Humble Yourselves

Jesus calls for service not status

Intro me

“Why don’t you practice what you preach?” - I think that’s a pretty common complaint, and a pretty straightforward one to understand, too. I think it’s pretty universal to get wound up when we see people saying one thing, but doing another. Whether it’s your parents nagging you about phones at the meal table - then pulling theirs out to check a message, or your boss telling you to answer his emails quickly, then ignoring yours for days, it really gets up our nose. “Why don’t you practice what you preach?”

Do you know who coined that phrase? Jesus. His words. So let’s dive into the Bible and see why. / Jemimah is reading for us today and we’re in Matthew at the start of Chapter 23. Page 991 and look for the big 23. It’ll help you to have these words in front of you as we work through them together today so come with me now to Matthew chapter 23.

Matthew 23:1–12 NIV

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Did you notice how today’s passage begins? “then”: it’s a connected episode - it follows right on. So we need to remember what’s been going on before - it matters for what we’re looking at today. If you were with us last week, I hope you won’t just remember how long you’re likely to be waiting in A&E to be seen, you’ll also remember Jesus is the EPIC: that is, he’s the one in charge, the one in authority. Actually, the whole section we’ve been working through so far this year, Jesus’ last week, in Jerusalem, has focused on his authority - and the growing opposition to it. So that’s what’s in the air as we begin.

Jesus has faced down a series of challengers, each disputing or trying to undermine his authority. Now he turns to the crowd and his disciples. He has something important to tell them. And it starts with how to respond to these people called “the teachers of the law and Pharisees” - key religious leaders in the Jewish faith, known for how serious they were about it, and how learned. Known for their mastery of the Jewish scriptures and their careful following of every detail of them.

You might hear this word, Pharisee, and think something negative: self righteous or the like. It has that sense in our time but no-one would be thinking that back in Jesus’ day. Serious. Learned. Religious. Impressive. Those would be the words springing to mind. And to start with it sounds like Jesus is on the same wavelength.

They “sit in Moses’ seat” Jesus says. What does that mean? Well, Moses was a great leader of God’s ancient people, famous because he received God’s instructions for how his people should live, the Law, on two stone tablets. And Moses’ seat? Teachers normally sat rather than stood in this era - synagogues would have a stone seat at the front for this. So sitting in Moses’ seat means teaching his Law to God’s people. Holding a place of authority.

“so you must be careful to do everything they tell you,” he says. Really, Jesus? That’s pretty hard to square with things you’ve said earlier. That’s pretty hard to square with the Jesus we’ve been following as we’ve worked through Matthew’s gospel. Look how Jesus responds to the Pharisees on religious hand-washing back in chapter 15, for example:

Matthew 15:1–6 NIV

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honour your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honour their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Could this same Jesus really be saying “you must be careful to do everything they tell you” here when he flat out rejects doing what they have told people there? And that’s not nearly the only time he stands against what they are saying: he rejects their declarations about the Jewish Sabbath in chapter 12; their teaching on divorce in chapter 19; and their teaching as a whole in chapter 16. Mt 16:6, 11-12

Matthew 16:6 NIV

“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:11–12 NIV

How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

So is Jesus really telling his followers here to obey everything these religious authorities teach? That would make no sense! Jesus is being ironic: “oh, you should definitely do everything they tell you - they sat down in the chair of authority after all...” He’s about to lay out exactly why they don’t belong in that seat - why they have no right to it - so there’s no way they have the authority that goes with it.

Imagine [empty chair] a teacher is late for a lesson, right - and after a while, as the classroom descends towards anarchy, one of the children sneaks over and sits up the front in their chair. Now, should the class learn spellings they write on the board? Do the homework they set? No it’s not their seat; they have no such authority. And what’s going to happen when the teacher walks back in?

Or imagine the corner office of a big-shot CEO high up in a skyscraper, fancy leather chair and mahogany desk. But the boss is on the loo and the cleaner who’s in just emptying his bins decides to try out his chair for a moment. Then picks up the phone and starts punching numbers and barking orders to different departments. Should anyone do what the cleaner says? No it’s not their seat; they have no such authority. And what’s going to happen when the boss walks back in?

That what we’re reading about this morning: uh-oh - the teacher is here. The boss is walking back in. Remember the context, this is all about Jesus being the one with all authority - or, if you were with us last week, Jesus the EPIC, the one in charge, Jesus the one who can declare, act, judge, command. So get off the chair, Pharisees - the boss is here.

