In Matthew 23, Jesus is specifically addressing false religionists
Jesus’ greatest enemies were the self-righteous religionists. Read Matthew 23.
Purposely become intimately familiar with this scathing discourse of the Son of God against all religious self-righteousness and hypocrisy. God hates it. Find and mark the 8 woes of Jesus in Matthew 23.
The truth must be told.
This generation must be warned.
Religion is idolatry and damns.
Jesus Christ alone redeems and forgives sin.
Self-righteous religious people were Jesus’ greatest enemies and to whom He spoke the harshest condemnations.
Anyone who reads the 4 Gospels can see that.
3 times in Matthew 23 Jesus tells the self-righteous religionists, who rejected Him for their religion and tradition, that they are going to hell.
The sins of the scribes and Pharisees who misrepresented the loving Savior and His Kingdom
This is a real “How NOT to live” revelation to us all. This is a list from Jesus of “How NOT to live”…. really eye opening…. Help us JESUS!
“Woe unto you” is the strongest of language, the most severe divine warning. When we see the Son of God using the words “Woe unto you,” our attention should be especially piqued and attentive.
Of “Woe unto you,” F.B. Meyer writes:
“Our Lord with unfailing accuracy indicates the inevitable doom which such conduct as that of the Pharisees and scribes must incur. He forewarned them that they could expect nothing in the dread future but the judgment of Gehenna-the metaphor being taken from the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where fires were kept burning to consume rubbish and refuse. Hypocrisy is hiding under a cloak of religion the sins which the ordinary moralist and worldling would condemn. It is very injurious, because it hinders men from entering the Kingdom, Matthew 23:13. It is punctilious in its exactions, because while it strains out gnats, it swallows camels, Matthew 23:23-24. It expends itself on outward ritual-the Pharisees would not enter Pilate’s hall on the day before the Passover, but they murdered the holy Savior. Above all things, let us be true, professing to be no more than we are!”
Warning of Kingdom Blockage! The 8 “Woes” of Jesus Pronounced Upon Every Religious Hypocrite – Past, Present, Future!
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:13
Warning against thieves who front with long prayers:
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” Matthew 23:14
Warning of recruiting others into religious sin and deception:
“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.” Matthew 23:15
Warning to the false hearted idolaters:
“Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!” Matthew 23:16
Warning to omit essentials – elevating minors while ignoring the most important truths:
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Matthew 23:23
Warning to those who perform outward religious acts and yet who refuse to truly repent and seek God for a pure, cleansed heart:
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.” Matthew 23:25
Warning to those who parade their outward spiritual activities and yet are full of iniquity on the inside – where God looks, the heart:
“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.” Matthew 23:27
Warning to those who are preoccupied with the external while ignoring the place God looks upon, the heart:
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,” Matthew 23:29
PRAYER: Holy Father in Heaven, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father, here and now I repent before You. I return to You from my vile sin of self-idolatry, hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and for an evil heart of unbelief. Please strip, please purge and remove every trace of hypocrisy from my heart and life. Jesus, create in me a clean heart and make me to be Your authentic disciple, a humble, broken servant of Yours and of mankind. I love You my LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name.
Beloved, pore prayerfully over Philippians 2:3-5 every morning this week. Your life will be forever and gloriously changed!
Characteristics of Pharisees | The 16 Times the New Testament Warns us to BEWARE | Have we ourselves Become Pharisees?
Antichrist
THE ESSENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTOLOGY [podcast]

WHO do WE say that Jesus is?
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8), and He is asking us the exact questions today that He asked His disciples while on earth.
“Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Matthew 16:13
“But whom say ye that I am?” Matthew 16:15
Jesus is asking each of us “What are others saying of Me and Who do you say that I am?” In other words, perhaps He’s asking us “In a world of many swirling ideas about Me, who do you say that I am – who do you know Me to be?”
If you were asked right now to give a 5 minute talk about the uniqueness and exclusivity of Jesus Christ from the Bible, could you do it?
“The doctrine of Christ” is revealed in “the RECORD that God gave of his Son” (2 John 9; 1 John 5:10).
If we don’t believe that Jesus is who the Bible says He is then we cannot be saved. Who does the Bible tell us that Jesus Christ is?
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he (“the mighty God” prophesied Messiah Isaiah 9:6-7), ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24
“The record that God gave of his Son” includes that Jesus Christ is divine. | Jesus Christ is God
“The doctrine of Christ” informs us of who He is (2 John 9).
Among other things, Jesus Christ is ….
- The Word made flesh (John 1:1-18)
- Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)
- Creator of all that is (John 1:1-4; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16-17)
- “The Head” of His one church – remnant elect (Colossians 1:18; 2:19)
- “The Son of God” (Matthew 4:3, etc.)
