# 103 Religions Bad Example - Matthew 23:1-12

Introduction: There is a saying: “Don’t follow bad examples; they lead to bad ends.” These words ring true in every part of life, but they are especially urgent when it comes to religion. Religion is just one bad example. It is man’s approach to God.

   Now, I do not doubt that there are a lot of sincere religious people in our world. It is estimated that of the eight billion people on planet earth that 6,064,000,000 are involved in some form of religion.

   Now, just because you are sincere doesn’t mean that you are correct – you may be sincerely wrong.  

   The Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees made up religious Judaism. In our text here in Matthew 23:1-12, we are going to see Jesus’ take on religion. Jesus is going to point out five bad examples of religion.

   Are you ready to see what they are?

I. Religion teaches, but doesn’t practice – 23:1–3

   “The Jesus spoke to the multitude and to His disciples. Saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”

   First, I want to remind you that the religious elite – the scribes and the Pharisees rejected Jesus as the Messiah. They refused to acknowledge Him and sought to turn the people away from Him. Yes, they refused to hear Him, but I pointed out that according to Mark 12:37,

   And the common people heard Him gladly.

   Well, we read here in Matthew 22:1 that Jesus is now speaking to the “multitude and to His disciples.” These are the ones who will hear Him.

   I also mentioned to you that I choose to be among the “common people”. How about you? Will you hear Jesus?

   In verse 2, Jesus teaches that the “scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.” What does this mean? It means that they are the ones who taught Israel from the book of the Law (the first five books of the Old Testament). “Moses’ seat was an actual chair that was in the synagogue. It symbolized the origin and authority of their teaching.” (Liberty Bible Commentary).

   Scribes were the scholars of the day when it came to the law. They were the theologians! The Pharisees, on the other hand, were the ones who sought to teach the people how to keep the law, what constituted obedience to the law.

  Now, I want us to park on verse 3 for a little bit, and I want us to carefully dissect what Jesus is saying. First, Jesus says,

   “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do,”

   In other words, since they are the ones who interpret the law and instruct on how the law is to be followed, Jesus says, “observe and do.” This was how they were to react to the teaching of Moses’ law.

   Jesus makes it very clear that when the law is taught that one is to be obedient to it.

   Secondly, Jesus says,

   “But do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”

   Jesus was telling the multitude to do what they tell you from the law of Moses, but don’t follow their example. Evidently, they taught the law, but they didn’t practice it. They told people how God expected them to live, but they didn’t follow their own instructions.

   Religion is about what you know, and not how you live. Whereas Jesus made it clear that religion has it wrong. He says, “But do not do according to their works;” Religion goes through motion without transformation. It seeks to sound well with words, but nothing in life backs it up.

   Something else that I think we see here in this verse is that words without obedience destroy credibility. Jesus gives no credibility to the scribes and Pharisees. They don’t do what they themselves teach.

   Do you know anyone like that? They teach, but they don’t practice what they teach. That’s religion, but that is not biblical Christianity.

   What is another bad example of religion?

II. Religion places Heavy Burdens on Others – 23:4

   “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”

   The scribes and Pharisees should have helped people draw closer to God, but instead, they crushed them under man-made rules. Religion creates a bunch of man-made rules that a person must follow.

   Here are some rules that the scribes and Pharisees came up with:

· The Sabbath “Keep it Holy” – was turned into 39 categories of forbidden work, including tying knots, writing more than one letter, or walking too far (3/4 mile).

· Excessive rituals – ceremonial washing, tithing the smallest herbs (mint, dill, cumin), and rules about contact with unclean people and objects.

· Women were forbidden to look into a mirror lest they see a gray hair and pull it out – that would be “work”.

· Making the right oaths by choosing your words carefully.

      And what are some man-made rules we discover in religion in the 21st century?

· A dress code to attend Church. Men in suits and ties, and women in dresses. Scripture calls for modesty but does not prescribe an exact dress code (2 Tim. 2:9-10).

· You can only listen to a certain style of music. Hymns only, no instruments, or no contemporary songs. Hey, did you know that at one time, all music was contemporary? Scripture speaks of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19).

· Christians cannot drink coffee, wear jewelry, or play cards. These are all cultural or denominational rules, but not biblical commands.

· You cannot work on the Lord’s Day. That was true of the Sabbath given to Israel, but it is not true of the Christian (Col. 2:16-17). Jesus Christ is the Christians rest (Heb. 4).

· You must read only the King James Bible – the 1611 edition. All other Bibles are perverse.

   In today’s language, we call this legalism. It is the way of religion. It is placing “heavy burdens” upon followers that the religious leaders themselves wouldn’t even think about practicing.

   Religion is demanding. Christianity is FREEING!

III. Religion seeks to be in the Limelight – 23:5

   “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.”

   Jesus made it clear that the works of the scribes and the Pharisees were done to be seen by men. That is Religion. Religion is all about being noticed by others. Look at me – look at what I do.

  One of the ways the scribes and Pharisees got noticed was by wearing phylacteries. I mentioned in a previous message that the scribes and Pharisees wore leather boxes on their foreheads and on their forearms. These boxes were tied on by leather straps. Inside the boxes, they placed written Scripture. They believed that this made them more spiritual. And in verse 5, Jesus tells us,

   “They make their phylacteries broad…”

   They didn’t wear what others wore, no, they wore special phylacteries designed specifically for them. And people would take note of them when they wore them. Their phylacteries got them the attention they were seeking. It got them noticed.

