Beware!
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This morning we are continuing our study in the Gospel of Mark.
If you’re new to our church, it would be good for you to know that we utilize a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”. What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking a book of the Bible, and then studying it from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what it means in our lives today.
With that said, we are currently walking through the Gospel of Mark. A gospel written for three reasons. First, to teach us who Jesus is. Second, to teach us what He came to do. And third, to teach us what it means to follow Him.
So, if you are new to MCF, I would encourage you to go online where you can listen to the messages leading up to today.
As we come back to the Gospel of Mark today, we are coming back to the final round of a series of interactions between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day.
You may recall, as we come back to Mark’s Gospel today, we are in the final week of Jesus’s life leading up to his crucifixion and death. And as we’ve learned, it has been an eventful week. Largely because Jesus spends a good portion of the week battling the attacks of the religious leaders of his day. Religious leaders who felt threatened and intimidated by Jesus. The Bible classifies these religious leaders in three groups: The Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Scribes.
The Pharisees were the religious police of their day. They saw their job as making sure everybody was following the rules.
It started with the triumphal entry as Jesus entered Jersualem
And as we’ve seen their verbal attacks have been strategic and devious.
It began in as the Scribes questioned Jesus’s authority and tried to discredit him in front of the people.
It began in as the Scribes questioned his authority and tried to make him look foolish in front of the people. It continued in as the Pharisees tried to use Jesus’s words against him and get him in trouble with the local authorities. And when that didn’t work, the Sadducees stepped in and tried to outwit Jesus theologically by trying to use the Bible against Him.
It continued in as the Pharisees tried to use Jesus’s words against him and get him in hot water with the local authorities.
And when that didn’t work, the Sadducees stepped in and tried to outwit Jesus theologically by trying to use the Bible against Him.
But as we’ve seen, with each attempt, they have failed to discredit Jesus. Jesus is always one step ahead of them. Jesus sees through their deceit. Jesus is aware of the kind of individuals he is dealing with.
Let me ask you something. Have you ever had to deal with a devious person?
And now as we approach the end of , we come to the final round between Jesus and these religious leaders. A verbal interaction that will cause the religious leaders to abandon their attempts to discredit Jesus, and instead focus their efforts fully on putting an end to his life.
So, what does this final round entail? Interestingly enough, in this final interaction Jesus will do all the talking. And what he says not only ends the verbal attacks, but fully turns the table on the religious leaders as Jesus completely discredits them.
So, how does he do it? What does Jesus say that makes these religious leaders look so bad?
Well, we’ll get to that in a moment. But before we do, I think it’s important that we build some framework for what we are about to read.
So, to get us started, I’d like to begin by asking you a couple of questions.
In other words, there was a check in your spirit. Something about them, something they said, or maybe their demeanor sent up a warning flag. Deep down inside you heard a voice say, “Danger Will Robinson, danger!” Right?
Maybe it was somebody at work. Somebody who appeared to have your back, but something in you said, “Be careful”.
First Question - Have you ever met someone or encountered someone in your life that had the appearance of being something they were not?
So, as these interactions come to an end, Jesus fires one more shot at their attempts.
For example, maybe you met someone, and on the surface they seemed to be caring and kind, but the more you got to know them, you began to realize they weren’t very nice at all. In fact, they were rude and uncaring.
Maybe it was a friend. Somebody who appeared to want the best for you, but something in you said, “Be careful”.
Or maybe you met someone, and on the surface they seemed genuine and authentic, but the more you go to know them, you realized it was just a front and they were really fake.
Ever met anybody like that?
Second Question - Have you ever met someone, and based on their appearance you made some assumptions that were either accurate or inn-accurate?
For example, maybe you met a guy who was wearing a pair of skinny jeans, and your first thought was, “This guy is a little fruity”. You know what I’m saying? But the more you got to know him, you realized he’s not fruity, he just has needs somebody to teach him how to dress like a man.
How about this. Maybe you met someone wearing a Chiefs t-shirt or sweat shirt. And you’re first thought was, “He’s not very bright”. But the more you go to know them, you realized, it’s not an issue of intelligence, he’s just confused.
One more. Maybe you met someone, and because of the type of vehicle they were driving, you made some assumptions. For example, they were driving a Lexus, so you assumed they were pretty well off. Or they were driving an old beater, so you assumed they must not be able to afford much.
One more. Have you ever met someone, and from all appearances they seemed really religious or spiritual. But the more you go to know them, you began to question just how spiritual they really were. In fact, you began to wonder
That’s easy to do, right? To make assumptions or draw conclusions about people based off of outward appearance or material possessions. The truth is, all of us are guilty of doing that from time to time.
