The Servant's Challenge - Matthew 23:1-12

A Warning Against Hypocrisy

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 

Jesus directed at the Pharisees and religous leaders and now he turns to the crowds and his disciples.  

“The true target of the whole discourse is the crowds and disciples who need to break free from Pharisaic legalism.” (France)

2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 

"Moses' seat - Moses was the great legislator of the Jews. By him the Law was given. The office of explaining that Law among the Jews devolved on the scribes and Pharisees. In the synagogues they sat while expounding the Law, and rose when they read it. By "sitting in the seat of Moses" we are to understand authority to teach the Law; or, as he taught the nation by giving the Law, so they taught it by explaining it." (Barnes)

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. 

It wasn't what they were teaching which was bad.  Their content was good.  But their lives did not match up to what they were teaching.  As the saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words." It reminds us that we can know a lot, but if we don't put into practice it is of little or no value.  As Dallas Willard was fond of saying, "We are educated beyond our obedience." 

When a pastor or teacher preaches or teaches one thing and then does something different, they surrender their authority.  Keep in mind that we are all sinners, and so if we expect anyone to be perfect, we will always be disappointed.  

This is why if we preach the gospel we are saved by grace not by works, we guard ourselves against hypocrisy.  It is when we get prideful and judge everyone else's sin, but not our own, we are prone to be like the Pharisees. 

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.

As we see from Jesus' previous teaching in Matthew 11:28, the Pharisees method of teaching was the exact opposite of Jesus'.  Whereas the Pharisees laid heavy burdens on people's back, Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I WILL GIVE YOU REST!  For my YOKE IS EASY is MY BURDEN is light."  

5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; 

Jesus taught clearly in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) when we do our good deeds before others to receive their praise, we have received our reward in full.  The Pharisees even paraded their righteousness by what they wore.

"They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Ex 13:2-10; 13:11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They made these phylacteries broad, that they might be thought more zealous for the law than others."(Hendy

6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 

Their pride was not just about what they wore, but also where they sat.  Again Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount said be careful not to take the seat of honor, unless you are offered it first. 

Paul says in Philippians 2, "In humility see others as better than yourselves."  Jesus showed humility in everything he did like when he washed his disciples' feet as a lowly servant would do.  

7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

Their pride was manifest not only what they wore, where they sat, but also in what they wanted to be called.  They wanted others to know how important they were especially in the marketplace.  

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 

By this statement Jesus really negates the need for any titles in the church.  You see such titles today as "The Most High Reverend", or "The Most Holy Eminent Bishop".  The question is why do we need to have these titles.  I don't have a problem being called Pastor Mike, but that is only my role in the body of Christ. If someone calls me plain "Mike" I am not offended.  

I don't think this means we shouldn't have respect for those in authority.  In general, I think we have lost a lot of respect in our society for all people in authority. I.e. policemen and policewomen, government officials, teachers.   If I get stopped by a police officer I am not going to say, "Sure Jim sounds good!".  I am going to say "Yes sir!"  It is out of respect for the office.  

But as Jesus says, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.  We all get one special privilege as a follower of Christ ... we get to serve!

9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 

As we interpret scripture we must remember context.  

 "From the rest of Scripture, we can see that Jesus did not intend this as an absolute prohibition, rather as speaking to the heart that loves, collects, and cherishes such titles. We know this because, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, godly men spoke of themselves with some of these titles.

· Jesus was called Rabbi: Matthew 26:25 and 26:49; John 1:38 and 3:26.

· Paul called himself a father: 1 Corinthians 4:15, Philippians 2:22.

 - Paul called other Christians his children: Galatians 4:19.

-  Paul called himself a teacher: 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11." (Guzik)

10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 

Jesus uses another example of what he is teaching above. 

“That which he forbids is, 1. An affectation of such titles, and hunting after them. 2. Rom tituli, the exercise of an absolute mastership, or a paternal, absolute power.” (Poole)

11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 

And here is essence of the main point of Jesus' teaching.  If you want to be great be a servant.  Think of others more highly than yourself.  Seek to first to serve, rather than be served.  We sang the song often growing up, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they'll know we are Christians by our love." 

Christian love is best expressed in service to Christ and to one another.  This is what discipleship is all about.  Discipleship is learning to live and act like Jesus, who did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by becoming a servant even to death on a cross."Philippians 2

12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

At the end of the day when we exalt ourselves, we will be humbled.  Like every law of nature this spiritual law will always hold.  On the flipside, when we humble ourselves, we will be exalted.  Not always right then and there but in due time.  

I would say the greatest sin of the "flesh", which we call the "sinful nature", is pride.  Most people like to focus on sins like lust, adultery and gluttony when we think of the flesh, yet being prideful is just as sinful and even more insidious because it often goes unnoticed.  But God notices.

A good exercise for this is to go all week doing good for others, expecting nothing in return, and not telling anybody about it.  When your flesh craves for attention and affirmation you will see what it means to be a true servant, serving in humility and looknig for the Father's applause alone. 

When you serve to you seek the attention of others, or only the Father?  Are there any ways that you could be guilty of hypocrisy?  And how does that relate to how you judge others?  Where do you think Jesus is calling you to serve him today?  How can you do this in humility?  

Can you take the servant challenge this week?  Serve others without being noticed!