SEMESTER 5
374 – The Mark of False Priorities
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY V LESSON # 74
COMMON MARKS OF FALSE RELIGION – THE MARK OF FALSE PRIORITIES
Read: Mat 6:24
through Mat. 7:5
INTRODUCTION:
1. To seem religious, religion must necessarily embrace good principles.
2. Most religions do, even if much of their doctrine is totally wrong.
3. Thus, if their works be found evil, at least “they have good intentions.”
4. One way to identify their hypocrisy is to see what they put first.
5. Many actions of these were commendable, but He did not commend them.
6. Great understanding can be gleaned by attending to the word first.
I. FIRST RESTITUTION THEN SACRIFICE (MAT. 5:21-24
)
1. The false concept here is that we can serve God while abusing man.
2. This enjoinment does not demand confrontation on every disagreement.
III: How some people use this as authority to perpetuate strife with others.
3. The proposition here is that you have offended, (not he has offended).
4. You owe him an apology. You are admonished here to pay, not collect.
5. Because of this, many today are offering unacceptable service.
II. FIRST GOD’S KINGDOM THEN YOURS (MAT. 6:31-33)
III: By the order in the Lord’s prayer, mentioned in the previous message.
1. Men say, “If only I could get my kingdom straight, I would serve God.”
2. My job makes proper, faithful worship impossible. (reversed)
3. My finances make tithing impossible. (another reversal)
4. Priority is reversed, and thus, the understanding of the cause is reversed.
5. God knows your need, He is sensitive to it, and He is committed to it.
6. Turn your life around, do it God’s way, His Kingdom first!
III. FIRST CORRECT YOURSELF THEN YOUR BROTHER (MAT. 7:1-5)
1. Much sin is excused, and thus retained, by simply looking at others.
2. Why? The blindness caused by sin forbids an accurate comparison.
III: By Mary Ann’s assessment of fornication compared to alcoholism.
3. The Lord simply describes this as hypocrisy.
4. The answer is not better comparison, but it is simply clean your own house first.
IV. FIRST THE INSIDE THEN THE OUTSIDE(MAT. 23:25-29)
1. Externalism is the curse of all religion, whether doctrinal or practical.
2. Piety for show, separation for show, and worship for show are all hypocrisy.
3. Satan’s religion always accentuates the external and neglects internal.
4. God’s order is concentrate on the heart, out of it are the issues of life.
5. It is your heart, not the circumstances, that arrange the priorities of life.
6. How about your heart? What does this truth tell you about it?