The reason I ask you to consider these questions, is because as we come back to our study today, Jesus is going to caution us on outward appearance. In fact, he’s going to warn us against it specifically when it comes to spiritual matters. And he does it by pointing to a specific group of religious leaders who from the outside looking in, seem to spiritually have it all together. But as we’re going to discover this morning, their outward appearance was just a facade.
Maybe it was a family member. Somebody who you should be able to trust, but something in you said, “Be careful”.
Maybe it was somebody you started to date, and the more you got to know them, something in you said, “Be careful”.
Maybe it was a fellow Christian. Somebody who believes like you do, attends the church you attend, but something in you said, “Be careful”.
I think if we all think about it, we’ve all encountered people like that in our lives. People who appeared to be sincere. People who appeared to have our back. People who acted the part, but something inside of you said, “Be careful”.
I know for me, as a pastor, I’ve encountered people like that. People who showed up at church. People who smiled, shook my hand, and appeared to be for me, but something inside me said, “Be careful”.
The reason I ask you to consider this question, is because as we come to our passage today, when it comes to certain people in our lives, Jesus is encouraging us to be careful.
2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
And what’s interesting about Jesus’s warning, is it isn’t a warning against people you work with. It isn’t a warning against people you go to school with. It’s not a warning against people who don’t believe like you do.
No. Instead it’s a warning against the people you might least suspect. A warning against certain individuals within the church.
In fact, in , Jesus has a specific title for people like this. Listen to how Jesus describes these individuals in . Jesus says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (ESV)
Jesus says, “Listen, you need to be aware that there are people in the church who aren’t what they appear to be. On the outside they have the appearance of a sheep, but inside they are a wolf, a predator. Somebody who you can’t trust and is seeking their own agenda.” And Jesus says, “Beware of people like this.”
So, who are these people? In Jesus calls them “False Prophets”. In other words, they are people who claim to speak for God or claim to have a relationship with God, but in fact do not. They are pretenders.
Have you ever met somebody like that? Somebody who claimed to be spiritual or portrayed themselves as godly ,but you had a check. As you talked to them, as you observed them, something didn’t add up.
I know as a pastor, I’ve encountered people like this. People who showed up at church. People who smiled, shook my hand, and appeared to be godly, but something inside me said, “Be Careful”.
That happened when Denise and I first came to Marysville. In our first year at MCF there were a few individuals we had a check about. Something inside of us said, “Be Careful”. And unfortunately, we were right about those individuals. Over time they showed their true colors and nearly destroyed the work God was doing at MCF.
Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, that almost sounds a little negative. That almost sounds like your saying we should be paranoid or suspicious of people in the church.”
And I would agree. It is negative. And maybe more than anything, it’s sad that we would have to “beware” of certain people in the church.
So, why is that? Why do we need to be on guard against certain people? Here’s why.
The reality is, that whenever Jesus is present and at work in a church, the enemy is close at hand. And when I say enemy, I’m talking about the “Enemy” capital E. I’m talking about the devil. Because whether you believe it or not, he’s a real being, and he’s a real threat.
And the truth is, the devil hates the work of Jesus. And as a result, he is looking for a way to destroy what Jesus is doing in a church. In our church.
In fact, listen to what the bible says about the devil. The Apostle Peter writes this, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (ESV)
Peter says, “Listen, you need to be careful. Because there’s a real enemy out there. And like a lion seeking prey, he is prowling around, seeking someone to devour.”
And here’s the sad truth about how the devil prowls. Sometimes he prowls through people. Through people who have somehow opened themselves to his suggestions, to his bidding, and to his desires. Sometimes he prowls through people who look like sheep, but within they are ravenous wolves. And so, along with Jesus, Peter says, “Beware”.
So, a good question might be, “When it comes to individuals like this, what exactly is it we need to beware of?” That’s a great question. And from our passage this morning, what were going to discover is, that it’s not so much a specific person we need to beware of, but it’s more of a religious behavior, attitude, and mindset that could set in and destroy the work that God is doing in our church.
So, here’s what we are going to do this morning. First, we are going to read through our passage. Second, I want to take a few moments and explain what is happening in the passage. And finally, I want to talk about how Jesus’s warning applies to our lives.
So, let’s get started with our passage. Picking back up in , beginning in verse 38, Mark writes:
Picking back up in , beginning in verse 38, Mark writes:
“And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (ESV)
What I want you to notice first is that Jesus doesn’t waste anytime identifying this group. He begins by calling out the Scribes. He says, “Beware of the scribes”.
So, who are the scribes? You may recall the scribes were the theologians of Jesus’s day. They were the interpreters of scripture. In other words, if you wanted to know what a passage in the Bible meant, you would go to a scribe and he would interpret it for you. He would tell you what it meant.
So, Jesus says, “Beware of these guys.” Now, a good question would be, “Why do we need to beware of them? What makes them so dangerous?”
