Why Be Dogmatic and Devisive?

Dr. John MacArthur from The Shepherds' Conference

Luke 20:45–21:6. New American Standard Bible
(45) And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, (46) “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, (47) who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive great condemnation.”

"...The contemporary trend is to have a “conversation” with the leaders of other religions. We are told that we must stop condemning people and engage ourselves in the conversation. But how did Jesus interact with false teachers? Did He look for common ground and try to have a conversation? Or did He condemn them? This passage in Luke (and its extended parallel in Matthew 23) makes it clear what He did. He called them hypocrites, exposed them, warned them of their impending damnation, and warned the people not to follow them.

This does not mean that Jesus was not sad – He wept over the city of Jerusalem. And He gave them many opportunities to turn from their evil ways. "

Editor's note: To every consumer-driven pastor who has called members of the flock "devisive and dogmatic"...why aren't you?