The Humble are Exalted

If you were a disciple of Jesus during the time his teaching in Matthew 23 was recorded, you may have been motivated to tell Him, “Don’t poke the bear!”

Jesus had already made many enemies in high places; especially the Pharisees, Saducees and other religious leaders

Ruling council = Sanhedrin

They held earthly (political) power over Jesus to be sure

Turns out Jesus had no qualms whatsoever about “poking the bear”

Read Matthew 23:1-12.

Reference the further “woes” Jesus launches into

Pray

Those Who Exalt Themselves Will be Humbled

The “big idea” of today’s sermon is verse 12: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted”

Language used is rooted in the idea of height

Exalt = Lift yourself up

Humility = Lay yourself low

Supplies a good visual for the state of the heart Jesus is talking about

First lesson: Everyone who seeks to lift themselves up will be laid low in the kingdom of heaven. And Jesus uses the negative example of the Pharisees as a warning to His followers:

They exalted themselves by public displays of religious piety

Verse 5, “Everything they do is done for people to see”

Wide phylacteries = prayer boxes worn on the forehead and forearms during times of prayer

Show picture

Based on passages like Deuteronomy 11:18.

Long tassels = worn on the four corners of their garments as a reminder of all the commandments of God

Show picture

Based on the command in Numbers 15:37–40.

The problem was that the Pharisees were forgetting the original intention of these items (devotional aid) and using them as public displays to garner respect

In Jewish culture of Jesus’ time, showing religious dedication was an effective way of increasing your social stature… but that is all they will receive

Cf. Matthew 6:1-4.

They receive no reward in the kingdom of heaven; they have exalted themselves and will be made humble

Phylacteries, fringes and public displays of piety feel foreign to us today

There are other ways we need to heed this warning and resist the temptation to need to be seen and appreciated

Talk about Lillis not wanting the spotlight with the Giving Fence

The Pharisees exalted themselves by demanding places of honour and prestige

Both at feasts and banquets, as well as in the synagogue

Where are the best seats in church now? Probably the back rows!

Talk about the awkward walk to the front when you are late

It can always be interesting to see where you sit at weddings

Make fun of trying to find where your table is at a wedding reception

Seating arrangements were public displays of honor and power

Incredibly rigid and important (why James and John wanted to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus)

The Pharisees weren’t interested in comfortable chairs, but to grab honor for themselves… something else Jesus used as a teaching tool

Cf. Luke 14:7-11.

Do not grab honor for yourself; let God bestow it upon you (as we will see)

Finally, the Pharisees exalted themselves by demanding respect from others

They loved to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces

Marketplaces = public domain

Not just respect, but being noteworthy (maybe even famous)

Like an NHL player getting recognized and celebrated in public; share my story of meeting Owen Nolan

Loved to be called “rabbi” by others

Rabbi = teacher

A sign of respect and of authority (others place them higher than themselves)

Briefly share my hesitancy to use “pastor” and desire to be “Andrew”

All of these actions reveal a heart that lifts themselves up

And serve as a warning that it should not be so in the kingdom of heaven

Those Who Humble Themselves Will be Exalted

While Jesus here highlights the negative example of the Pharisees, he Himself provides the ultimate positive example of what humility looks like

Cf. Philippians 2:1-11.

We see the promise of the kingdom of heaven made true in Jesus

He practiced and what He preached, and made himself low (even to death on the cross)

In response, God lifted Him up (highly exalted him)

This is EXACTLY what Jesus is teaching us in Matthew 23; He has lived it out

In this passage we also see practical (positive) advice to follow

In humility, count others more significant than yourselves

As I like to say: Easy to understand; hard to live out

Talk about not wanting to take a game off from batting; broaden this to way bigger relationship situations

In humility, look after the interests of others

It wasn’t in Jesus’ best interest to go to the cross; it was for you and for me

We put on a great show of peaceful humility while still trying to look after our own best interests

When was the last time you decided to do something because it was better for someone else? When it was in their best interest and not your own?

We Are Family

Going back to Matthew 23, Jesus shows us the reason we are to live in humility as citizens of the kingdom of heaven

Sure, its great to be rewarded (eventually) for putting others first… but is there a greater motivation for humble actions?

Re-read Matthew 23:8-9.

We are to avoid the temptation of lifting ourselves up because we are family

There is one Father

He holds ultimate authority, honor and glory

When we attempt to exalt ourselves, we aspire to take away what is rightfully God’s alone

There is one Instructor (Jesus!)

As God-made-flesh, Jesus teaches with supreme authority and gives us a perfect example to follow

Which is what we have already aspired to do by turning to Phil. 2.

The rest of us are on equal footing as brothers and sisters

No one is more important than any other

No matter what roles, titles, social status and wealth have to say

The action of Jesus on the cross declares that we are ALL of infinite worth in God’s eyes

Cf. Galatians 3:28.

We are all one; we are all family

And when we choose to live as family by putting others ahead of ourselves, we will be lifted up by God, now and into eternity