The Wind Up from Jesus...Matthew 23:1-12...BEWARE!

 


I wish I could have seen the moose that left this track cutting across our parking lot from one stand of woods to another.  I think we just missed him or her because we left for an errand to town and it wasn't there but prominently displayed when we returned.  The animals have had a milder winter here so we will see what that calculates to when hunting season come around this year.

As someone who seats in "Moses' seat" each Sunday and also throughout the week, this passage is a reminder to me on how I lead or how I operate as a servant of Jesus Christ.  A scribe or Pharisee would sit in Moses' seat and receive a scroll of God's word.  From the seat they would publicly read God's word to those assembled in the synagogue.  

How bold for Jesus to say that when you hear God's word read from the person who sits in the seat, observe and do it.  Observe by hanging on every word and also being on the edge of your seat and then follow through with action.  And then comes the "but" of the verse.  Actually I circle every "but" I come across and there are quite a few in this passage.  

Jesus lets them know that there are those who sit in the seat and read God's words but they do not do them.  They say but they do not do.  They are the second son in the story told in chapter 21.  He called him his father, lord and master and agree to go but he did not.  Jesus asked who did the father's will and they all responded "the first son."  This is a second time that Jesus lets the religious authorities know that they are characterized by the second son not doing the Father's will.  He tells His disciples and the multitude around Him in the temple not to follow what they do.

What are they doing?  They are doing things that please men.  They are seeking the world's applause.  They are more concerned about what they wear (the tassels); where they sit (the best seats), what they are called (Rabbi, O great one); and how popular they are (greetings in the marketplace).  We are to use our eyes and observe those who sit in the seat and discern who they are trying to please.  

Designer wardrobes and make up crews for the cameras; mansions, luxury cars and private jets to sit in; Prophet so and so, Apostle so and so, and Doctor so and so to be called; and many likes and views with their face as the identifier of the ministry describes many of the most popular preachers of our day.  They seem to be following the world's view of success rather than Jesus' instruction to His disciples to be in a servant position.

Jesus goes radically in the other direction to have His followers keep the posture of pointing to their Teacher and Father.  Not themselves or any other or anything should take the place of God.  You keep putting yourself in a humble position and allow any elevation to come from Jesus rather than yourself.  This is a big wind up from Jesus to bring those who have elevated themselves to the summit to be brought back down to the plain.  

John 13:13-14 (LSB) says, "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."  Jesus echoes His instruction to His disciples in this Matthew passage with keeping Him as "the" Teacher and also shows them by His example of what it means to be a servant.  Another good passage is part of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20a (LSB) which reads, "...teaching them to keep all that I commanded you;..."  They are to teach but they teach formally with His words and informally with their obedience to His commands to them.  

Never take top billing when you are in the pulpit.  I respond to those who give me encouragement of a great message that I have great material to work with.  Keeping in a humble state is as much work as keeping in a prideful one.  One will get you praise from the world and the other will allow you to give praise to God.

Adam




A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 39th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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