Is it because they have bad theology? Is it because they are mis interpreting scripture? Is it because they don’t belong to a certain denomination? Why do we need to beware of them?
Interestingly enough, Jesus’s warning has nothing to do with their theology, teaching, or their interpretations.
So, what does his warning entail? Let’s continue. Jesus says, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes...” :38a
Jesus says, the first problem with the Scribes is they like to walk around in long robes. So, what’s he talking about? What’s Jesus’s problem with robes?
What we need to understand is that what Jesus is referring to is their religious clothing, specifically a piece of clothing called a tallith that was worn during formal prayer and for other religious acts. It would have looked something like this.
And for the Scribes it was a mark of their position and authority. It would be similar to the religious robes you see some priests and pastors wear today. Some type of garment that sets them apart and identifies their position.
But apparently, in the case of the Scribes, their wearing of the robe went beyond religious acts. In other words, they didn’t just wear it during Sunday service, they wore them all the time, and apparently they got a lot of pleasure out of it.
And what Jesus seems to be insinuating is they wore them for the wrong reason. How do we know? Because of what He says next. In connection to their robes, Jesus says, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces...” (ESV)
Jesus says, the reason they wear their robes around, is so they can get attention. They like the fact that people notice the robes. They like the respect they get when people see them wearing them. In fact, in the first century, when a Scribe passed by wearing their robe, it wasn’t uncommon for people to stand up or bow in respect. And the Scribes really liked that.
But it didn’t stop there. Jesus goes on to say, “Not only do they like to wear their robes and get greeted in public”, he says on top of that, “and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts...” (ESV)
Jesus says not only do they want to be noticed, they want everybody to know how important they are. How so? By begin seated in the best seats in the house. In other words, they want the preferred table. They want the front row seats. They want to walk down the isle and have everybody stand in awe as they make their way to the front of the line. In fact, they expect it. They want celebrity treatment.
So, Jesus says, beware of these guys. Because while on the outside they seem too be good and godly, it’s all a facade. It’s an act. The truth is, these guys are arrogant, prideful, and deceitful. They are not what they appear.
Now, you might be thinking, “Wow, isn’t Jesus being a little judgmental? How is he coming to this conclusion based on what these guys are wearing?”
He tells us as he now moves to their behavior. Listen to what he says next as he points to their actions. Jesus says, these are also the guys, “who devour widows' houses...” (ESV)
who devour widows' houses
So, what does that mean? To be honest, most scholars are uncertain what Jesus is referring to, but many believe Jesus is pointing to an expectation that the Scribes had for their compensation. Because for the most part, the Scribes were dependent on the gifts of others. Meaning, they survived off the generosity of others.
So, for example, if they needed food, the expectation was as they walked through the marketplace and shopped, the food would be provided to them for free.
So, what was wrong with that? Nothing on the surface. For somebody to do that for a man committed to teaching God’s word would have been a faithful and generous act. The problem is the Scribes had come to expect this, and maybe even in some cases, require it.
So, what do widows have to do with that. Well, what some believe Jesus is referring to is a ploy the Scribes had engaged in that involved financially taking advantage of widows. It involved seeking out women who had lost their husbands, and manipulating them, in hopes that the widow would will or donate her possessions and and possibly her home to the Scribe. In other words, they would seek to take advantage of defenseless women in the hopes of filling their pockets with her inheritance. It was a devious act.
In fact, in Matthew’s account of this statement, Jesus refers to theses Scribes as “wolves in sheeps clothing”. In Jesus says this of these men, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (ESV)
To be honest, it’s what you see modern day televe do who
Jesus says, “These guys are snakes. They slither their way into peoples lives in order to take advantage of them.”
But it doesn’t stop there. Because part of what makes them so deceptive, isn’t just the religious garb they wear, but the words they use. Jesus goes on to say, “Not only do they devour widows’ houses”, but, “for a pretense make long prayers.” (ESV)
Jesus says, as they walk around in their long robes, robbing people blind, they are really good at making it sound like they are godly as they proclaim loud and long prayers.
In other words, these guys are good at praying prayers with big words. They are eloquent in their speech. They know how to say things in a way that make people stand back and go, “Wow, what a prayer! What a sermon! What a magnificent display of religious gobbeley gook!”
Jesus says beware of such men who look good on the outside, but on the inside they are rotten. In fact, listen to what Jesus says of the Scribes as he rebukes them for their hypocrisy in . Jesus says:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (ESV)
Jesus says, “Beware of such men. They’re not the real deal. They are like a cup that is clean on the outside but is full of filth on the inside. They’re nobody you should trust or emulate.”
So, that’s what’s this passage is about. This is the warning Jesus issues concerning the Scribes, and how he discredits these dishonest men.
