Self-Focus Crushes

Greeting and Prayer

Good morning. This message is for God’s people at Church of the Ascension, Marion, Indiana. Grace and peace be upon you and may God’s Spirit illuminate the endless riches of His Word to you, that by obedience and steadfast love you may grow ever more into the image of our Savior and good friend, Jesus Christ.

Hook

Self-Focus Crushes

How important are you?

Seriously,

How important

are

you?

How Self-Centered Are You?

I’ve collected a few questions I want to share with you as a tool for reflecting on how similar you might be to the Pharisee’s Jesus denounces in. Think about these questions. This is a sort-of modified version of the spiritual discipline of Examen.

If you are taking notes today, you might consider writing a one to three word answer for each question. If you are not taking notes, spend a moment to identify an answer to this question, or think of a time this past week the question touches upon.

How often do you delight in the company of others?

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How do you feel when you watch someone else get something you want?

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How do you feel when you are given no recognition for your hard work?

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How often do you share about your personal achievements, unprompted?

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How do you feel when you are misrepresented?

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How do you feel when you are given a poor evaluation, or negative feedback?

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Are you accused of doing things because they make you look good, or make you the center of attention?

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How easy is it for you to give up things with monetary value?

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Which do you think about more often: how you can make your life better, or how you can make the lives of others better?

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How high of a value is pleasure to you? What do you sacrifice for the sake of pleasure?

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What do you sacrifice for the sake of recognition?

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How often do you go out of your way to love and serve others?

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When you are in a conversation with another person, how focused are you on what you are going to say next, and how often are you focused on hearing what they are trying to communicate to you?

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How likely are you to accomplish a task or take an action that has no benefit to you if no one else will ever know you did it, though it might benefit them?

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How important do you consider yourself?

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Do you think others will care about you if you are not successful?

Book

Today’s gospel reading is about self-centeredness. We’ll walk through it verse by verse and then talk about some of the implications and how we should respond.

The gospel reading follows immediately after the passage Steve preached on last week. In that passage the Pharisees had brought a lawyer to stump Jesus, and Jesus’ answer was so incredible that they basically gave up trying to stump him and went and started plotting how they could straight up murder Him.

So anyway, the Pharisees leave and Jesus turns to his disciples. That includes us. Jesus has just had some serious conflict with the Pharisees, and He wants to make a comment to His disciples.

So he turns to them and says in verse 2:

Matthew 23:2 ESV

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,

“Scribes” refers to people specifically dedicated to studying and teaching the law, similar to the Pharisees, who are an important Jewish sect that emphasized strict observance of the Old Testament law. This is actually the only location Jesus’ phrase “Moses’ seat” appears in the Bible. By this phrase He means the authority or respect one has. In verse 6 He mentions the fact that where one sat was a matter of honor. In this case, the Pharisees also seem to hold authority by seating in Moses’ seat in the sense that Moses has passed away and they continue in his stead, teaching the law accurately.

Jesus continues:

Matthew 23:3 (ESV)

so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

You might have thought, after all that conflict with the Pharisees, Jesus was going to say “Yeah so you can just forget everything those jerks said. They’re mean and not cool.” Jesus’ response is more nuanced. He says to do what they say. Jesus actually echoes Deuteronomy 17:10 when he commends His followers to respect the Pharisees as religious leaders of the law. Clearly they are teaching the law accurately. “But not the works they do.” The word for “but” here is the Greek “kai.” Kai is maybe the most interesting Greek word to me right now because of how it can be translated both as “and” as well as “but.” Another acceptable reading of this sentence in English would be “They preach and do not practice.” Taken together, this “but” “and” situation with the Pharisees begins to make Jesus’ point: hypocrisy characterizes the Pharisees.

Verse 4:

Matthew 23:4 ESV

They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

Now this is an interesting verse, and I’m not totally sure exactly what it means. This is what I think it means:

The “heavy burdens” are expectations. We have the phrase “the weight of expectations.” The New Living Translation chooses to express this phrase as “unbearable religious demands.”

Now the “not willing to move them with their finger” is an interesting phrase. The question I have is:

does this refer to the Pharisees not being willing to move the burdens they put on others, or ignoring and not being able to move the burdens they have actually weighed themselves down with? Plot twist: I think it’s both.

