May 16, 2014

“They Loved…”

Blessings folk!

Let us begin looking at the Words of the Lord related to the religious leaders of the day. His day.
Our day.
Nothing has changed...perhaps things are worse.

As you read, watch what Jesus says about…

• the leadership (scribes and Pharisees)
• what they did
• what they did not do
• their “lifestyle”

Matthew 23:1-8
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,
2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.
4 They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
5 But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
6 They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.

Jesus was speaking to the crowds and His disciples.
The scribes and Pharisees would have been there. They always were.

Jesus warns the folk.
The leaders had “seated themselves” in the chair of Moses.
They spoke from the position of the Law...as God designed.
Jesus tells the people to do and observe the things of the Law taught by the scribes/Pharisees.
Jesus then tells the folk to not do as the leaders do.
They taught one way.
They lived another.
Hypocrites.

The leaders…

• tied heavy burdens and laid them on men’s shoulders...burdens that the Lord had not placed
• they were unwilling to live under the same burden
• they did all their deeds...all of ‘em… to be noticed by men...all for pride, all for prestige
• they broadened their phylacteries and lengthened the tassels of their garments… expanded the show of leadership and false humility.
• they loved the place of honor
• they loved the chief seats in the synagogues…”at church”
• they loved the “respectful greetings” at Wal-Mart
• they loved being called “Rabbi” (“teacher”, “pastor”, “reverend”, etc.) by men

Nothing has changed.
Such is the same today for many in “church leadership”.

Such should not be.
We will see more tomorrow.

For now, walk in the Truth of the Word.
Reject the pride of the flesh.