Now, at this point, you might be thinking, “Wow, that’s all very interesting. But pastor, how does this apply to us? I mean, we don’t have Scribes today, so how is this relevant to our situation?
I would say it applies in a couple of ways.
First, it applies in the sense that while we don’t have Scribes, we do have other spiritual leaders in our lives. They’re called pastors and priests, and they lead organizations called churches. And the sad truth is, some of them aren’t what they appear.
For example, believe it or not, I know of a pastor who requires his staff to stand when he enters the room. He believes his position demands respect. Hard to believe, right?
I know of other pastors who expect the red carpet treatment wherever they go. They expect to be recognized and catered to. I know one pastor who always expects his meals to be covered.
I also know pastors who have taken advantage of people financially. There’s been a bunch of them over the years on tv selling coffee cups and all kinds of ridiculous items. In fact, I know of a particular ministry that is teaching people the end of the world is coming, and so they are selling them emergency food buckets. Crazy, right? But true.
Now, you might be thinking, “Wow, that’s really discouraging. To think there are pastors, priests, and churches who would be like that.”
Here’s what you need to remember. Pastors and priests are people too. They’re not perfect. They make mistakes. And sometimes, like anybody, they think more of themselves than they should.
So, here’s what that means for you. When it comes to being part of a church or following a particular personality or ministry, like Jesus says, you need to beware. You need to make sure they’re the real deal. Make sure what they portray outwardly isn’t just a facade.
Now, you might be wondering, “How do I do that?” To be honest, it’s really simple. In Jesus tells us.
Listen to what he says concerning the wolves in sheep clothing. “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (ESV)
Jesus says, “Time will tell. Eventually they’ll bear fruit, and it will either be good fruit or it will be bad fruit.”
And what Jesus says is true. Over time, a pastor, a church, or a ministry, will eventually show its true colors. Over time it will either be life giving or life taking.
In fact, I would invite you to do that here at MCF. Because just because we’re a church. Just because we have a cross out in the lobby. Just because you were greeted at the door with a smile. Just because outwardly it would appear we are the real deal, if you’re going to make this your church home, you need to make sure what’s on the outside matches what’s on the inside. And the truth is, time will tell.
And my prayer is, as you spend time here, that you’ll see good fruit. That over time, while we’re not a perfect church, and I’m not a perfect pastor, that you’ll recognize we are a church that loves people, a church that leads people to Jesus, and a church that preaches the Word. I pray that’s the fruit you’ll see.
So, that’s one application, to make sure the church or pastor your following isn’t a wolf in sheeps clothing.
But to be honest, I think there is a deeper application here. One for all of us to consider, including myself. An application that will largely determine the type of fruit you and I will bear in our lives.
Because while Jesus is pointing to a specific religious group in this passage, what he’s really pointing to, what he’s really telling us to beware of, isn’t so much a religious group as it is the danger of religious thinking. He’s warning us not to adopt a version of faith that will leave us fruitless.
And so, to help us better see this application, I want to give you four practical warnings for us from this passage that I believe Jesus would want us to hear. Four warnings that will keep us fruitless. The first would be this. As a Christ follower, I need to:
1. Beware of becoming a bumper sticker Christian.
Jesus says, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplace...”
You all know what I mean by “Bumper Stickers”, right? You know, the people who put the religious bumper stickers on their car. For example, have you ever been behind this guy:
You all know what I mean by “Bumper Stickers”, right? You know, the people who put the religious bumper stickers on their car. For example, have you ever been behind this guy:
Picture of Bumper Sticker
Now, you might be thinking, “Glad that’s not me pastor. I would never put something like that on my car.”
Now, please hear me, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with putting a Christian bumper sticker on your car that says, “I’m a Christian” or “Jesus loves you” or “honk for Jesus”. If you have one of those on your vehicle, that’s great. But here’s the problem or the caution I would give you. The problem is, while Jesus is plastered on the outside of car, often he’s not inside of the car.
How do I know? I know because Jesus wouldn’t cut people off. Jesus wouldn’t cuss somebody out for pulling out in front of him. Jesus wouldn’t wave with his middle finger. Jesus wouldn’t act like a mad man behind the wheel. You see the problem with a bumper sticker Christians is, the bumper sticker says one thing, but the behavior and actions of the driver inside the vehicle often say another.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (ESV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Think of it like this. Have you ever drank out of something only to discover the content was sour or rotten? I remember one time I grabbed a carton of milk out of the fridge, took a swig, and discovered very quickly the milk had gone bad.d Jesus says, “You guys are like a carton of milk that looks good on the outside, but on the inside it’s full of sour milk.” So, what Jesus is saying is, “Beware of that kind of religious thinking. Beware of the mindset that it’s the outside that matters most.
