INTRODUCTION
• ME CHURCH VIDEO
• SLIDE #1
• That is some kind of church!
• Can you imagine what kind of church we would have if we all had that type mentality. WOW!
• Today we are going to look at the second of 8 things that we can do to be a bad Christian.
• I believe we can easily forget why we are here, and who we are to live for. We have such a natural bent toward focusing in on ourselves that we can ever so subtly slip into living for our own glory instead of living for the glory of God.
• If we are not careful everything that we do can be done for the wrong reason.
• The religious leaders of Jesus day had a problem with this. Jesus on several occasions tried to deal with them about this problem.
• Over time they must have got caught up in all the accolades that came with being the positions they were in.
• There are a lot of bad things that can come from forgetting who we serve, in forgetting there is a God in heaven and it is not us.
• Before we get into our text, I want to share a passage from Paul from Galatians 2:20 that should reflect the perspective that we should be coming from.
• SLIDE #2
• Galatians 2:20 (ESV) 20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
• Today we are going to look at three ways that we can tell if we are living for our own glory or for the glory of God. We will also look at a sad truth that we will face if we choose to live for our own glory.
• Let’s turn to Matthew 23:5-12 together as we begin our journey this morning.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
We are living for our glory when we:
I. SERVE TO BE SEEN. (5)
• Let’s look at verse 5 together.
• SLIDE #4
• Matthew 23:5 (ESV) 5They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
• One of the difficulties we have is the fact that we cannot look into the heart of a person. Most of the time we really do not know if a person is serving just to be seen.
• Jesus on the other hand could look straight into the heart of a person to know what they were really motivated by.
• I bet that was such an uncomfortable feeling for the religious leaders that Jesus was speaking of. Can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be for you? Jesus exposed their true heart and they hated Him for it.
• The Phylacteries which Jesus speaks of were little black leather boxes containing scriptural passages from Exodus or Deuteronomy which were strapped either to the forehead or left arm.
• CONTENTS Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21.
• Evidently, the practice reflected a literal reading of Exodus 13:9, 16, and Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:18.23-18
• Fringes or Tassels referred to the fringes at the four corners of the outer garment.
• The practice was in literal compliance to the commandments found in Numbers 15:37-39 and Deuteronomy 22:12.
• There was nothing necessarily showy in wearing tassels; even Jesus may have worn such ornamentation (cf. 9:20; 14:36).
• The dimensions for these items were dictated by rabbinical rules; however, the Pharisees made their phylacteries extra wide, and their tassels long, so as to flaunt their holiness.
• Such outward displays are not true barometers of the depth of one’s religious devotion.
• Jesus made it clear that there was a public show every time these religious leaders did something. In other passages Jesus tells us that even when they prayed, they made a public show of it.
• SLIDE #5
• Matthew 6:1-7 (ESV) 1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
• We must do all we can to keep the ego in check.
• We are not called to serve to be seen. If we serve to be seen, then we have our reward in full. Who wants something so shallow when we have something so much better waiting for us?
• Even something as good as carrying our bibles with us or praying before meals in public which are wonderful things to do can be marred by a bad heart and a wrong motivation.
• We do not do what we do for a pat on the back or for others to marvel at us, we do what we do for the glory of God.
• Why do we want FCC to grow? So we will look good and prominent in the community or for the glory of God?
• Secondly
• SLIDE #6
We are living for our glory when we:
II. SEEK TO BE SEATED (6-7)
• The religious leaders were always looking to be the center of attention. This is close to the first point, but instead of “look at what I am doing”, it moves to, “look at me.”
• SLIDE #7
• Let’s look at verses 6-7
• Matthew 23:6-7 (ESV)6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
• At banquets and in the synagogues discriminatory seating was common (cf. James 2:1-4), and one’s placement in relationship to the host or leaders made a statement concerning one’s social esteem and status (cf. Luke 14:7-11).
• The Pharisees would be extremely sensitive to this practice, relishing the privilege of being seated next to the host or master of ceremonies. They also took great delight in being greeted in public places by honorific titles and ceremonial formalities.
• They liked being recognized in the market places where multitudes of people would be found.
• In a parallel passage in Luke 20:45-46 Jesus said it loud enough to make sure it was heard.
