Do As I Say, Not As I Do!

A Warning Against Hypocrisy

23 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[a] 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.

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

One of the biggest deterrents to the Christian cause is hypocrisy.  The word "hyprocisy" comes from Greek culture where play actors wore a mask to be someone else.  Being a hypocrite is wearing a mask.  It is being a pretender.  As Jesus says about the Pharisees, "But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach."  The problem with the Pharisees was not their content but their character.  The other problem was that they were more interested in being seen and adored by others than serving God.  In fact God says, "Everything they do is for people to to see."  

Jesus himself would show that he practiced what he preached by the way he lived his life.  He didn't tie heavy burdens on people's backs, he unloosed their burdens and told them to come unto him.  He promised that his yoke was easy and his burden was light.  The only approval rating he cared about was that of His Father in heaven. Jesus humbled himself to the lowest point and emptied himself and became obedient even to death on a cross.  Therefore, God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name which is above all names that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father.  

Finally, Jesus defined true greatness.  True greatness in Jesus' eyes was being a servant.  The opposite of humility and service is pride.  Pride is self centered and focuses on serving "number one" who is me!  Servanthood is focused on making others as more important than oneself.  Pride leads to a fall.  Servanthood leads to building others up. 

Where is God calling you to be a servant?  Or put another way, where is God calling you to be great?  Don't wear a mask, it takes too much work.  Don't do things to get noticed by others for God will always notice His servant's work.  Discipleship has it's privileges we get to serve!