Anybody ever witness something like that? To be honest, that’s why we will never have an MCF bumper sticker while I’m your pastor.
So, what Jesus is saying is, “Beware of that kind of religious thinking. Beware of the mindset that it’s the outside that matters.
Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, I know people who have those bumper stickers. But that’s not me. I’m not one of those bumper sticker Christians.”
Well, you might not have a literal bumper sticker on your car, but there are other ways you might be sporting a version of a Christian bumper sticker. Let me give you some examples of what I’m talking about.
Example 1 - For some Christians, their bumper sticker is their Sunday best or Sunday persona. In other words, it’s the clothes they wear on a Sunday morning and the image they try to display.
And the truth is, it’s not always
Now, we don’t see it much here at MCF, but in some churches, what you wear to church is really important. What you wear determines your level of holiness. It defines how spiritual you are. And for some people, church is a spiritual fashion show. Ever been in a church like that?
In churches like this, acceptance and respect are based on what you wear on the outside. The mindset is, people who really love God dress up. And people who aren’t quite there show up in jeans. Similar to the Scribes, people like this wear their long robes because they want to put on a good image and be greeted by others in the marketplace.
Example 2 - For other Christians, their bumper sticker is their Christian symbols or imagery. It’s the cross they wear around their neck. It’s the oversized Bible they carry into church. It’s their WWJD bracelet around their wrist. It’s their Christian t-shirt.
And please hear me, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with Christian imagery. What I’m saying though is, for some people, christian imagery is what defines them. Instead of being defined by Christ in them, they are defined by an outward symbol that makes them appear religious and holy. But in the end, it’s just a bumper sticker.
Example 3- For some Christians, their bumper sticker is their social media posts. You’ve probably seen posts like this. My favorite is when somebody posts a picture of their cup of coffee, a bible, and then they write something like, “Me and God in the morning!”. It’s their social media bumper sticker. Believe it or not, I’ve seen pastors do this as they study for Sunday.
Why do they post it? They post it because they want to be noticed. They want to be seen in the public market place. As they fly down the highway of social media they want to make sure everybody knows how spiritual they are. It’s their bumper sticker.
But here’s the problem. A few posts back, somebody made them mad, somebody made a post they didn’t agree with. So they let them have it in the comment section. See what I’m saying?
Example 4 - Then there are those whose bumper sticker is a denomination. For some, it’s a Catholic bumper sticker. For others a Lutheran bumper sticker. For others a Pentecostal bumper sticker. And the list goes on.
Example 5 - And then for some Christians, it’s their place of worship. It’s where they go to church. It’s how many crosses their church has. The number of stained glass windows in the building. The number of statues. The size of the altar. Their church is their bumper sticker, It’s how they identify themselves as a spiritual godly person. After all, I go to that church.
So, what’s wrong with those bumper stickers? On the surface, nothing. It’s not wrong to dress up for church. It’s not wrong to wear a Christian t-shirt or carry a big bible. It’s not wrong to post spiritual stuff on facebook. It’s not wrong to be a part of a denomination. It’s not wrong to attend a church that has religious symbols plastered all over the place. That’s all fine. The problem is this. They’re just bumper stickers. None of it makes you right with God. None of it makes you more holy. None of it makes you more righteous. None of it makes you more like Jesus. They’re just robes people wear because it makes them feel good and in many cases draws attention.
And if we’re not careful, what we could miss is that God isn’t in to bumper stickers. The truth is, he cares more about what’s on the inside than what your bumper sticker says on the outside.
In fact, in Mark chapter 13, Jesus is going to talk more about this as the disciples marvel over the beauty of the temple. Just as a preview, listen to how Jesus responds to them as they point out the amazing features of their place of worship.
“And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (ESV)
In this passage, the disciples are admiring the temple, and they’re saying, “Look how big the temple is Jesus. Look Jesus at how magnificent it is. Look Jesus at the stained glass windows. Look Jesus at the steeple! Look Jesus at the magnificence of our church.”
And Jesus says, “Yup, it’s nice, but God doesn’t care about that. In fact, someday the building you think is so great, is going to be torn down. It will be gone.”
Jesus has a way of letting air out of the room, doesn’t he? So, why does Jesus say that? It’s really simple. He says it because God’s not about outward appearance and bumper stickers. Building aren’t the most important thing to him. So, what is? Well, believe it or not, he is concerned about the temple. But not the temple you’d think. The temple He’s concerned about is you.
Paul puts it like this, “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” (ESV)
Paul says, “The temple God’s concerned about is you. It’s the temple he wants to reside in.”
And that doesn't’ mean we can’t have nice buildings to have church in. But what we can’t forget is that it’s not the building that makes us a church. It’s the transformed people within it.
