Help with Matt 23:1-4

[Soyeong]

Let's hear what Paul said about it...

Philipians 3
3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to walk in His way that he might know Him and Israel too, and in Matthew 7:23, Jesus said that he would tell those who are workers of lawlessness to depart from him because he never knew them, so knowing God and Jesus is the goal of the law, which is eternal life (John 17:3), so Philippians 3 should not be interpreted as saying that God's law is rubbish and we just need to focus on knowing Jesus instead. Rather, Paul has been keeping God's law without being focused on knowing Christ, so he had been missing the goal of the law, and that is what he counted as rubbish.

In Romans 9:30-10:4, the Israelites did not obtain righteousness because they misunderstood the goal of the law by pursuing it as through righteousness were the result of their works in an effort to establish their own instead of pursuing the law as through righteousness were by faith in Christ, for knowing Christ is the goal of the law for righteousness for everyone who has faith, and this was the same situation that Paul was in. The correct salutation to incorrectly obeying God's law is not to oppose the law, but to start obeying it correctly with the right focus on knowing Christ through acting in accordance with aspects of his nature. Likewise, in Matthew 23:23, Jesus was not opposing their obedience to God's law, but rather he was calling them to start obeying it correctly in accordance with weightier matters that are aspects of his nature.

 

[Carl Emerson]

He clearly said ALL THINGS not just the Goal of the Law as you suggest.

He was indeed referring to all the aforementioned

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord

 

[Soyeong]

He clearly said ALL THINGS not just the Goal of the Law as you suggest.

He was indeed referring to all the aforementioned

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord

I didn't say that he counted just the goal of the law as loss, but rather he counted his obedience to the law as loss because he had been missing the goal of obeying it.

 

[Carl Emerson]

missing the goal of obeying it.

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

 

[Always in His Presence]

We need to be careful today to be mindful that - accurate presentation of scripture does not indicate a right spirit.

Absolutely yes