Matthew 23:1-12 “I am The Path”
E. Stanley Jones tells of the missionary in the jungle. He got lost with nothing around him but bush and a few cleared places. He finally found a small village and asked one of the natives if he could lead him out of the jungle. The native said he could. "All right," the missionary said, "Show me the way." They walked for hours through dense brush hacking their way through unmarked jungle. The missionary began to worry and said, "Are you quite sure this is the way? Where is the path?" The native said. "Bwana, in this place there is no path. I am the path." Rabbis, Masters, Father's, Teachers, and Reverends, but we are all like the missionary. We rely not upon men but Christ who is our path.
1. We notice in the text Crowds followed Jesus In verse 1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
• The Crowds would follow Jesus because He was the Way The Truth and The Life,
• No doubt, Jesus had results when he prayed to the Father.
• The religious leaders of the day however, did not have that type of power their prayers were just words. Dead words
• Jesus’s words on the other hand, had results. His results were blind eyes were opened, lamed people walked again, paralytics were healed after his words, and even the very dead were raised from death.
2. Pharisees they were supposed to be directors of the Path Jesus says, 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you, but don’t do as they do.
• Outwardly the religious leaders were hypocritical
• Their devotedness was not devoutness to God but more towards themselves
• Jesus says, 2"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
• Nothing made them happier than having the place of honor at banquets, the best seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings of people in the marketplace. They sat on the seat of the great prophet Moses, dressed as wise teachers of the law. Seat of prestige, privilege, honor, integrity, Great Ones
•
3. The Pharisees Path was obligated to Selfishness, Self-interest, self-centeredness
• In their souls they were unappreciative, ungracious, unmindful, and unthankful. They were not obligated but they taught others that they needed to be obligated)
• Jesus claimed, 4They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
• Jesus claimed inwardly was concealed a venomous pretense of self-righteousness, conceit, and complacency 5"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries A wide and the tassels on their garments long
• The Pharisees Path was a path of Arrogance 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them `Rabbi.' Means “My great One or My Lord”. Jesus did not want the disciples to have this title
4. Jesus reveals the Path one is to take It is The Jesus Path
• The Jesus path is devoutness 8 Devoutness has only One Master and that Master is not themselves Timothy says, take the path of Godliness train yourself to be godly.
• The Jesus Path is an Obligation we are thankful, appreciative, mindful of the needy, and they are obligated to the Christ
• Jesus Path is a path of servant11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
• The Path Jesus takes is a path which is not of Exalting but a path of humbling himself before the cross.
• The Path Jesus takes is not in the seat Moses set but the seat of Sacrifice
• The Jesus Path is what a true Rabbi, Master, Father does. Jesus‘s path would be a path to Calvary, Golgotha, the Cross. When one gets lost Jesus is The Path.
5. Remember Jesus’s words I am the Way, The Truth, and the I am the Path
• On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,
gave thanks , broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
• Then Jesus took the cup, gave thanks , gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
• And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
• Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
• Let us Pray: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
• The Body of Christ given for each of us take and eat
• The blood of Christ given for us take and drink
• You Christ are The Path and our path is to Renew our communion with your Church throughout the world,
and strengthen it in every nation and among every people
to witness faithfully in your name.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Let us Pray Benediction: Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God ), now and forever. Amen