- “The true God, and Eternal life” (1 John 5:20)
- The living water (John 4)
- “The bread of life” (John 6)
- “The light of the world” (John 8:12)
- “The door” (John 10:9)
- “The Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14; Hebrews 13:20)
- “The resurrection and the life” (John 11:25)
- “The way the truth and the life” (John 14:6)
- “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16)
- “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending … the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8)
The very first Messianic prophecy: Of necessity, from the very first declaration of God to fallen mankind, His promise to save us from our now fallen state, the virgin birth was asserted as a necessity….
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15
As we know, “her seed,” the “seed” in Mary’s womb was God the Father’s miracle of virgin birth, the eternal Word Jesus Christ made flesh to dwell among us and die to save us, fallen mankind (John 1:10, 14; Galatians 4:4, etc.).
The Messiah that was yet to appear, to come to the earth to die for the sins of the world, had to be divine – Isaiah the prophet foretold that the Messiah would be “the mighty GOD” (Isaiah 9:6).
“Her seed” – Women do not have seed. The man, the father, has the seed. The seed of the woman was going to be by God the Father in Mary…. A divine miracle that never had nor will happen again. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (GOD with us) (Isaiah 7:14).
The fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:21-23).
Jesus Christ is the God man. – “The Son of man” means God’s man to redeem man.
“…his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20
“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” John 5:18
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58
“I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.” John 10:30-31″
“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” John 20:28
The Sacred Substance, the Central Theme of all of Holy Scripture
Jesus Christ came to the earth exactly how and when the “more sure word of prophecy”, the Scriptures, foretold that He would come and to fulfill the Messianic prophecies of Himself to the exact detail (2 Peter 1:19-21).
“Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalms 40:7-8
“From cover to cover of the OT it was foretold not only that Christ would come into the world but that He would come with an eager, ready spirit to do the will of God. The will of God was not just in His head—it was inscribed in His very heart.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
If we truly love Christ, will we not search, read, and study the LORD Jesus Christ…. ?
“The heart of Christianity is Christ. It is to know Christ. It is to follow Christ. It is to love Christ. It is to adore Christ. The sum and the substance of the Christian life is Jesus Christ.” Steve L.
IF we miss Christ in studying His Word, we have missed all. As is clear from our LORD’s interaction and rebuke of the false religionists of His day, this is quite possible. In fact, it’s clear by what Jesus said that we can know the Scriptures and not the Savior. We can know the words of God without knowing the God of that Word.
John 5:39-47
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”
IF doctrine weren’t important, explain this….
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not (does not remain) in the DOCTRINE of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9
The only way we can be assured we are following the Jesus of the Bible and not “another Jesus” is to ascertain that we are established in “the doctrine of Christ” which is simply what the Bible teaches us about Jesus Christ the Messiah.
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:4
HOW do we know that the coming of Jesus is at hand? Jesus warns. When asked He tells us that he first sign of His soon return will be the proliferation, the invasion of “MANY false prophets”:
“The disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. … 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. … 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:3-5, 11, 24
“The Doctrine of Christ”
51 times the Bible uses the word “doctrine,” and the central truth of biblical “doctrine” is what Scripture tells us about Jesus, the sacred substance of the Scriptures Himself, the eternal Word of God – Jesus Christ.
Christology chapters of note to pour over regularly: John 1; Colossians 1; Hebrews 1.
Beloved saints, make sure you are drilling down on “the doctrine of Christ” – laying the foundation that will stand against the evil winds of false doctrine that is being peddled by the vilest and most popular wolves on this planet (Ephesians 4:14-15; Hebrews 13:9, etc.).
The Bible phrase “the doctrine of Christ” refers by divine priority, plainly to Himself as the divine Person, the divine Word, the Son of God. Jesus Christ is revealed as God’s eternal Word, as the Messiah, LORD, Creator, Sustainer, and Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. It seems only after these biblical facts about Christ that “the doctrine of Christ” would then apply to our repenting and putting our whole faith in Christ for salvation (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21, etc.).
Say it aloud: “the doctrine of Christ.” What saith the Holy Scriptures of Christ?
- the Messiah in prophecy
- virgin birth
- divinity
- exclusivity
- death and burial
- resurrection
- return
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not (does not remain) in THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9
So what does this verse (above) mean? It means that you are going to hell irrevocably if you don’t remain grounded, holding to, embracing what the Bible says about Christ, the Messiah.

