RIGHT WEAPONS WRONG TARGETS

If we were to correctly or closely exegete Matthew 23, its targeted audience are those who stand behind the pulpit, not those who sit in the pews. Matter of fact this scathing rebuke was done in front of commoners, community, in front of a congregate (1 Timothy 5:20). When we say "in context" we're just not referring to reading verse-by-verse but reading the who, what, and whys of the text, and at times the cultural and social backdrops. So, in short, the message of Matthew 23 is directed to the religious, social, and governmental/legislative leaders who in that culture were basically one and the same. These were not just leaders who exploit those who follow them, but leaders coddle, caress, crony with, and cohort with the empire that oppressed the people. So, to direct Matthew 23 to those who sit in the pews or to common citizens, to those who hold no religious, social, and governmental/legislative leadership makes it misinformation, falsehood, a deflection, and an escape route for the dereliction of duty of those leaders. This is why the American Church is where it is today, drowning in the ideology of countryism, capitalism, colonialism, churchism, and celebrityism because leaders have allowed, have crony up to, and are silent about the kind of leaders Jesus is speaking to in Matthew 23. False teachings also come into play when we use the right weapons needed for warfare for the wrong reason or aim them at and hit the wrong target. Right weapons wrong targets. Intentional or unintentional the catastrophic and often irreversible effects are the same. God declares harsh punishment for leaders who scatter the sheep who fail to care for and protect their people (the sheep) to guide and nurture their followers; a grave warning and severe consequences are given to leaders who neglect that duty and who place unwavering loyalty to protecting fellow clergy over protecting congregation, who put shepherd over sheep (Jeremiah 23:1). I believe this can be attributed to one reason why James said what he said in James 3:1 because it not only takes an intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures but it causes for one having a spiritual discernment, a connection to God, one who reverence God not just one who's called reverend, one who loves people not who live for piety.

Now unto him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Be well and stay blessed,

Ray Mingo