Devo Matthew 23:1-12

Chapter 23
1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2”The teachers of the law and
the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So 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.
4They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves
are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5”Everything they do is done for
men to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments
long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in
the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men
call them ‘Rabbi.’ 8”But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one
Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you
have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you
have one Teacher, the Christ.[b] 11The greatest among you will be your servant.
12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will
be exalted.

Reflection:

1. Jesus’ disciples are commanded not to accept the title rabbi, father, or
teacher, for there is only one final and authoritative teacher – not Moses or
Solomon, but the Christ (v10). Thus, Jesus’ followers must always remain
learners. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and vice versa (v12).
Jesus repeated condemns play-acting, which is what the word we translate
“hypocrite” actually means. The dichotomy between appearance and reality,
between word and deed, draws Jesus’ criticism (vv13-33).

2. The scribes and Pharisees were the professors of their time. They studied
Scripture in minute detail and memorized huge chunks of it. Yet all of their
study and memorization didn’t keep them from doing things contrary to what
they were studying. How can I keep from being hypocrite: teaching one
thing and doing another?

Personal Note:

It is easy put on a mask of fake niceness, kindness, and use knowledge and credentials as a shield from the command to love from Jesus Christ.  Why do I want to be a pastor, a teacher, a leader?  Is it to show off? to make myself popular? to exalt (lift up) myself.  Rather, I am always a student of the Word of God, student of leadership so I would be able to guide my friends to a deeper relationship with Christ.

Being a pastor, there is a fine line between a good shepherd and a Pharisee.  How can I keep myself from teaching one thing and doing another?  To begin, I should practice what I teach first.  I teach on spending time with God in devotion, I try to show that I spend time with God too.  I try to teach honor your parents and leaders, and I respect my parents and my leaders.  I try to teach on having control over media consumption, I am not to be consumed by media...

All this is impossible by my own effort of self discipline.  I can do all that because God's love and strength allow me to do so.  I get strengthen and encouraged when I pray to God.  I get encouraged by the growth of fellow brothers and sisters.