Do what I tell you...be a good Pharisee

Matthew 23:1-7

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

Needless to say, these scribes and Pharisees were not fond of Jesus. After all, he is painting a picture of them being religious fakes.  They may be teaching the law of Moses, but be careful to notice they do not practice what they preach!

The Pharisees were, in their own eyes, the example of religious teachings and practice. If you want to know how to be religious in the right ways, just follow the actions of the Pharisees. But Jesus called them hypocrites! 

I see the Pharisees being likened to the actors in an elementary school play. Line up where we tell you to line up. Speak only what we tell you to speak and when we tell you to speak. Do everything we say and question nothing we do. In reality, the Pharisees wanted to be the "performers" so everyone could see how religious they were. 

Jesus accused them of placing cumbersome burdens on their followers, but the Pharisees were not willing to do anything for the people to help ease the burden. They were to be recognized with seats of honor and demanded respect in public places. In their own eyes they were the picture of greatness. 

A little later in this teaching on hypocrisy, Jesus summed up the issue by telling us the truth about humility and greatness. Look at verses 11 and 12, "The greatest among you will be your servant.  For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

How sad when we miss this vital and important teaching of Jesus. If you want to be great, really great, you must learn to be a servant. If we bring ourselves to the spotlight, Jesus says we will be brought down. And if we practice humility, we will be built up. 

May we continue to serve the Lord and others in our words and actions, and may we always have the servant's attitude. That is exactly what Jesus did for us. Read Philippians 2:5-11. When Jesus humbled himself, God exalted him. That's the way it works for us, too.

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