The setting for Jesus’ words in Matthew 23 is the final week he spent in Jerusalem before his arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. He is in the temple courtyard, surrounded by people from Galilee who had followed him south, curious people from Jerusalem, and religious leaders who opposed him.
In this passage, Jesus speaks directly to the religious leaders. At the same time, he wants the crowd to listen so they may choose to follow him and receive the greatest gift of all: forgiveness of sins and friendship with God.
Don’t Do As They Do
Jesus’ first directive to the religious leaders addressed both what they taught and how they lived. As we consider this, remember the words of evangelist Billy Sunday: “Don’t put up your spiritual umbrella and let these words fall on someone else.” Let’s receive them personally and ask God to examine our hearts.
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it, but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them” (Matthew 23:1-4).
As I have applied these verses to my own life over the years, I have been especially struck by the responsibility not to place the heavy burdens of God’s will on others without showing them how to carry them out. In every sermon, I have tried to give people a path—not only to hear God’s will, but also to understand how to live it out.
I remember my mother washing my mouth out with soap after I repeated something I heard my father say. It was a clear example of, “Don’t do as I do, do as I say.” Sadly, I have probably followed that same pattern in my own life.
As you consider Jesus’ words, take a moment to ask yourself, “God, how am I like these religious leaders who opposed Jesus?”
The Greatest Among You
Bruce Kirby noted in our YouTube videos that the crowd must have been shocked to hear Jesus speak so strongly against the religious leaders. Jesus reveals what was deep in their hearts.
I believe he used such strong words to awaken their consciences, hoping they would examine themselves and return to him. Some may have helped put Jesus on the cross but later, as we will see in Acts, received him as their Savior.
Once again, let’s ask the Lord to reveal to us how we are like the “bad guys” in this account.
They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father, the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant (Matthew 23:5-11).
As we examine ourselves, we can look at these verses and ask: “How often do I do good deeds because I want others to think well of me? When I attend a banquet, do I want to sit at the head of the table?”
Søren Kierkegaard humorously described someone with such a large ego that at a wedding, they wanted to be the bride, and at a funeral, they wanted to be the deceased. How often do we focus on ourselves and want first place?
Jesus corrects this mindset. We are not meant to be like that. Instead, we are called to be servants. We can be servants at the back of the line and trust Jesus to take care of our reputation.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 