Proper 26 –5
November, 2017 – Matthew 23:1-12
“Lord, when the day of wrath comes, we have
no hope except in your grace. Make us so to watch for the last days that the
consummation of our hope may be the joy of marriage feast of your Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord.”
Our
Gospel lesson is for both clergy and laity. Jesus spoke about the scribes and
the Pharisees. The scribes were the professional, ordained clergy who were
scholars, teachers, and rabbis. The Pharisees were not theologically educated;
they were lay people who were leaders dedicated and zealous in keeping the Law.
The
people assembled for worship can be classified today as Pharisees. They are the
thirty to forty percent of the congregation present for worship Sunday after
Sunday. They are the cream of the crop, the most active, and leaders of the
congregation. This message is for both pastor and people today.
Jesus
urges His disciples to follow what the Pharisees taught but not what they
practiced. Jesus exhorts both people and disciples not to follow the Pharisees
who do not practice what they preach, but to attain greatness through humility
and service.
In
contrast to self and title-seeking, Jesus urged His followers to renounce pride
and titles in favor of service to God.
Outline:
Lord, use me.
1. Our strength:
teaching and preaching the Word — vv. 2-3. The teachers of the law and the
Pharisees sit in Moses' seat .So you must obey them and do everything they tell
you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
The
Words…Preach ... practice (v. 3). These two belong together, but often they are
not. The preaching may be all right, but the practice has not the same quality.
Jesus
urges His listeners to practice what the scribes and Pharisees preach, but not
to follow their practice. Can we do this? Can we separate preaching from
practice? Most of us repudiate the preaching that is not practiced. Yet, what
preacher can perfectly practice his own preaching? Can you?
2. Our weaknesses:
do not do as the Pharisees — vv. 3-7. So you must obey them and do everything
they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they
preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they
themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is
done for men to see: They make their phylacteries.[1] wide and the tassels on their garments long;
they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the
synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call
them 'Rabbi.
Religious
leaders are prone to be proud of themselves, their positions, and their piety.
They
want to be “seen.” “Look at me” — they say - see how good I am! They want their
gifts publicized and want due credit. They like to wear large crosses and put
religious slogans on bumpers. They want to be seated up front and they love
their titles. All these add up to pride. They want to be “seen.”
But
this morality, my friends will not and cannot save you. A Law that demands
anything less than perfection - demands less than Jesus’ perfect obedience. A
Law that sinners can keep doesn’t require Jesus’ dead on the Cross…soft
peddling the Law just won’t do – not if we want sinners to trust Jesus alone to
be saved. Excuses, generalities, house rules, principle for living and all of
the moralist of today ultimately rob sinners of their only comfort and hope.
God
gave His Law to hunt us down, find us out, corner us and kill us. The Law is
powerful, but it is a deadly power because of our sin. In the end, the Law
exposes us as the enemies of God we really are…In the end, the Law leaves the
sinner utterly sinful, utterly condemned, utterly dead. The Law leaves the
sinner without hope in himself or the Law. There is no hope – except one. His name
is Jesus Christ. [2] It is only through His merits on the
cross of Calvary that you and I find salvation and life.
3. Our goal:
humbler service — vv. 11-12. The greatest among you will be your servant. For
whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be
exalted.
The
world does not agree with Jesus on this question, “Who is the greatest?” In the
world the greatest is a star like Julia Roberts or Brad Pitt. The greatest is a
champion like Tiger Woods. The greatest is a billionaire like Bill Gates. The
greatest is a monarch of a nation like the Queen of England.
This
kind of greatness is for a few people. For Jesus’ greatness, every person can
be the greatest. It takes only humble service. The greatest can be poor,
uneducated, unknown — just a humble person living for others as the Savior
shapes their lives. As Dr. King as said, “Everybody can be great...because anybody can
serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make
your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A
soul generated by love.” - M L
King “Anyone can be Great”
We
must take the attitude of John the Baptist who said of our Savior – He must
increase I must decrease. In humility we pray – Lord I am an instrument use me
as You see fit. I am Your servant. You are the potter I am the clay. Shape and
use me as You deem the best, for Your kingdom – Your glory and my good.
Words-1,006
-
Passive Sentences – 9%
Passive Sentences – 9%
Readability
– 76.6%
Reading
Level –5.6
Luther’s
Seal © Ed Riojas Higher Things
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