10/4/25

Does Jesus Want Us to Avoid the Word “Religion”?

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 honor 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.

James 1:26–27 NIV

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Theme: Jesus opposed empty religion but called His followers to a living, humble, pure devotion to God.

Big Idea: True faith is not about religion as ritual, but about relationship that produces love and justice.

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The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 Making Religion a Burden (Matthew 23:1–4)

Whenever religion becomes a burden, it ceases to be true religion.

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 The Religion of Ostentation (Matthew 23:5–12)

The intention of the Pharisees was to dress and act in such a way as to draw attention to themselves; the intention of Christians should be to obliterate themselves, so that if others see their good deeds, they may glorify not the Christians but their Father in heaven. Any religion which produces ostentation in action and pride in the heart is a false religion.

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Matthew 23:1–4 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.

—> Religion is empty when we talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

—> Following Jesus is more than academics and theory.

—> Following Jesus means we all serve God together.

Matthew 23:5–7 NIV

“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 honor 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.

—> Religion is empty when it becomes about us, instead of about Jesus.

—> When we want people to notice us instead of noticing Christ in us we have a problem.

—> If you need a bumper sticker or a t-shirt to tell people you are a Christian there is a problem.

Matthew 23:8–12 NIV

“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.

Religion is empty when we exalt man over God.