Jesus is about to slam these so-called authorities for being total hypocrites, not true followers of God at all. His point isn’t that, despite their hearts and lives being far from God, Jesus’ disciples should, or even could, learn right living from these weasels’ words. His point is they have no authority; their hypocritical lives show following them one inch would be a terrible mistake. “They do not practice what they preach.”

Matthew 23:4 NIV

They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Here’s how Jesus pictures what these fake teachers are doing with their stolen authority: they are tying up heavy loads and putting them on others’ shoulders. Again this makes it clear when Jesus says “oh, you must be careful to do everything they tell you to,” he’s being ironic - he’s joking - because these fakes are telling people to do all manner of stuff - weighing people down with lists upon lists of tangled and awkward rules: do this; don’t do that; and always wash your hands. They’re tying up heavy burdens where Jesus says the ones he places on people with his true authority are only light. Mt 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28–30 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

And not only are they making up and enforcing all kinds of tangled rules, they don’t lift a finger to help those who are crushed under that impossible burden. Mt 23:4.

Matthew 23:4 NIV

but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

They’re happy to see them fall flat on the floor, unable to rise. They are harsh, graceless taskmasters. “Oh, didn’t manage it? Didn’t tick all the boxes? Didn’t keep it up? Bad news for you. Get down and stay down.” That’s the sort of teachers they are: ones who load people down, then just abandon them when they collapse. That’s not Jesus.

And what about their own lives? How do they manage to shoulder all those heavy burdens? Well, they don’t. Maybe it looks like they “walk the talk” - but it’s all just a show, all just a performance. The truth is it’s one rule for you and another for me.

We’re no strangers to people like this, are we? “you must stay at home” oh, but while you’re not looking, we’ll have a big party, or head off on holiday, or meet our voice coach at the office. Yeah there’s plenty of this in our world too. “we must all do more to combat climate change” - but of course I’ll be keeping my private jet. Hypocrisy is nothing new.

But actually it’s a bit worse than that: it’s not just this hypocrisy, say one thing, do another - their lives are one huge act, a public performance, just playing to the crowd Mt 23:5

Matthew 23:5 NIV

“Everything they do is done for people to see.

For people to see, not for God to see. So what really matters to them? What people think of them - not what God thinks of them. What really matters to them? Where they sit in the pecking order. They want to be sure everyone knows exactly how important they are. That no-one mistakes them for just ordinary people when they’re such special people. What tickles them, what really makes their day? Being someone, being known. Getting the big invites. Making the A-list.

...

But here’s the thing: it’s easy to poke fun at these guys. To do them down. To call them out for their performance living. But seriously, do we not do exactly the same thing? Perform for people’s praise? Do we not want the very same thing? Wishing we’d be noticed, honoured, applauded? Aren’t we so often more worried about what people think of us than what God will think of us?

Who here has never done a good deed just because you knew someone was watching? Picked up someone else’s litter? Held the door? Who here has never let what people think drive us more than what God will think? Told that little lie to cover up. Gone along with the crowd when we should have stood up and stood out.

Look, we are mixed up creatures. Our hearts are in a mess. None of us is righteous, not one. The heart is deceitful above all things. That’s the bible’s take on us - on humankind.

We mustn’t come away from a passage like this thinking Jesus is showing us these Pharisees are bad just so we can feel good - since we’re so much better than them. “I thank you Lord that I do not perform for others or want to be honoured like those pharisees do.” They’re hypocrites who do not practice what they preach ... and so often, we are too.

And as we read on, we’ll see Jesus isn’t just putting down these Pharisees and teachers of the law - he’s preparing the ground for what comes next. We have the whole second half of our passage to think about still.

See, Jesus turns to his disciples next. He says to them “no Rabbis” - that’s not commanding an end to a particular tour company; Rabbi’s not Rabby’s. It’s a Jewish term literally meaning “my great one” often used for teachers; instead we are all to be brothers and sisters with just one exalted above, Jesus. No one is to magnify themselves, or allow themselves to be raised over everyone else.

“No honoured Fathers” - and I think it makes sense to read that as a title of respect, honour and authority rather than just a family relationship. The title is sometimes used that way - and that’s the focus of this whole section. Jesus is not saying “don’t call dad dad.”; he means no-one among those disciples should be so honoured over everyone else. The only one deserving that is God the Father.