In the context of the above cited verse, 2 John 9, the apostle John is warning us about the “MANY deceivers” and to be careful not to “lose …. those things” we know of Christ – lest we “abideth not in the doctrine of Christ” which will result in us having not God at all, being an apostate lost soul. Also he warns of bidding Godspeed to the antichrist’s who peddle “another Jesus” – lest you go to Hell (be also judged) with that antichrist who preaches “another Jesus,” one that is not according to the biblical “doctrine of Christ.” See also 2 Corinthians 11:4.
2 John 7-11
“7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
Of “the doctrine of Christ” one writer notes:
“In the Gospel of John, the apostle had already written that God’s word is truth (John 17:17). He also proclaimed that Jesus Himself (who is Deity – John 1:1) was the truth (John 14:6). It is clear from his gospel that if we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15; 15:14). We must also receive the truth that Jesus is deity who came in the flesh (John 1:14; 1 John 4:2-3). In his letter to the elect lady, John reiterates what he already stated in his gospel, namely, that the doctrine of Christ is composed of (1) Jesus’ commandments/doctrine which we are to obey and (2) Jesus’ deity.”
Example: John MacArthur is teaching that there is nothing special about the blood of Jesus. How anyone can still listen to that diabolical wolf is beyond belief. Yes he says a lot of good stuff which alone makes him even more insidious a tool of Satan. Say this Word from God aloud here and now beloved of God: Just “A LITTLE leaven leaveneth (ruins) the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). This biblical phrase, statement refers to false doctrine and sin (1 Corinthians 5:6). And false doctrine IS sin.
New message under construction which will expose more about this blasphemous heresy including the statement by John MacArthur.
Follow Jesus saints. THAT’s why God gave us His written Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Drill down on your knowledge of God – “the doctrine of Christ” – via personal Bible study in the King James Bible.
***THERE ARE OVER 2,000 POSTS ON SAFEGUARDYOURSOUL AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME AND GO THROUGH EACH BIBLE TRUTH/VERSE.
More examples of the glory-robbing antichrist denigration of Christ by the religious world today:
“Exactly what Satan is doing, taking the deity of Christ, humanizing Him. In ‘The Chosen’ (movie) when Jesus was 12 and preaching in the temple, Joseph told Him ‘You need to go and confess your transgressions to your mother’ because they did not know where He was. But Luke 2:49. Jesus says ‘wist (knew) ye not that I must be about my Father’s business’?
He is also shown pacing and nervous when he is going to preach before the masses. He was the Son of God. Would He have been nervous and pacing? It’s mocking Jesus. Why Christians do not see this is beyond me! Nothing biblical about any of it. This show has gone out into other countries now. Bringing a false gospel. Mark 13:22.” Karen Cochran
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Abiding
The Good Shepherd and His True Sheep [podcast]

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant …” Hebrews 13:20
“To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” John 10:3
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:1-13
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25
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Apostasy
Eating the Fat, and Drinking the Sweet! [podcast]

Mourning Trumps Merriment in Christ’s Kingdom
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’d like to walk in Your bless-ed joy, filling my life to overflowing, no matter what’s transpiring. LORD, I ask You to do Your deeper work in my heart, in my life. Please set apart my life to truly glorify You, being full of the fruits of Your righteousness. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Everyone desires the joy of the LORD, right? Yes, yet only those who are willing to devour His Word – to get it into their hearts and keep it flowing into their hearts, will experience that great joy of the LORD which is our strength! In context, the joy of the LORD is the strength of those who read it, hear it, embrace it, adhere to it, and keep it flowing into their mind and heart daily! (Nehemiah 8:8, 10)
“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly (directly), and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. … 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:8, 10
After they had feasted on God’s Word, the elders of Israel said to them: You are now full of the Word. Now “Go your way”, that is, go home and be blessed to “send portions” of the bounty of the LORD you’ve been filled with today to overflowing. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8) Let your cup run over and bless others! Let your light shine into others, may your cup run over onto others, to bless them with the bountiful blessings of the LORD you have received.
We have to eat the fat and drink the sweet of the Word of God to be filled with the joy of the LORD which is our strength!
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
Nourishing the Body of Christ
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6
DO people know they can find the rich treasures of God’s Word when they walk into your life, when they visit your social media page? (Colossians 3:16) Will they be “nourished” by the milk and meat of God’s bless-ed Word when they are graced to be in your company?
“There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise.” Proverbs 21:20
Holy Father, we ask You in the name of Jesus to make us happy in Jesus as You’ve forgiven and freed us from our sin and so of all people on Your earth, only Your people can be truly happy in Thee dear LORD. Please bless each of Your beloved saints to be anointed for the death and burial of the self life and raised up in Your blessed resurrection grace and joy. In Jesus’ name let it be dear LORD.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11
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