To be honest, I have to remind myself of that with our building. I love our building. I love how modern it is, and I think its a great tool to reach the next generation for Jesus. But it’s not what makes us spiritual. It’s not what makes us righteous. It’s just a building. It’s a bumper sticker on highway 36. And the question is, “Is what the bumper sticker says on the outside true of what’s really on the inside?”
The fact is, for Jesus to be Jesus
He didn’t need a Jesus bumper sticker on his donkey.
For Jesus to be Jesus, he didn’t have to wear a Jesus t-shirt with a picture of himself on it.
For Jesus to be Jesus he didn’t need to post a selfie of himself reading his Bible so people knew he was really serious about God.
For Jesus to be Jesus, he didn’t need a building with his name on it.
None of those things defined him. To be honest, on the outside, Jesus looked like anybody else. Want to know how I know that? I know that because when Judas betrayed Jesus, he had to identify him with a kiss. Because apparently he didn’t look any different than the 12 disciples he hung out with. He wasn’t wearing a special white robe. He didn’t have a crown on. On the outside Jesus looked like everybody else. But what made him different is what was on the inside.
And the same is true for you and me. And the danger for you and I is that we would get caught up in our bumper sticker Christianity. That in our obsession with appearance and in our desire to be recognized by others, we would forget that God is more concerned about what’s on the inside than the outside. He’s not impressed by what your bumper stickers says or portrays. What he’s impressed by is whether your living a life obedience to His Word. What he’s concerned about is the kind of temple you are becoming as His Spirit works in you. A temple that either represents him or does not.
This leads us to a second warning. As a christians we need to:
2. Beware of adopting a Facebook faith.
Jesus says, “Beware of the Scribes…who like greetings in the marketplace...”
If I’m honest, one of the things I hate about Facebook is the desire it creates in you to want people to like your posts. Have you ever noticed that? You know, you post something funny, or a picture, or maybe even a scripture, and then you sit there and refresh it waiting to see who “likes” what you posted? Anybody here do that? A couple of you are honest.
What this is leading to is a culture that craves validation. A culture where people craved to be liked and approved of. A culture where people want others to approve of their ideas, their opinions, and their desires. And if you don’t agree, then you’re a hate monger. You’re a mean person. More than likely, you voted for Donald Trump.
Why do you think we do that? I think we do it because we like greetings in the marketplace. We like people to recognize us. To approve of us. It makes us feel good. It gives us a sense of self worth and importance.
And what’s unfortunate, is Facebook isn’t the only place we do that. unfortunately, some Christians live out their faith with a constant desire for approval.
2. Beware of the desire for celebrity treatment and status
But the problem with that is, not everybody is going to “like” you. Not everybody is going to approve of your opinions, ideas, or lifestyle. So, it’s a real problem in our culture.
And what’s scary, is some of that desire has crept into the church. The desire to be liked. The desire to be approved of. The desire for others to put their stamp of approval
3. Beware of the desire for celebrity status
“Beware of the Scribes…who have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts...”
Jesus says, “Beware of the Scribes…who have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts...”
As we learned, the Scribes liked having the best seats in the house. They wanted people to know they were important. Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, I’m not sure how that applies to me? I never sit in the front row at church. In fact, I’d rather sit in the back.”
Here’s how it applies. The truth is, we live in a culture where everybody wants to be somebody. A culture where we are obsessed with celebrity status. A culture where what your last name is, where you work, what you’ve accomplished, and what degree you have often determine the level of respect and status you are given.
On top of that, we live in an inward focused culture. A culture where for the most part people live for themselves. Live for their own advantage. And as a result, they live with an attitude of entitlement. In other words, because of who I am, because of what I’ve accomplished, because of where I work, I’m entitled.
That’s true, right? And maybe even more true in a small town where last names and social status seem to be a big deal.
And what’s unfortunate, is this thinking has crept into some churches. In fact, that’s what keeps some people out of church. The fear that they aren’t good enough. The fear that they won’t fit in. The fear that because of their past or what their last name is, they won’t be welcomed.
And in some cases, their fear is legitimate. This is what the Apostle James was talking about in as he addressed this issue. Listen to what he says:
“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man.” (ESV)
James says, “Listen, don’t let the outward appearance, don’t let the last name, don’t let the reputation, don’t let their status, don’t let their occupation, don’t let the amount of money a person makes be the determining factor for how you treat someone.”
James says when they walk through the doors of your church, all that goes out the window. In the church there is no partiality. In the church, nobody gets special treatment. In the church we are all on the same playing field. In the church we all have the same status. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
And if we are going to remain an affective church, we can’t ever forget that. We can’t ever become like the Scribes who were focused on status and position. That kind of thinking will destroy a church.
