“To Hell With Religion”
Matthew 23
Sermon Series: “Core”
Introduction: We have to choose Jesus or religion because we can’t have both. A lot of people think they are the same, but that is really a myth because in reality they are opposites. The title of this message comes from Matthew 23:33, which says, “Serpents, brood of vipers [and Jesus was speaking to the most religious people of His day]! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” I say to hell with religion because that is where it came from and where it will take you if that is what you are following and trusting in. The way this relates to the core of True Life is that Jesus is calling us to be a church that rejects religious legalism and trusts, worships, and serves Him.
Matthew 23 is a scathing rebuke of the Pharisees. Jesus soundly denounces their religious legalism and hypocrisy. Their devotion and outward attempts to become righteous were not enough in His eyes. In Luke 20:47, He told his disciples that people like this would “receive greater condemnation.” The same is still true today. Man-made, man-centered religion is a perversion of the true, biblical good news of Jesus Christ. Understanding this is a matter of eternal life and death so let’s explore the differences between religion and Christianity and what they mean to our lives.
1. Religion is based on being hypocritical instead of being genuine (v. 1-4).
2. Religion is based on doing things to impress people instead of honoring God (v. 5-10).
3. Religion is based on pride instead of humility (v. 11-12).
4. Religion harms people instead of helping people (v. 13-15).
5. Religion adds to God’s Word and makes up its own rules instead of simply obeying Scripture (v. 16-22).
6. Religion majors on the minors instead of focusing on what is truly important (v. 23-24).
7. Religion tries to make the outside look good instead of focusing on a changed heart (v. 25-26).
8. Religion claims to clean us up, but instead it leaves us dead in our sin because change comes from the inside out through grace instead of the outside in through works (v. 27-28).
9. Religion rationalizes sin instead of receiving the truth and repenting (v. 29-36).
10. Religion focuses on what we do for God instead of what Jesus has done for us (1 Corinthians 1:18-31, 1 Corinthians 2:1- 5, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 2, Philippians 3:3-11, 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Conclusion: Are you trusting in Jesus alone or are you trusting in your own religion? Do you think you can do something to make yourself righteous or do you believe it is Jesus alone?