   Not only did they wear broad phylacteries, but they also would,

    “enlarge the borders of their garments.”

  What we are looking at here are religious tassels. Numbers 15:38-39 tells us that Israel was told to make tassels and to sew them onto the corners of their garments. These tassels were to remind them of God’s commandments. It was a reminder to obey God’s laws. But in Jesus’ day, the scribes and the Pharisees took tassel wearing to a whole other level – they enlarged their tassels so that they would be seen by men.

  One author wrote, “They advertised their religiosity.”

  Instead of the phylacteries and tassels being used for God’s purpose of obedience, humility, devotion, and faithfulness, the scribes and Pharisees used them for self-righteousness, pride, performance, and public show.

   Religion is about Me – showy. Christianity is about glorifying God.

IV. Religion wants Positions of Honor – 23:6

   “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues.”

  The “best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues” tells us that the Pharisees were all about position. This is head-table mentality. It is “seat me” where I will be noticed.

   The best seats at feasts were near the host. The best seats in the synagogues were seats that faced the congregation – those that sat there would be seen by everyone.

   Warren Wiersbe writes, “The Pharisees lived for the praise of men, not the approval of God. They may have started as sincere students of the Law, but pride turned them into religious showmen.”

   How might this play out in the church today?

· Platform prominence and visibility.

· Seeking to serve at the largest churches.

· Desiring to be placed on key denominational committees.

· Expecting special treatment at church events.

   True spiritual leadership seeks God’s glory, not personal advancement.

   Religion makes it about self, but Christianity makes it about JESUS!

  What is the final bad example in Religion?

V. Religion desires Titles and Recognition – 23:7–10

   “They love greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.”

   Years ago, there was a man in our church who approached me and told me that he wanted to be a deacon. I had some serious reservations. It seemed that he was more interested in the title than the service that was involved. I finally told him, “You can serve God without a title.”

   Beware of those who desire the title and not the testimony. They want position and the accolades that come with it. There are some people who want titles - they craved human honor instead of divine approval.

   Jesus reminds His followers: we have one Teacher—Christ—and one Father—our Father in heaven.

   Religion is about proper greetings, titles, and positions. Christianity is about SERVING. It’s not about ecclesiastical hierarchy.

   Now, everything that we have looked at in verses 1-10 are the Bad Examples of Religion – Avoid them. As followers of Christ, we should be different. We are a people of faith, and not of religion. So, then, here is where we need to land. I find that verses 11-12 are:  A Call to True Discipleship

   While exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Jesus turned the focus back on His disciples, showing them what godly leadership looks like. It is two-fold:

1. Be a Servant – 23:11

   “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

   Greatness in God’s kingdom is not measured by power and position, but by sacrificial service. Be willing to pick up the basin and the towel (John 13).

   Every believer should be serving somewhere in their church (unless they have a health issue – you are exempt). You serve quietly behind the scenes. You don’t need recognition. You see what needs to be done, and you get it done.

   I want to thank personally all of those in the Church body who labor for Jesus Christ without the fanfare. You are to be commended. Well done. Keep it up. Don’t grow weary (1 Cor. 15:54).

   In 1975, Michael Ryan penned a small chorus entitled, Servant of All. We used to sing it at our weekly youth gatherings. Here are the lyrics to that song:

If you want to be great in God's kingdom, Learn to be a servant of all. If you want to be great in God's kingdom, Learn to be a servant of all. Learn to be a servant of all. Learn to be a servant of all. If you want to be great in God's kingdom, Learn to be a servant of all. (repeat)

   Here are some of our immediate needs at SLBC:

· Children’s ministry

· Nursery

· Sound room

· Sunday school

· Home group facilitators (people to open their homes).

· Greeters on Sunday mornings.

   Here is the good news – You don’t need to be an expert. We will train you. You will receive on-the-job training.

2. Be Humble – 23:12

   “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

   Humility is the pathway to true honor before God.

   In Philippians 2:8, we read about the humility of Jesus Christ,

    8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

   Jesus fulfilled His calling. What are you being called to, and will you fulfill your calling?

Conclusion: I started with the following statement: “Don’t follow bad examples; they lead to bad ends.” This is so true when it comes to religion. We as believers must GUARD against falling into “Religion's Bad Example.” So, instead of me repeating the five bad examples to avoid, allow me to provide you with five clear examples of biblical Christianity. Here they are (and these points would make a great devotional for one’s personal quiet time this week):

1. Practice what you teach or preach to others (James 1:22; Romans 2:21; 1 Timothy 4:16)

2. Avoid legalism in your own life, but make sure that you do not place legalism upon others (Galatians 5:1; Colossians 2:20-22).

3. Play the role of a servant well (pick up the basin and the towel). Jesus was a servant. Christians serve (John 13:14-15; Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:3-4).

4. Use your talents and abilities without having a title in the Church. And if you receive a title, all you really get is more scrutiny (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10; James 3:1; Matthew 23:11-12).

5. Seek to get people’s eyes off you and onto Jesus Christ (John 3:30; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:2).