Quote:
Originally Posted by Esaias
Papacy 3.0? 4.0? I've lost count of how many organizations over the centuries have tried to sit in Peter's chair...
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Matthew 23:1-15 KJV
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, [2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: [3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. [4] For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. [5] But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, [6] And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, [7] And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. [8] But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. [9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. [10] Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. [11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. [12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. [13] But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. [14] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. [15] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
I have heard it said that because the scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, according to Jesus, therefore we must obey their rules.
But I can't seem to find "Moses' seat" as any kind of official position under the Sinaitic Covenant, or the Monarchy, or anywhere in the Bible. Moses was a prophet, so when did he get a throne?
Oh wait...
The scribes and Pharisees had assumed unto themselves the AUTHORITY of Moses, as if they were Moses. So, the people had to do what they were told (because the scribes and Pharisees held the power and could severely disrupt your life) as a matter of convenience, because they were City Hall and if you butt heads with City Hall you wind up nailed to a cross on Golgotha. Jesus was not affirming they had any kind of spiritual authority from God, only temporal authority that they had usurped.
We can see the proof of that in His words that followed, how they shut up the kingdom of God and were preventing people from going in. How they were sons of hell and their followers were twice the sons of hell they were. And how everything they did was, ultimately, for pride and vainglory, "to be seen of men".
There is nothing new under the sun. Since the apostles passed away (in fact, even before they passed away), there were and are today people trying to "sit in Christ's seat" and be lords over God's heritage. They set themselves up in the temple of God in the place of God, as if they were God and even above God. Like in the other thread about "trust me with your soul".
I heard a sermon many many years ago. Don't remember anything about it except the old preacher mentioned something about "Babylon, the great harlot and mother of harlots" and he mentioned something about "Babylon and all her Protestant daughters".
So many want to "be like Jesus" but don't want to do what He said.
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