Religion That God Rejects

“Jesus pulls no punches in his words to these religious leaders.” - Pastor Anthony

Pastor Anthony began this teaching by sharing encouraging news from the Logan Campus. New families, returning guests, and recent baptisms are signs of what God is doing in that community. After being away for several months, he returned to teach from Matthew 23, a moment in Scripture where Jesus speaks with striking clarity to the scribes and Pharisees.

This message is part of the Follow Jesus series through the Gospel of Matthew. When Pastor Anthony discovered he would be teaching on religious hypocrisy, he acknowledged it felt weighty. Yet he leaned into the passage because Jesus’ words matter, and they help believers pursue a sincere and honest faith.

In Matthew 23, Jesus addresses the religious leaders who were seen as the example of spiritual devotion in their day. These individuals were responsible for guiding people toward God. Instead, Jesus said they created barriers that made it harder for people to experience Him.

He began with the first of seven warnings, describing how the scribes and Pharisees shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. They added standards, rules, and layers of expectations that were not given by God. These standards became a burden. People who genuinely wanted to know God were pushed away by man-made requirements that kept them from seeing His heart.

Pastor Anthony explained that false religion still does this. It builds walls instead of offering a way forward. It creates a mindset where people monitor who should be kept out rather than guiding people in.

Throughout the message, Pastor Anthony showed how Jesus confronted the attitudes and behaviors that misrepresented God. The Pharisees created converts who adopted the same misunderstandings of faith. They focused on their own standards and traditions rather than the heart of God.

Jesus made it clear that this approach does not draw people closer to Him. Instead, it leaves people discouraged, misled, and spiritually exhausted. False religion is harsh, critical, and self-protective. Jesus’ ministry, by contrast, welcomed people who were lost, hurting, or overlooked.

Jesus also addressed the way the Pharisees emphasized minor outward actions while ignoring the most important commands. They were meticulous in tithing small herbs yet neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Pastor Anthony used this moment to show how easy it is to focus on comfortable or convenient parts of obedience while avoiding the deeper work that God truly desires.

Jesus used a memorable picture to make His point. The Pharisees strained out a small gnat but swallowed a large camel. Pastor Anthony explained that this imagery captures how misplaced priorities can distort a person’s spiritual life.

Jesus then turned to the image of dishes and tombs. A cup may look clean on the outside, but if the inside is untouched, it cannot serve its purpose. A tomb might be beautiful, but inside it holds what is dead.

Pastor Anthony pointed out that Jesus was not speaking about appearances for their own sake. Instead, He was exposing a disconnect between public image and private truth. Outward behavior might look religious, but without genuine change inside, it becomes empty.

False religion thrives in this gap. It values image more than integrity. It focuses on maintaining reputation rather than honoring God.

The final warning Jesus gave was the strongest. The religious leaders claimed they would have responded differently than their ancestors who rejected God’s prophets. Yet Jesus revealed they were continuing the same pattern.

Pastor Anthony reminded the congregation that Jesus stood before them as God in the flesh. If they truly honored God, they would have recognized His voice. Instead, they were already planning to reject Him and would eventually participate in His crucifixion.

False religion often feels self-assured. It believes it is right while ignoring what God is saying. Without humility and reflection, a person can become hardened without realizing it.

Pastor Anthony closed by inviting listeners to consider Jesus’ words as an invitation rather than condemnation. Every believer has moments of inconsistency. All Christians have times when their outward life does not fully match what is happening inside.

The call is to honesty. Bring these areas to God. Ask Him to search the heart. Allow Him to reveal what is hidden, what is unhealthy, and what needs to change. God is gracious, patient, and faithful to help those who come to Him sincerely.

A sincere relationship with God is not about protecting an image. It is about opening every part of life to Him. When believers walk this way, their lives reflect the character of Jesus and offer a clear picture of His love.

The Tree Church is a community with campuses in Lancaster and Logan, Ohio. Each Sunday at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, people gather for worship and biblical teaching in an environment designed to help them grow in their faith. If you are searching for a church in Lancaster or a church in Logan, you are welcome to join us.

? Lancaster: 721 N Memorial Dr, Lancaster, OH 43130
? Logan: 36 Hocking Mall, Logan, OH 43138