of King Ahab and his heathen wife Jezebel, Israel was living in apostasy – apparently enjoying the fact that they didn’t have to spend their Sabbaths in the worship of Jehovah. Their politicians, their entertainment industry, their educational system, their society in general, said that obedience to the commands of God were not important. There were not more than a few hundred men in Israel who were in agreement with the prophet Elijah. When he eventually came to Mount Carmel to meet the priests of the idols, there were no other men willing to stand by his side – off in the shadows perhaps, but not at his side. Later when the Lord cornered him in Sinai, Elijah said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” Most of you remember the mystery regarding Elijah’s departure from this world. He and his successor Elisha were walking along, knowing full well that Elijah’s life was near its conclusion. “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” It appears to me that Elijah did not die – but was translated directly from earth to heaven. But here is my point, John Gill says that the Jews erected a beautiful tomb on Mt. Carmel, above the grave of Elijah, at the site of his great victory over the prophets of Baal. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous” – when your fathers hated and persecuted those men.
The Jews had a habit of changing their history to suit themselves, and mankind still does that sort of thing. One example – Why don’t modern men want to talk about Adam and Eve? Evolution is far more preferable for many people, because it erases any responsibility towards God. And perhaps more practically, it eliminates the existence of sin and judgment. That is precisely the purpose of the Jewish tombs over the graves of the prophets – elimination of sin.
But these Pharisees were still living in their DEPRAVED PROCLIVITY – verses 32, 34 and 35.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.”
Here is where human pride and foolishness kick in. Most people would say that if THEY were living in the Garden of Eden, surrounded by the beauty and plenty of the original creation, THEY would not have coveted the fruit of the forbidden tree. They would not have listened to the voice of the serpent or to the voice of their wives. They would have endured the teasing of Satan and the reproach of their spouse, and lived on under the blessing of Jehovah. And they look at Peter warming himself at the fire in the courtyard of the high priest, declaring that they would not have denied knowing Jesus or to being one of His disciples. Most men read of Samson, David and Abraham and the brothers of Joseph, denying that they would have committed any of those men’s sins. Most people think more highly of themselves than they should.
For myself, I would like to think if I had been in Adam’s shoes I would have resisted that first temptation. But is the love that I have for my wife any different than what Adam had for his? Is my curiosity; is my vanity; is my desire to please others any different from Adam’s? When I say that I would not have sinned as Adam sinned, or as Peter sinned or as David sinned, I need to look back on my own personal history. There is plenty there to prove that I am just as weak, as sinful, and corrupt as any other man.
Despite their decorations on the tombs of the ancient prophets, look at Israel’s treatment of Christ – the Son of God and their Messiah. Those people had not changed one whit from their grandparents and great-grandparents. The Lord will send more prophets, wise men and scribes in the months and years to come, and how will they be treated? In the same fashion as Jeremiah and Elijah. I am talking about the disciples of Christ, the Apostles, and generations of future missionaries. Some of them they killed, and others were driven from their synagogues with scourges. Read the life of Paul and see him driven from city to city by the persecution of the Jews. That was not in Israel – it was but in Macedonia, Asia, Greece and elsewhere the foreign Jews lived. The blood of righteous Stephen was shed right there on Jerusalem soil.
The depravity of man hasn’t changed one iota since the murder of righteous Abel by his wicked brother. Had the circumstances warranted it, these Pharisees of Jesus’ day would have cast the Son of God into the same dungeon as their forefathers had done with Jeremiah. “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” Why were they treated thus? Because “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” All men are prone to wickedness and unbelief – they have a proclivity toward depravity.
And all men are living before, and headed toward, a DETERMINED CALAMITY – verse 33.
“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” As a rule, I don’t like to call people names – it is just not my style or the way that I was raised. For example, I’ll call a homosexual just that – but you won’t hear me using the common epithets. I think that more often than not name-calling is counter productive. While saying that, I am not in a position to correct the Lord Jesus. If He wants to call the Pharisees “serpents” and “vipers” then I can’t rebuke Him, and perhaps I should join Him.
But I do wonder why He said what He said. In common language – either ancient or more modern – people sometimes refer to other people comparing them to various animals. Why didn’t Jesus call the Pharisees “dogs,” “donkeys,” “vultures” or “dung beetles?” Do you suppose that there was a specific purpose to this epithet? Of course there was.
In what form did Satan come to Eve? It was as a serpent that our first mother was tempted. If we didn’t already have a predilection and fear of snakes, we might have to admit to their beauty. They are colorful, well adapted to their style of life, successful at what they do. Have you ever seen videos of snakes propelling themselves through water? Have you seen how some can sort of dislocate their jaws in order to swallow huge meals. Have you ever seen them moving sideways up a sand dune? Amazing. But many of them are vipers – poisonous and highly dangerous. Christ chose to use this term referring to the Pharisees because they were beautiful, crafty and poisonous. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Now, here is a point where we have to be careful…. It is possible for someone to read this chapter and determine that these Pharisees and scribes were wicked, dangerous people – and rightfully so. But they were not in danger of “the damnation of hell” BECAUSE they were Pharisees and scribes. The truth is that all the children of men are in that same danger. It’s just that these endangered people were particularly dangerous as religious serpents and spiritual vipers
The Bible declares that “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” “There is not a just man upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not.” As David said of us all, “Everyone of them is gone back; they are altogether become filthy, there is NONE that doeth good, no, not one.” “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” The question is rhetorical – no one can make such a claim. “ALL we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned EVERYONE to his own way.” “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Furthermore, the end result of sin and all of our acts of iniquity is hell. “The wages of sin is (eternal) death, (just as) the gift of God is eternal light through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Is there escape from the damnation of hell? Yes, in fact, there is, “through Jesus Christ our Lord.” “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many,” and in his own body on the tree, he bare the sins of His elect that we being dead unto sins, should live unto righteousness. There is no escape from the damnation of hell, if we neglect so great salvation which is contained in the person and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Lord.
If these Pharisees and scribes had been listening to the Lord Jesus that day and had taken to heart the things which He said about their sins…. If they had repented before God and instead of rejecting Christ, they had believed him and put their faith in Him, they too could have escaped the condemnation which their sins required. And in fact, a few of their number did exactly that – Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimthea, and Saul of Tarsus. Even you can be delivered from the eternal death which you so richly deserve. Be like Saul of Tarsus and throw yourself down before God – acknowledging your sin and former rebellion. And then put your trust in Christ to deliver you. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” The reason that people go to Hell today, is because they treat Christ, history and themselves, the way that the Pharisees did here in this chapter. Don’t you join them – repent and trust Christ Jesus.