“It’s interesting to note that the disciples struggled with this early on. In fact, at the last supper this topic came up as they argued about who the greatest was. Listen to how Jesus responded to them, “ A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” (ESV)
Jesus says, “The greatest isn’t the one who sits in the special seat.” Jesus says, “The greatest is the one who serves others.”
MCF, that’s the kind of church that will reach the lost. That’s the kind of church that will make a difference. A church that serves the needs of others. And it starts with you. It starts with your willingness to serve the needs of others rather than your own needs.
This leads us to a third warning. Jesus says:
3. Beware of wolves in sheep clothing.
Jesus says, “Beware of the Scribes…who devour widows’ houses...”
What I want you to notice in this passage, is that Jesus doesn’t have any problem calling a spade a spade. He has no problem calling these so called religious men out for their devious acts. And the truth is, neither should we.
The fact is, when Jesus is working in and through a church, you can be assured the enemy isn’t far away. And when I say enemy, I’m talking about the enemy, capital E. I’m talking about the devil. In fact, listen to what the Apostle Peter tells us about this enemy.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (ESV)
Peter says the devil is prowling around seeking someone to devour. In other words, the devil is looking for an opportunity to get into your life. To get into your situation. To in some way influence you in a negative way.
And sadly, that’s how he gets into churches. He gets in through people. People who in some way have given themselves over to his influence. People who have been given over to gossip. People who have allowed pride or anger to overtake them. People who are self seeking. People who have little care for the needs of others.
And the truth is, the devil uses people like this to create controversies and problems in churches. The devil uses people like this to get a church unfocused. And over time they become the wolves in sheep clothing Jesus is referring to. People who not he outside seem pretty spiritual. People who come across as sincere. But underneath it’s a different story. Underneath they are self serving, self focused, and care little for the needs of others. And the truth is, they are in every church. And they are people we need to beware of.
Now, you might be thinking, “Wow pastor, that sounds kind of negative. That sounds like your saying we need to be paranoid and suspect of people.”
Well, it is kind of negative, and it’s sad that we have to be on guard. But that’s what “beware” means. It means be on the look out. Because Jesus says there will be people who come into the church to devour and destroy.
And when that happens, we can’t be afraid to call a spade a spade. We can’t be afraid we might upset someone if we say something. Because there’s to much at stake. To many people that need Jesus for us to sit on our hands if we recognize that somebody might be a wolf.
I’m not going to go into a lot of detail, but this was the issue when Denise and I came to MCF in 2012. When we came, we quickly recognized there were a few individuals in the church who didn’t have the best interest of the church in mind. Individuals that weren’t concerned with reaching lost people. Individuals who wanted the church to be their way or no way. Individuals that made statements to me like, “We don’t want those people coming to our church.”
And the truth is, our initial desire was to try to and love these individuals and help them see what God wanted to do at MCF. To try and help them see what the Bible says about the purpose and focus of a church.
But they wouldn’t listen and instead started to try and cause disunity in the church. They held secret meetings, they spread rumors about me that weren’t true, and ultimately there goal was to get rid of Denise and I.
It all came to a head one night in an emergency board meeting when I was forced to Biblically confront this group. A night where I unmasked the wolf in sheeps clothing. And to be honest, it’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do as a pastor. More than anything I wanted these individuals to come to their spiritual senses. But they wouldn’t. Because in that meeting that night, the ring leader made it very clear that wasn’t going to happen has he finally blurted out, “Either he goes or we go.”
And in that moment, I looked at the board and said, “Well there you go. This person wants to be the pastor. This person wants to lead this church. This person wants to be the Shepherd.” So I said, “So you all need to decide right now who you want the pastor of this church to be, this person or me.” And then I said something that isn’t typical for me. I said, “But know this. If you follow this person, let me tell you where this church is going to go. It’s going to go back into the wilderness where it will die. And maybe, someday, God will raise it up again with a generation of people who understand the gospel. But none of you at this table will see that. But, if your willing to follow Denise and I, I believe God has brought us here to lead MCF into the promises he has for this church. But I can’t force that on you. You have to decide right now.”
And as you can imagine, seconds seemed like hours, but unanimously the board looked and me and said, “Pastor, you’re not going anywhere.” And then they looked at this individual who had laid out the ultimatum and said, “You need to go.”
And as that person stormed out of the room, it was like a cloud was lifted. And I can tell you right now, MCF wouldn’t be where it is today if we as a board wouldn’t have been willing to confront the wolf problem.
Now, you might be thinking, “Wow pastor, that seems harsh. That seems unnecessary. Why did it have to go to that extreme? Isn’t it a little judgmental to call a person a wolf?”
