“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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Contents

1) The Proud Pharisees (Bryan Gibson)
2) Misplaced Trust (Zack Fisk)
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The Proud Pharisee

Byran Gibson

There were notable exceptions (e.g. Paul), but generally speaking, the Pharisees were a proud bunch. The Pharisee Jesus depicted in this parable was all too typical: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). Speaking of the Pharisees, Jesus said, “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’” (Matthew 23:6-7). Pride of this sort will inevitably lead to other problems, and this was certainly the case with the Pharisees. Let’s examine some of the fruits of their pride, with this goal in mind: to make sure we’re not guilty of the same.

They did their good works, not to please the Lord, but to be seen of men (Matthew 23:5), the very thing Jesus warned against in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-2, 5, 16). Desire for man’s honor was exactly what kept many of the Pharisees from believing in Jesus (John 5:44). When you’re proud, it’s too easy to believe and do what’s popular, instead of what’s right.

This desire for man’s praise led them to practice what we might call an “outward only righteousness” (Matthew 23:23-28; Luke 11:42). They were meticulous in doing the things that could be seen by others, but they neglected such things as justice, mercy, faith, and even the love of God.

They failed to see themselves as God saw them—which is easy to do when you are full of yourself. They couldn’t see they were “full of extortion and self-indulgence…hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:25, 28). They couldn’t see their need for Jesus, because they couldn’t see their sin (Luke 7:36-50).

They couldn’t see their own sins, but they could sure see the sins of others. They were surprised Jesus would eat with such low-lifers as “tax collectors and sinners” (Mark 2:16); they even thanked God they were not like them (Luke 18:9-14). Honest self-examination would have made them much more humble in their approach to others (Galatians 6:1-5).

They closed their ears to the truth. When you’re proud, it’s easy to become entrenched in your own view, to reach the point that no amount of evidence can persuade you otherwise. There was no disputing that Jesus healed the blind man in John 9, but they did everything they could to dismiss the evidence (John 9:13-34). When proven wrong on a point, they didn’t admit it; they either got mad with the one who proved them wrong (Matthew 12:9-14), or resorted to ridiculous arguments (Matthew 12:22-26).

They loved money (Luke 16:13-15; 11:39), which is not surprising, when you consider they were all about status. When in love with the praise of men, it’s easy for this to become one’s focus.

Their traditions became more important to them than God’s word (Mark 7:1-13). Again, we’re not surprised, because these traditions were theirs. Breaking these traditions was an affront to them. It’s a shame that they couldn’t get as upset over violations of God’s commandments (including their own).

It’s no wonder Jesus sounded this warning in the Sermon on the Mount: “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, July 9, 2024
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Misplaced Trust

Zack Fisk

The days of the prophets were dark days indeed, being completely surrounded in sin and lawlessness. Behind them, the people of Judah had left their first love and true God. Currently, they were knee deep in sins and idolatry with no sign of changing, nor any sign of remorse. Ahead of them, destruction and captivity awaited them. This is the context of Jeremiah’s message when he said, “Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, are these” (Jer. 7:4). The people of Judah never considered captivity or destruction as reasonable possibilities, because they believed as long as the temple of God stood, Jerusalem would stand. Because of this faulty mindset, Jeremiah warned against false prophets by saying “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14; 8:11). Jeremiah called the people to turn back to God and place their trust in Him, not in the temple or in some other physical object.

Although Jeremiah’s voice seems far removed from us today, the lessons that he taught are as timely as ever. The world ranks “strong” and “weak” churches today based on the number of people that attend. Another big factor that controls the world’s view of strength is the size of the contribution offered. Many churches draw in new families by advertising the size of their “youth group” to create a family-friendly atmosphere. While each one of these elements is not wrong in and of themselves, they do not necessarily represent congregational strength. John wrote to the Church at Sardis that they had a reputation among men for being alive, but they were actually dead (Rev. 3:1). Jesus did not address the contribution, the attendance, the so-called “youth group,” or any other physical attraction. He attacked their teaching, their failure to repent, their incomplete devotion towards God, and their failure to be watchful for Christ’s coming (Rev. 3:2-3). God wants all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) and wants to see them added to the church (Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18), but He does not want people placing their confidence in a number, a size, a preacher, a song service, or a large number of young people. More than anything else, God wants His followers to focus on hearing His word, and keeping His commandments (Matt. 7:21-25; James 1:21-25). Jesus connected obedience with love when He said “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15), and again “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you” (Jn. 15:14). While we cannot earn our salvation by keeping a checklist of commands to get our ticket to heaven punched, obedience demonstrates a living and saving faith (1 Thess. 1:3; James 2:14-26). God does not desire a large number of lukewarm followers who have placed their trust in carnal symbols of strength and success (Rev. 3:14-19), but hearts that are truly convicted to serving Him faithfully.

Jeremiah’s preaching urged the people to turn back to God and trust in His laws (Jer. 18:8). Their false security in the temple and in Jerusalem pulled their hearts away from God, and we must not follow their example. Our hope and trust must not be in what we see around us, but in God’s Word and the promises He has given for those who will follow Him. 

— Via Viewpoint from the Valley Grove church of Christ, May 8, 2022
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Micah 6:8

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?”

— NASB
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
 
2) Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).

3) Repent of sins.  For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).  For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).

4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).

5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).  This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).  For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…

6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)