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Don’t you hate it when leaders get to live by different standards than the average person? Jesus hated that too. Today we get to see what Jesus says on the subject as He warns us to BEWARE HYPOCRISY, not only in the lives of others, but in our own lives as well.
Do What They Say, Not What They DO
The teachers of the law were the scribes, scholarly men responsible to copy & preserve the Scriptures, as well as teaching & interpreting the Scriptures. The Pharisees were more involved in the everyday affairs of the people as they worked alongside them in typical trades (e.g. Paul - Acts 18:1-3).
Jesus recognized these leaders sit in Moses’ seat, with the privilege, authority, & responsibility to teach the truths of God as Moses had done. The audience of Jesus was to respect that POSITION although they might not respect the PERSON sitting in the seat. Many of them did not practice what they preached - hypocrisy - holding others to a standard that they aren’t willing to hold to themselves. Yet Jesus tells his audience to do everything they tell you - that they should obey the truth the preacher preaches, even if the preacher doesn’t. After all, it’s not the person’s truth - it’s God’s truth!
- You and I are expected to obey God’s clear truth, even it we hear it from a hypocrite’s confusing voice. We can’t discount & dismiss God’s truth because of religious hypocrites.
Shepherds Who Don’t Love Sheep?
These religious leaders added hundreds & hundreds of traditions beyond what the Scriptures taught (e.g. Mt 15:1-7). Adding hundreds of man-made traditions to the Scriptural commands was more than anyone could carry. They loaded down the people, but did nothing as the people struggled & stumbled to carry the heavy load. Jesus, on the other hand, calls Himself “The Good Shepherd” who lays down His life for the sheep (Jn 10:11).
A yoke was a wooden frame put on the shoulders of animals (oxen or donkeys) to pull heavy loads or plow fields. This image became symbolic for laws or teachings that others submitted to. Jesus offered rest to anyone who is weary and burdened - those who are exhausted and tired of carrying a heavy load - that includes your daily difficulties, sin struggles, unrealistic expectations.
This rest is not retirement, NOT a ceasing of work, but a changing of WHO you’re working for! We find rest for our souls when we submit to a Master who is lowly and humble, a Master who has modeled what obedience looks like; a Master who won’t put too heavy a load and leave you to fend for yourself; a Master who lays down His life for His servants & then works alongside them the whole time (Mt 28:19-20). Jesus cares for His sheep, but most of the scribes and pharisees cared more about themselves - selfish shepherds.
Selfish Shepherds Seek to be Seen
This is a prime example of what Jesus means when he says “do not do what they do.” (Mt 23:3)
“Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes… (Luke 20:46 NIV)
Beware is not a term of trust, but a term of mistrust.
The phylactery was a little box containing verses from Scripture (Exod. 13:1–10, 11–16; Deut. 6:4–9; 11:13–21) that adult men wore around the arm & on the forehead during time of prayer. Wide straps or boxes would have communicated that they were more serious about obeying God than others.
Following the command from Numbers 15:37-38, Jews tied blue tassels attached at 4 corners to the outer garment as a reminder of God’s commandments that they were to obey. These leaders again made their tassels much more obvious than other people…so people would be sure to notice how seriously they took God’s commands.
Rather than use these tools as reminders to remember & keep God’s Law and therefore bring glory to Him, these teachers of the law used this as a tool to bring glory to themselves.
Selfish Shepherds Seek Places & Positions of Honor
They look forward to getting public recognition; they love to be greeted with respect, to have the most important seats, & places of honor. Further, they loved to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others - a title for scholarly teachers recognized for expertise in interpreting the Scriptures. They lived to have 1st place, to be seen, recognized, & respected by others.
In contrast, Jesus commanded His disciples to humble themselves and take the lowest place when invited to a banquet (Lk 14:10-11), not going into public to receive applause, but to communicate value to others as they HONOR the One true God.
One Rabbi, Teacher, Father, & Instructor
Jesus is not saying that there are no legitimate rabbis or teachers, but that His disciples are to recognize Jesus as their true Rabbi and Teacher. They are not to jockey for position nor pump themselves up with prestigious titles (like Rabbi) that make them spiritually superior from one another & others. They are to recognize they are all brothers, with the same Heavenly Father. Outside of our parents, we only have 1 PROVIDER - our Heavenly Father, and NO ONE is to claim to usurp that position.
- Jesus is not saying you can’t call your Dad “father” (we are commanded to honor our FATHERs & mothers - Mt 15:4).
Further, we have only 1 ultimate Instructor - this is the only time this term is used in the NT & never used in the Septuagint (Greek translation of Old Testament). This terms seems to mean more than just a teacher, but a mentor & master over the student. Jesus claims that this position belongs to the Messiah alone - that’s Him!
The Greatest is a Servant
- While many of the religious leaders strutted around showing off their expensive robes, thick phylacteries, & long tassels - expecting to be placed in the seat of honor and be greeted with prestigious titles,
- Jesus wears modest clothing, touches the people they would never touch, cares for the folks they would walk away from, and looks for a place to SERVE rather than be served. Within just a few days, Jesus would take off his outer garment and perform the task of a SERVANT, by washing the feet of His disciples.
Jesus expects his 1st century disciples and His 21st century disciples to do the same, to be humble servants.
Christians are to be known for Humility (not Hypocrisy).
Feet to Faith
- Make sure you’re walking’ what you’re talkin’. If not, then just quit claiming Jesus while you dishonor Him in your hypocrisy.
- Make much of Jesus. Make the time to tell others about the greatness of God in your life. Tell someone how He has answered prayer, spoken to you from the Scripture, how He’s changed another person’s life.
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Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.
- Why is it so frustrating when people don’t practice what they preach? Regardless of the evidence that supports Scriptural claims, how does hypocrisy on the part of Christians impact our lost culture?
- Read Matthew 23:1-3. Why does Jesus say to obey what the preacher preaches even when the preacher doesn’t?
- Read Mt 23:4 & Mt 11:28-30 and discuss the differences between the religious leaders & Jesus regarding their care for people.
- Read Mt 23:5-7, Lk 14:10-11, & Mt 23:11-12. Discuss the differences between the religious leaders & those who claim to follow Jesus.
- Read Mt 23:8-10. Does Jesus mean we can never call anyone else a teacher? Read these passages before answering: Acts 13:1, 1 Cor 12:28-29, Eph 4:11, 2 Tim 1:11, & James 3:1. How does Mt 23:8-10 become more clear when we talk about Jesus not being our only teacher, but being our ultimate teacher by which the teachings of others are judged?
- Jesus wanted to make sure that His disciples didn’t pump themselves up with prestigious titles (like Rabbi) that make them spiritually superior from one another & others. What relationship did Jesus want them to appreciate (Mt 23:8) & what does it mean to view other Christians that way?
- Share why each of the FEET2FAITH steps are important for the Christian to apply.
- What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?
- How can we pray for/care for one another this week? (Pray for one another.)