“No exalted instructors”, Jesus says, there is only one instructor: him, the Messiah. And I think it’s interesting this word Jesus chooses, instructor, is used only here in the whole bible. It’s an unusual term - but it’s just another way of saying the same thing as “teacher”. So why does he effectively repeat himself?

It’s almost like he’s anticipating us humans will get to work right away on undermining his commands with our supposed cleverness. Keeping them to the letter - “ah, you said no rabbi’s or fathers. Fair enough Jesus. We won’t have any of them.” while totally rejecting the spirit “yep, no teacher rabbi’s here - I’m just a … an .. an instructor. Yeah. An instructor. And don’t I look fabulous in my lovely flowing robes!”

Now you might be thinking Jesus is setting out a pattern for church here where there’s absolutely no structure; a totally flat setup where everyone is at exactly the same level: each of our opinions equally valid, nobody’s ideas or teaching to be taken over anyone else’s; no one with any higher authority, no one to lead or direct. Is Jesus establishing a church not just of brothers and sisters, but of identicals? A church with no-one in authority, no leadership, no special roles?

No, that’s not getting Jesus right. I can tell you that for sure because he has already begun to set apart some among his disciples to have special roles and greater authority. Back in chapter 10, Jesus chooses 12, gives them special authority and power, and sends them out with a special role Mt 10:1,5-8. In chapter 16, Jesus tells Peter he has a special role and authority within the church. Mt 10:18-19.

As the story of the church begins with the book of Acts, there is a special “apostolic ministry” for the 11 and for Matthias who replaces Judas the betrayer Acts 1:23-26. The apostles’ teaching holds such special authority, the church is devoted to it. Acts 2:42 As the church grows, the apostles turn some of their special responsibility over to seven more chosen leaders. Acts 6:3-4.

Many of the letters from the early church speak about people with different gifts and roles - Rom 12 which we sung our way through some months back, and sung a little of this morning, would be a great example “we have different gifts” - and we’re to use them. Other letters from our bible demonstrate people having different roles within the church (e.g. 1 Cor 12:28-29 // Eph 4:11-12) and call us to respect those in authority within the church (1 Peter 5:5) - meaning there must be an authority. The call to appoint elders in each church, the bible word for church leaders, comes directly from scripture. Titus 1:5.

So if Jesus isn’t demanding the church has no-one in authority, no-one with special roles, then what is he commanding here? … Leaders focused on service not status. On service not status. Mt 23:11

Matthew 23:11 NIV

The greatest among you will be your servant.

Are there places in God’s Church where leaders are far more focused on status than service? Where this has gone badly wrong? Absolutely. Of course. Sadly that’s a big reality - in history, and today. In the UK and around the world. Much damage has been done. But it’s all too easy to wring our hands and wag our fingers at “them over there” - and forget Jesus is speaking to us, here, too. That should be our first concern.

So there’s sharp application here for me and all the other leaders here at Hope City: We are forbidden, absolutely forbidden, from exalting ourselves - and from allowing ourselves to be exalted. From claiming and seeking honour. If you ever see or hear or feel any of us demanding that, Jesus requires you to say “no”. And Jesus tells us Mt 23:12 “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled,” so do us a favour by speaking the truth in love. Call us out instead. Let us see ourselves in that mirror. And pray we might listen to you, pay attention and change. Christian leadership, Christian teaching, is service not status.

You might have noticed I try and avoid being called pastor Matt or reverend Matt or minister Matt or anything like that. Sometimes it just happens; people have come from a place where these titles and structures are the norm and presume we’ll be the same; but I’m trying to avoid it. On my business card and in my email signature it just says “Leadership Team”. When I introduce myself here at church I always say “I’m one of the leaders” - because that’s the truth. I’m just one of the leaders, one of the elders here. We’re genuinely team-led as a church.

Now I’m not meaning to criticise other churches or ways of doing things; it’s entirely possible to use those titles and structures and not end up with trouble. And I’m not sharing this just so you can go “oooh you’re so good” - that would be ironic! I’m sharing it because you can help me and the other leaders here by going along with it, keeping all of these titles and this exaltation stuff far away from us. [service not status] By not putting any of us up on a pedestal. Because that has a magnetism … an evil gravity - and deadly potential.

Don’t think for one minute that power, authority, exaltation and being honoured have no appeal for me. Don’t think for one minute this could never go to my head. That there’s nothing in me hungry for all that. Or in other leaders here. Of course it’s within me - and it’s within you too. Our sinful nature wants to exalt self - not Jesus; our sinful nature longs for the applause of people - not God, our sinful nature hungers for status, position and power - not service. My nature. And your nature.

