In recent months, we have attended funerals conducted in ornate buildings owned and
operated by denominations in our town. As I looked at the trappings of these temples of the
devil — including one that had a snack bar in the foyer — it occurred to me that Jesus could
well have been talking to their “pastors” in Matthew 23. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day
were forerunners of today’s servants of Satan who masquerade as pious preachers and followers
of Jesus. In reality, the denominational preachers in our town dare not preach the Truth. To
do so would mean sacrificing their lucrative salaries, prestige, power, and prominence in the
community. To lose those things, might make them wind up like Saul of Tarsus who gave up
everything to preach Christ.
What did Saul of Tarsus sacrifice to become the apostle Paul? Read Galatians
1:13-14 and Second Corinthians 11:18-12:10. No Assembly of God, Baptist, Methodist,
Community Church, Presbyterian, or Lutheran “pastor” or Catholic priest in our town would do
that. Consequently, here’s our modern application of the words of Jesus in Matthew 23.
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 saying, The Denominational industry’s clergy teach some things that are found in the New
Testament:
3 all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe that is in the New Testament, observe and
do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders;
but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all of their works they do for to be seen of men: They make broad their collars and
turn them backward,
6 and love places of prominence in the community,
7 and greetings on the street, and to be called of men, Reverend and Father.
8 But be not ye called Reverend or Father, for one is your reverend Father, which is in
heaven; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your father which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called the PastoR1
or Chief Pastor; for a multiplicity of pastorS/elderS are required to serve a congregation of the
church, with all serving our Pastor, even Christ the Chief Shepherd.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself
shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist Pastors, hypocrites! for ye
shut up the kingdom of heaven against men by denying the plain command of Jesus in Mark
16:16 for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you Pentecostal televangelists, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses
demanding money from them, and for a pretense make long prayer that ye know is worthless for
their ailments: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, 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.
16 Woe unto you, ye Catholic Priests, which say, Whosoever shall pray to the Father
in heaven, it is nothing; but whosoever shall pray to Mary shall be heard!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, The Father in heaven who created all
things, or a mortal woman?
18 And, Whosoever shall fall down and worship God, it is nothing; but whosoever shall
worship the Pope and kiss his toe is a true worshipper.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the toe of a man, or the Creator of man?
20 Whoso therefore shall pray to the Father acceptably, prayeth through Christ. 21And
whoso shall pray to the Father by Christ’s authority is heard by Him in heaven.
22 And he that shall fall down and worship God, worships Him who sits on heaven’s throne
instead of the toe of a man on an earthly throne.
23 Woe unto you Community Church Pastors, hypocrites! for ye raise money for
gymnasiums, provide concerts and entertainments, adore and promote fleshly pursuits, and
have omitted the things of Christ’s law — obedience to the gospel in order to be saved
eternally.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you denominational Pastors, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the
cup and the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind minister of Satan, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter,
that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you Denominational Pastors, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited
sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but within are full of dead men’s bones,
and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye
are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
FOOTNOTES
1. Reference Scriptures:
- Acts 14:32 ordained elders in every church
- Acts 20:17 called the elders of church at Ephesus
- Titus 1:5 ordain elders in every city
- James 5:14 call for the elders of the church
- Hebrews 13:20 our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep
- I Peter 2:25 Shepherd and Bishop of your souls
- I Peter 5:4 chief Shepherd, the head of the church
STRONG'S Numbers:
(Strong's Exhaustive Analytical Concordance Of The Bible)
shepherd(s)
Matt-John — Strong's No. 4166 — poimen { Greek, transliterated }
Heb 13:20 — Strong's 4166 — poimen, 1) great shepherd
I Peter 2:25 — Strong's 4166 — poimen, 1) Shepherd
I Peter 5:4 — Strong's 0750 — archipoimen, 1) chief Shepherd: Christ
pastors
Eph 4:11 — Strong's 4166 — poimen
bishop
I Tim 3:1 — Strong's 1984 — episkopos, office of a bishop
Phil 1:1 — Strong's 1985 — episkopos
I Tim 3:2 — Strong's 1985 — episkopos
II Tim 4:22 — Strong's 1985 — episkopos
Titus 1:7 — Strong's 1985 — episkopos
Titus 3:15 — Strong's 1985 — episkopos
I Peter 2:25 — Strong's 1985 — episkopos
overseers
Acts 20:28 — Strong's 1985 — episkopos
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