• SLIDE #8
• Luke 20:45-46 (ESV) 45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,
• The Life Application Bible says concerning this practice.
• To be greeted with respect in the marketplaces was a highly treasured honor. Greetings in the Near East then (today as well) meant more than they do in the West today.
• Custom called for those less learned to greet their superiors; thus, these religious leaders would receive many greetings.
• To be called rabbi (meaning “teacher”) was treasured for the status it gave a person as a leading teacher of the Torah.
• In short, the scribes had lost sight of their priority as teachers of the law and were enjoying their position merely because of the “perks” it offered. Jesus condemned this attitude.
• Sometimes I wonder if some of us in the ministry do not fall pray to this. We will speak about this more in the next couple of verses. But if a minister insists on being called by some title, I wonder if we are not far from what these people were doing.
• I have to be honest with you, this is one of the reasons (not the only) I do not typically give special recognition of guests, unless they are here to represent a mission or if they bring the message.
• Other than the fact we will embarrass our guests, we are here to worship God, not to announce to the world who is here with us.
• We can recognize folks in other ways. If I go visit a church and I want to be recognized, I have to wonder about myself.
• If I want people to call me by a title, I may need to examine some things.
• MAXWELL STORY ABOUT PERKS. PREACHERS.
• A third way we can examine our heart in this manner is if we:
• SLIDE #9
We are living for our glory when we:
III. SEARCH FOR STATUS (8-10)
• The leaders Jesus was addressing had some other issues of the heart; they were looking for special status.
• These folks were so full of pride over their status they missed the point of being a leader.
• Look at verses 8-10 with me.
• SLIDE #10
• Matthew 23:8-10 (ESV)8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
• Jesus gives three titles of status that He told His followers not to seek.
• The leaders wanted the status that went with the titles, but not the responsibilities that came attached with them.
• Jesus did not want His followers to seek titles of distinction because the disciples were and still are all on the same level, only God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are on a higher level.
• The leaders would use their status to push people around to get their way.
• A title of respect given by others is not the issue; it is the grasping at personal distinctions and the greedy ambition that follows an empty title.
• The specific titles started with Rabbi. The word means “teacher”.
• “You are not to be called ‘rabbi’” did not mean that Jesus refused anyone that title. Rather, this means that a learned teacher should not allow anyone to call him “rabbi” in the sense of “great one.” Why? Because there is only one “Great One,” one Master, and all rabbis are under his authority.
• Those of Jesus day had independent spirits and would start their own schools.
• He speaks of being called FATHER.
• This is not a prohibition of calling your dad, father. As a matter of fact, we are to honor our fathers. Ephesians 6:1-3, Matthew 15:4.
• Father was a title given to distinguished or famous teachers, founders of schools. These founders taught people to look up to them.
• The third title was “instructor”, “leader”, “guide”, or teacher.
• This refers to not seeking a title that would imply special authority over the conduct and opinions of others.
• Jesus says we have one “instructor”!
• How does this work? Once again I believe we have to watch the titles. Reverend, Father, The Pastor, Executive Pastor. These sound pretty high don’t they? Sounds like and Executive Pastor would have some authority over everyone else.
• We need to make sure we are not looking for status.
• We are ALL brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all equal under the Lord. We have different jobs, functions, and ministries. But we are all equal in Christ!
• I want to finish up with:
• SLIDE #11
The problem with living for our glory is that:
IV. SOMEDAY WE WILL SEE (11-12)
• For all the living for their own glory, one day, the leaders would see that it profited them nothing.
• If we are living for the now, if we are living for ourselves, we will gain nothing, we would have received our reward in full. Not only will we hurt ourselves, but who knows what kind of stumbling block we would be for others who may have entered a relationship with Christ, but for us?
• SLIDE #12
• Matthew 23:11-12 (ESV)11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
• This shows the contrast between the Pharisaical pride and vanity and real Christian humility.
• Greatness is evident, it speaks for itself. If you have to tell people how great you are, you are not really great.
• Greatness is found in humble submission to Jesus.
• Jesus highlights service as the avenue to greatness, and humility as the means of ultimate exaltation. The values and priorities of the kingdom are diametrically opposed to the pursuit of personal gain and exaltation at the expense of others.
CONCLUSION
• What about you this morning? Does the world revolve around you or does your world revolve around Christ?