So what’s the antidote? Jesus lays it out for us here: we are to put him first instead. Lift him higher instead. He’s the one, the only one, that should be exalted here at Hope City, honoured way above us all. One teacher, Christ; we come together to hear and study his words. One Father, in heaven, honoured over all. One instructor, the Messiah, with all authority.

And here’s the thing: Jesus is the one, the only one, who can safely be exalted like that. Jesus’ purity and righteousness so exceeds ours that this corrupting call has no hold on him. As he starts his ministry, the Enemy tempts him with exaltation, authority, power. He has the character to say “no”. He is the one who instead humbled himself, became an obedient servant - and that is why God exalts him to the highest place. Phil 2:6-11

Philippians 2:6–11 NIV

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So let us be a church that focuses on service not status. Where leaders lead humbly and neither demand, nor accept, exaltation. Where that is reserved for Jesus and for God. That’s definitely front and centre in this passage.

But there’s one more thing I want us to take from today’s passage, a powerful insight into what it really means to be humble, which is the main call of this passage. And by the way, we should definitely notice the focus is on “those who humble themselves”, not those who humble others! This passage has something to say to you, too - not just me and the other leaders!

This passage helps us unpack what leading humbly, what teaching humbly, and what living humbly would really mean. It helps us understand practically how you and I could be people who humble ourselves. Jesus tells us the key problem he has with these teachers of the law and Pharisees: Mt 23:5

Matthew 23:5 NIV

“Everything they do is done for people to see”

And why do they want people to see? So they are exalted, honoured; called “rabbi” - remember, literally “my great one”. What’s at the centre of their life? Who’s at the top of their priorities? Themselves. They are utterly self-centred. That’s the root issue: they are all about themselves. It is all about what people think of them. How people see them. How people treat them. They are utterly self-centred.

And Jesus knows this isn’t just a problem for the Pharisees; he goes on to warn his disciples away from exactly the same trap: wanting to be the great one, honoured, exalted, powerful. Making it all about ourselves. “Everyone, everyone, look at me!” We have this same inward leaning in our hearts too, don’t we. Self-centred. We’re self-centred.

Got that? Then think with me: what does humility look like? What words would express it? What would we say if we were to be it?

“Oh I could never do that,” “Oh I could never be like that,” “Oh, I’m really not important at all.” That’s how we often frame humility. That’s how we often imagine it should look. But humility isn’t actually about putting yourself down, about talking yourself down, about thinking yourself down.

You know who scored 10/10 for humility? Jesus. Does he put himself down? Talk himself down? Ever? I don’t think so. Jesus knows who he is and what he can do - and he never claims otherwise.

Does his perfect humility mean he won’t “say boo to a goose” (that’s a very British phrase; it means someone who’s timid, who holds back from speaking; I looked up the equivalents from some other cultures and they’re equally weird: the French would say “has his tongue in his pocket” and the Japanese, apparently, would say “wears a cat”.). But Jesus is not shy or timid. That’s not perfect humility. No, Jesus, in perfect humility is still able to call out these Pharisees. And he’ll get sharper with them too, as we’ll see next week.

So what does it mean to be humble? How is Jesus perfect in humility? And how are these Pharisees the exact opposite? Where these Pharisees are self centred, Jesus is other-centred. This, this is the ground zero of humility. Tim Keller puts it well “not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” Humility, fundamentally, is other-centred living. Other-centred teaching. Other-centred leading. It’s service not status. Jesus is all about serving others - he spends his live serving others, gives his life to serve others - and he wants his church to follow him in this.

I already brought us to Philippians 2, that famous passage about Jesus’ other-centred humble service in coming to us, living among us, dying for us. But we need to see it again, see it and understand for us, too, this is what humility means. Jesus is the epitome of the one who humbles himself, and is then exalted.

So can I invite the band to come up? … I know I’ve been long today. I have so much to say. Obviously this is a passage which speaks deeply to me. But I hope it’s had the chance to speak deeply to you, too. Jesus calls us to service not status. That’s the bottom line. Jesus calls for humble living, humble leading. And that’s other-centred living, other-centred leading. And that’s exactly how he lives.

We’re going to turn our eyes towards him now, to see again, and be challenged again, to follow the wonderful example of true humility that he sets for us as we sing together. Band, over to you.