Woe to You…
- Cornerstone Church
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
As a reminder, the readings have come to the last week of Jesus’ life. The Triumphal Entry has happened, and now this week’s readings will cover the last teachings and sermon Jesus gives publicly before his death. Jesus spent time contrasting the kingdom of God with the religious leaders. He is fighting against the expectation that the messiah will be a military leader against Rome rather than a suffering servant (Isaiah 53). He proved what He was saying is true through healings and miracles. He also will continue to point out the hypocrisy and false teaching of the religious leaders. The religious leaders are committed to killing Jesus to try and ‘save’ the nation. In contrast, Jesus predicts his very death as the way to bring all people to himself, and that is the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Bible Reading Plan - Week 23
Daily Prayer Plan – Week 23
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in all four Gospels, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read Luke 20:1-8 or Matthew 21:23-27. What interaction began this sermon? Read Matthew 21:45-46. Who are the different groups listening?
Read Matthew 22:1-14. What is Jesus’ central message to the people and to the religious leaders in this parable?
Read Matthew 23:1-7. What does Jesus warn the people to do and not to do? How does he describe proud spiritual leadership?
Read Matthew 23:8-12. How does Jesus describe leadership in God’s kingdom? How is this in contrast to the customs of the day?
Read Matthew 23:33-34. What did Jesus say he would send? How might Jesus' rebuke recorded in Matthew 23 have prepared the people for these “prophets, sages, and scribes”? Read Acts 2:37-41.
SHARE IT.
Read Matthew 23:2-3. What does this tell you about God’s word coming through an imperfect or even unbelieving teacher?
How do you discern false teaching from a false teacher delivering a God honoring message?
Read Matthew 23:37. What does this tell you about Jesus’ heart and desire toward the lost? Has your heart aligned with this recently?
Read John 12:42-43. What’s the connection between believing, confessing, and loving God more than another thing? How does this challenge you?
Read Mark 12:12. What was the Pharisees’ response to this parable? Was there a parable (Wedding Banquet, Vineyard Owner) or teaching that was hard for you this week to accept or understand?
FINAL THOUGHT
In Matthew 22:41-45, Jesus stumps the Pharisees by asking how King David could call a descendant of his ‘My Lord.’ The Pharisees are unable to answer how a father could call a ‘son’ his Lord. The answer is because David’s descendant was God in the flesh, and Psalm 110 is prophetic of that. Another clue is that later on in that Psalm, David writes, “You are forever according to the pattern of Melchizedek.” Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7 are the only other places we find out about this mysterious king, but the point is that Melchizedek was both the high priest and king. Not only is Christ the heir promised to David in 2 Samuel 7, but He is both High Priest and King. The religious leaders tied up heavy loads on the people and shut the way to heaven (Matthew 23:1-12). Jesus “is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). Now, “if anyone serves me, he must follow me” (John 12:26).
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