Here’s what you need to remember. The enemy wants to destroy what God is doing here. And he is willing to go to extremes to do it. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to destroy MCF. The question is, are we willing to do what it takes to protect it? Are we willing to protect the church against gossip. To protect the church against dissension and disunity. To protect the church from sinful attitudes and behavior. Are we willing to go to extremes to keep the enemy out of our building. Are we willing to identify a wolf and deal with it?
And please hear me, that doesn’t mean we kick people out or that we don’t try and help someone that has lost their way. We need to do that. But if they won’t change. If they won’t submit to biblical authority and God’s word, then we’ve done all we can do. In fact, listen to what the Apostle Paul says about this. Concerning a divisive person, he writes:
“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” (ESV)
Paul says there comes a point where a divisive person crosses a line. When after being warned, after being talked to, after being shown what the bible says, they continue to stir up division. Paul says, have nothing to dow ith them. They are warped and sinful.
Again, that sounds harsh, but that’s how you deal with wolves who want to devour the flock. They can’t stay in the sheep pin.
Here’s the bottom line. In order to keep reaching people for Jesus, we have to beware of those that may be working to derail that. And when people like that surface, we can’t be afraid to confront them in love and try and help them see the truth. But if they won’t repent. If they’re unwilling to change. If they are bent on causing disunity. We have no other choice but to call a spade a spade. Jesus says, “Beware of those who devour.”
One more warning, and we’ll close with this. As Christians we need to:
4. Beware of performance driven Christianity.
Jesus says, “Beware of the Scribes…who for a pretense make long prayers...”
One of the dangers, especially for people who have been Christians for a long time or grew up religious, to base our faith on performance. To base it on our church attendance. To base it on how much money we give. To base it on how often we pray or read our bible. To base it on how many rituals we perform. To base it on how many good deeds we perform. To base it on how often we volunteer. And the list goes on.
Here’s what we need to remember. God isn’t interested in our performance. He’s not interested in our spiritual acting ability. You’re not going to get to heaven and have God hold up a card that rates you a 7, 8 or 10. This isn’t the olympics. Your faith isn’t about you performing for God.
So, what is God looking for? The prophet Isaiah tells us. Listen to what he says about God’s displeasure with hsi people.
“And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me...” (ESV)
Isaiah says God isn’t looking for lip service. He’s not looking for performance. That’s not what he wants. What he wants is your heart. What he wants is what we’ve been talking about the last few weeks. He wants you love him with your heart, soul, and mind. With your entire being.
Jesus echoes this as well in as he quotes Isaiah. Jesus says, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me...” (ESV)
What Jesus is basically saying is, “Your religious exercises are getting you nowhere.”
But that’s what we do. We go through a regiment of spiritual jumping jacks and push ups trying perform for God. That’s what the Scribes did. It was a performance. But it was a facade because their heart was far from God.
Let me ask you something. Is your faith a performance? In other words, did you show up at church today to show God and others how spiritual you are? Is that why you are here?
Did you raise your hands in worship today so people around you would think, “Wow, they’re really spiritual.”
Did you take communion today as a ritualistic way to please God? To show God how committed you are.
Are you volunteering because you want to show people how faithful you are. So you can show God how committed you are?
The truth is, it’s easy to get caught up in performance.. It’s easy to go through the motions. It’s easy to lose sight that God isn’t looking for our performance, but that what he wants is our heart. A heart committed to Him. A heart that desires to know Him.
Jesus says, “Beware of loud prayers.” Beware of servicing God with your lips while your heart is nowhere near him.
Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, why is this such a big deal? Why do we need to beware of this?” Because of what Jesus says as he closes out his statement. Listen to what he says, “They will receive the greater condemnation.” (ESV)
Jesus says, “For those who based their faith on performance, they will receive the greater condemnation.” So, what does that mean?
To be honest, there are a couple ways you could take Jesus’s statement, but one specific scripture comes to my mind when I read that. The scripture is found in , and in my opinion, for a person who claims to be a Christian, it’s the scariest scripture in the Bible. Listen to the words of Jesus:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)
The fact is, someday we will all stand before Jesus. And apparently there will be people who stand before him, people who thought they were Christians but aren’t going to heaven. And in that moment they’re going to be in shock. And they’re going to say, “But Jesus, I went to church every week. I raised my hands in worship. I volunteered. I took communion. I got baptized.” And Jesus is going to say, “Yeah, you performed really well. You paid me some great lip service. But you never gave me your heart. You never entered into a relationship with me. Therefore, I never knew you. Depart from me.”
As we close this morning, let me ask you this question. If you were to stand before Jesus today, what would your justification be for him to let you into heaven? Would it be your performance? Would it be based on all the religious hurdles and hoops you jumped through? Or would it be based on the fact that you fully gave your heart to Jesus? Because at the end of the day, that’s what he wants. He doesn’t want your performance. He wants your heart.
Paul writes, “
Let’s Pray