Main Text: Matthew 23:23–24 (ESV) 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

Preaching Point: Knowing what God values most should lead us to prioritize the weightier matters of Scripture without neglecting the rest.

Teaching Points:

1. Distinguish the Majors from the Minors (v. 23a)
2. Pursue Faithfulness in Everything (v. 23b)
3. Recognize the Folly of Majoring on Minors (v. 24)

Title: The Seven Woes of Summer: Combating Deception

Main Text: Matthew 23:16–22 (ESV) 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

Preaching Point: Knowing that every word is spoken before God should remind us to reject all forms of deception and to speak with honesty, clarity, and integrity.

Teaching Points:

1. Know God Hears Every Word (vv. 21–22)
2. Refuse to Employ Deception (vv. 16–20)
3. Aim for Simple Honesty (vv. 20–22)

Main Text: Matthew 23:13–15 (ESV) 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

Preaching Point: Because false teachers zealously lead people away from Christ and toward judgment, we must reject their teaching and faithfully embrace the biblical gospel.

Teaching Points:

1. Guard Yourself from False Teachers (v. 13)
2. Don’t Mistake Sincerity for Truth (v. 15a)
3. Protect Others from False Teachers (v. 15b)