Verse 5:

Matthew 23:5 ESV

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,

“They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” Well, that explains it. They make their “phylacteries” broad and their fringes long. Both of these things are specific articles of clothing. Phylacteries are small little containers, holding Scripture verses, which Jews would wear on their head or shoulders, particularly while praying or otherwise “practicing religion.” The fringes being referred to are actually from a specific command God gave to the Jews in Numbers 15:38:

Numbers 15:38 ESV

“Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner.

So that’s all good. And the phylacteries were actually a really practical way for the Jews to follow God’s constant commands to keep His law in mind always. Following the Exodus, God commands the Jews to remember the way He saved them:

Exodus 13:9 (ESV)

as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt.

Deut 6:8 reiterates this, concerning God’s Words:

Deuteronomy 6:8 ESV

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

And in chapter 11:

Deuteronomy 11:18 ESV

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

So the phylactery was one way the Jews kept God’s words at the center of their lives.

But wait – is Jesus saying these are bad things? Or things that lead you away from God? Let’s look closely:

Matthew 23:5 ESV

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. Surely following God’s law by having a great way to remember his Word and by observing specific instructions from God are good things. But, or and, if you prefer, doing these things to be seen by others is not okay. That is not good. Following God’s instructions for your life for the purpose that you are drawing attention to yourself is not okay. Not to mention trying to glorify yourself. Even using God’s laws to get noticed is not okay. Jesus is not okay with that. Please don’t do that.

Jesus speaks earlier in Matthew on this topic, speaking directly to you, saying:

Matthew 6:1 ESV

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Don’t be righteous to be seen by others.

The key reason the Pharisees are hypocrites is because this concept: that being right with God means being humble and following His laws, not just following His laws, is not new. It’s in the Jewish Scriptures, which the Pharisees knew very well. They have had plenty of warning that it is against God’s law to be prideful. God’s law doesn’t just speak to specific actions one must or must not take, but rather the law serves as a set of guardrails by which we align our whole being toward God.

A few passages the Pharisee’s Jesus is talking about probably knew well include:

Job’s friend Eliphaz the Temanite speaks of God humbling those who are prideful and exalting those who are humble.

Psalm 18 warns that God will bring down the haughty.

Proverbs 29:23 declares:

Proverbs 29:23 ESV

One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

It’s not a new idea that God looks toward the heart to declare His righteous judgment.

There are several parallel accounts of Christ delivering a similar rebuke to the Pharisees and scribes in Luke’s and Mark’s gospels. This was a common theme for Jesus to teach on. Evidently, the Pharisees had missed something.

Verses 6 and 7:

Matthew 23:6 ESV

and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues

Matthew 23:7 ESV

and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

What can they say? The Pharisee’s want to be the “big man on campus.”

Verse 8:

Matthew 23:8 ESV

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

If you’re interested, this “but” is “de” in Greek, which is a stronger contrastive than “kai.” So there’s a definete separatation between who Jesus wants you to be and how He described the Pharisees.

Verse 9:

Matthew 23:9 ESV

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

Verse 10:

Matthew 23:10 ESV

Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

So,

These are really interesting verses.

Jesus is saying a few things here. Let’s break it down:

“You are not to be called rabbi” and “You are not to be called instructors”

Also, “You are not to call any man your father”

And the reasons for these things are:

“You have one teacher”

“You are all brothers”

“You have one Father, who is in heaven, namely, God”

and “you have one instructor, the Christ”

Okay so you’re not to let others refer to you as a teacher or instructor. Is that what Jesus is saying? I don’t think He is being totally literal in this saying. We’ve already seen that Jesus is not about abolishing the law or the old way, but about revealing and clarifying them. God has consistently and intentionally established leaders and teachers in Israel and then in the Church. So why the extreme language here? I think Jesus is using hyperbole, that is, extensive exaggeration, to make His point. He is saying “Don’t try to gather power and authority to yourself. Don’t revel in being respected. Never. Not at all. Not even a little bit.”

We might understand this extreme language a little more when we also bring in Jesus’ statement not to call anyone father because we have a father in Heaven. Jesus is not saying to ignore your father. “Honor your father and mother” still stands. What He is saying, is that your Heavenly Father is so good that your earthly father is not worthy of the title, in comparison.

