Passion Week.
Mathew 23:1-12: Be a Practicing Disciple
Introduction:
The Lord is good and His love endures forever.
On this holy week’s meditations, we would see three chapters before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. There are eight woes that stand in contrast to the eight beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11). Jesus spoke harshly of divine warning and condemnation.
The eight woes to those who shut up the kingdom, steal from the vulnerable, lead converts on the wrong path, make false and deceptive oaths, are obsessed with trivialities but ignore weighty matters, impure both inside and out, appear good, honor dead prophets but murder living prophets. (Matthew 23:13-32).
Today, from Mathew 23:1-12, we will learn three additional aspects of life in following Christ. Jesus called his followers to look into three costly lessons from the lives of the Pharisees, or people like them.
First, they preached the Word without personal application. Second, they never practiced the word of God. Third, they had many titles for revere but not the characters accordingly.
So, I would like to remind you to Preach the Word, Practice the Preaching, and be a person of reality.
1. Preach the Word:
Jesus had met with the Scribes and powerful politically and socially positioned Pharisees. They were enjoying the authority as successors-in-interest of Moses’ seat and continued the work of Moses (Matthew 23:2).
Scribes are the experts of the Law, copying the manuscripts, studying the Law of God, and teaching the Law of God. They are full-time professional bible teachers.
Pharisees were business owners, land owners, tradesmen, religious sects, and lay leaders whose authority lay in their ability to interpret the Torah.
Jesus condemned the Scribes and Pharisees. He has exposed their wickedness and their grave mistake. These are some of the most scathing words to come from the lips of our Lord. Kindly consider these warnings for the preservation and spiritual health of hearts, minds, and lives.
The word of God is inspired through the Holy Spirit, powerful to convince everyone, and revealed from God the Father for the salvation of all. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2).
The WORD refers to the Biblical Truth as taught by God through the Prophets, and Disciples. The word preach is the Greek word keyroxon, which simply means “publish or proclaim openly.” Expose, and expound the WORD exactly. (Daniel R. BrownIt, Faith Pulpit). It means rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
Today, we are lavished with many mediums, media, and communication systems to publish the word to everyone. Paul said that he preached the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
For Methodists, the Old, and New Testaments are one revelation of God, one Bible, and one infallible rule of faith. As Paul expresses that all scripture (graphe) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16).
2. Practice the Preaching:
There are many big mouths but a few silent performers. The practice of scribes and Pharisees was in no way agreeable either to their preaching or to their profession.
In Pulpit, they were doing so well but out of the pulpit so ill in their doings. They are great talkers, but little doers. Their prayers and giving of alms were all for the show, and nothing for substance in religion. Only the form of godliness and denying the power in it. We judge according to outward appearance, but God searches the heart.
Paul warned Timothy to be careful to practice what he was preaching to save all those who heard him. Paul told the Philippians not to do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but with the interest of others (Philippians 2:3-4).
Jesus said that they should respect the chair, position because it has come from the Lord. The religious leaders loved their supposed spirituality and wanted to be admired by the people.
Pharisaic legalism was very dangerous to preach, practice and exhibit. Jesus warned his disciples of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:5-12) and denounced the Pharisees (Matthew 15:7). They were religious pretenders. They are hypocrites, they were prideful showing-off, selfish honor-seeking.
William Barclay describes six types of Pharisees: Shoulder Pharisee (good deeds and righteousness on his shoulder for everyone to see), Wait-a-Little Pharisee (does good deeds with a reason), Bruised Pharisee (showing holy and injuring himself), Hump-Backed Pharisee (showing humility to others), Always-Counting Pharisee (always counting up his good deeds), Fearful Pharisee (good deeds with fear of judgment), God-Fearing Pharisee (really loved God and did good deeds).
3. Be a Person of Reality:
Be a person of reality and not philosophy. Titles are immaterial and lose their value if they are not converted through the power of the person who is holding them. Very few decorate the positions they hold in life. The role you play must coincide with the characteristics of the position. Often it is said that if you are playing the role of a Dog, you must Bark. Walk worthy of the call you have in your life.
So, Jesus warned the disciples not to call themselves Rabbi, Master, Father, and Teacher. Jesus told them that they are brothers and need not exalt one over the other. Jesus tells us that we should avoid inappropriate honor. Church is an egalitarian community.
Humility is the honest recognition of our own worth as God sees us. Pride elevates us above others, and often above God himself, degrading our sense of self-worth is also unacceptable, for it denies the value God placed upon us when he created us in his image and when he sent his Son to die for us.
‘There are three great motives that urge us to humility. It becomes me as a creature, as a sinner, as a saint.’ (Andrew Murray).
We must not be eager for such distinctions, indicative of spiritual superiority. However, the church has respect for teachers of different grades. But avoid the inordinate grasping at such personal distinctions, the greedy ambition which loves the empty title, and takes any means to obtain it. (1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-13).
Paul wrote to the Ephesians to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which they have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3).
So, walking worthy of your calling means exhibiting godly character, morals, integrity, and behavior on all occasions. God calls each person to a unique time, place, and purpose. Therefore, each member of the Church in Christ is equally important (1 Corinthians 12:18-22).
God bless you.