Neither are you worthy of any title, when compared to God.

The Pharisees are not worthy to be called teacher, when compared to Jesus, the perfect teacher.

I am not worthy to be called teacher, when compared to Jesus, the most excellent instructor.

We must adopt this attitude of extreme humility that Christ asks of us.

Verse 11:

Matthew 23:11 ESV

The greatest among you shall be your servant.

and verse 12:

Matthew 23:12 ESV

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

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Now isn’t that weird?

It is a great and good mystery to be in relationship with God.

Jesus says that the best thing is absolute humility, yet the one who is absolutely humble will be totally exalted. Strange, isn’t it?

Let us dwell on this mystery together.

Ponder this mystery.

Now there lies a sneaky snare here: do not be proud about your humility.

How can you focus on being humble and not become prideful in your humility?

How can you be a servant and humble yourself so that God exalts you?

I actually think the answer to this is simple: please, do not focus on being humble, focus on two things:

One (1): Loving God and

Two (2): Loving others

Don’t try to be humble. Focus on others. Love others. Love God. Do what His Word says.

Today’s Old Testament reading also attends to those leaders who turn God’s people away from Him. God will deal with them. God is not happy when you are prideful.

I pray today you are aware of your pride. I pray today you are aware of your sin. I pray today you are aware of your inadequacy. I pray today you feel your need for God. I pray today you understand, at least in part, your need for God.

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Thankfully, there is one person we can look to with confidence that being like Him will never lead us astray: Christ. Jesus is a totally unfailing teacher of the law. I’m so glad.

The book of Micah ends with a promised hope:

Micah 7:18–19 (ESV)

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression …?

He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot.

You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

This hope is fulfilled in Christ!

We have an absolute guarantee of relationship with God through Christ.

Closing Illustrations

Last week after the service we had a potluck lunch in celebration of the installation of our new Stations of the Cross paintings. The artist of the paintings had a chance to speak and share with us about his process and the final outcome. One particular comment really struck me: he did not want to be known. He specifically said he wished not to have any recognition for his work, but he only wished that upon viewing these paintings, the hearts of the viewers would be turned toward God.

This is a commendable attitude.

A few weeks ago, I shared a few words from C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. This week I want to share with you another excerpt from this saint’s writings. In this passage, C. S. Lewis expounds upon the nature of humility, giving the Christian instruction as to how one is to consider one’s own work. This quote comes from The Screwtape Letters, which is a gorgeous and brilliant text, in which C. S. Lewis writes advice sort of “in reverse,” as he writes in the first person perspective of a demon trying to steal souls from God. I have edited the language slightly and replaced some of the pronouns for clarity:

Lewis begins:

“By this virtue, as by all others, [God] wants to turn [our] attention away from self, to him and [to our] neighbors.”

In this regard Lewis is absolutely correct. Scripture testifies to the greatest sin being self-focus and self-absorption. The fall of man is a result of self-focus and self-desire.

Lewis continues, offering a solution for how we are to live positively in the world. We are not to hide away and deny all things, as the extreme ascetics would argue. Lewis says:

“[God] wants to bring [us] to a state of mind in which [we] could design the best cathedral in the world and know it to be the best and rejoice in the fact, without being any more (or less) or otherwise glad at having done it than [we] would be if it had been done by another. [God] wants [us], in the end, to be so free from any bias in [our] own favor that we can rejoice in our own talents as frankly and gratefully as in our neighbor’s talents—or in a sunrise, an elephant, or a waterfall. [God] wants each man, in the long run, to be able to recognize all creatures (even ourselves) as glorious and excellent things…. He would rather [us] think ourselves a great architect or a great poet and then forget about it, than that [we] should spend much time and pains trying to think [ourselves] a bad one.”

And this is what Christ instructs us today.

God is not looking for you to do an exact set of instructions. He has given you His Word not as an arbitrary set of tasks, but rather as a guide. Much like a professor who gives assignments, not because the assignments are in and of themselves, essentially meaningful, but because they guide and shape the student. In the same way, God’s law is to guide and shape you, but never find your end in any rule, but only in relationship with God. Love Him. Respect Him.

He wants to be in relationship with you.

Took

Matthew 23:10–12 (ESV)

you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.