DO AS I SAY, AND NOT AS I DO!
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I dearly loved both of my parents. I am so grateful that God chose for me to be born into a godly family. Though my family life was mostly wonderful, we were far from perfect. My dad, my hero though he was, had his faults — he was not a perfect man. My mom, the spiritual giant that she was to many other ladies, had her faults too, and was far from perfect. My older brother, Darryl, was the best best-man that a person ever had, but still he has his faults and is not perfect. Then there is me! I’m tempted to say that, like Mary Poppins, I’m practically perfect in every way. But you’ve known me now for six years and you know better. I’m as flawed as they come.
There is one statement that my mom used rather frequently (or at least it seems that way now) which has been running through my mind this week as I have been preparing for this message. She used to tell my brother and me to “do as I say, and not as I do!” Did anyone else’s parents use that phrase? Or was that unique to my upbringing?
The sad truth is that children are more likely to mimic their parent’s actions than they are to mimic their parent’s words. And that statement from my mom was nothing short of hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is something that Jesus began dealing with at the very beginning of His public ministry. As a matter of fact John the Baptist, who was the predecessor to Jesus dealt with it as well. And now as Jesus closes out His public, earthly ministry, He let’s loose His fury toward the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees with both barrels of a double barrel 12 gauge loaded with double aught buckshot.
If you have not done so, please turn to . Some consider this chapter to be a sermon of Christ, however it does not have the typical conclusion which the major discourses of Jesus have in the Gospel of Matthew which is typified by the statement: “When Jesus had finished all these words...” Whether a sermon or merely an elongated, scathing rebuke of the religious leaders of Israel, what Jesus had to say in this chapter is powerful stuff. And it is a message that the church which bears His name dare not miss.
As we go through this passage this morning we will consider the comparison between the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, and the humility of true followers of Jesus. The true follower of Christ is not to pattern themselves after the manner of the scribes and Pharisees; instead they should practice true humility as exemplified by Jesus.
Let’s read first
The Description of Hypocrites
The Description of Hypocrites
Hypocrites often assume authority that is not theirs to have
Notice what Jesus said about the scribes and Pharisees at the end of verse 2: they have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Since Moses was the one who received the Law directly from God in the Book of Exodus, and he was also the interpreter and teacher of that Law in Deuteronomy, he is the iconic expert on it. These pious hypocrites put themselves forward as being the successors to Moses. They therefore held the common people in bondage to their interpretation of the Law of God.
By the time of Jesus, the priests of Israel had by and large dropped the ball as the spiritual leaders of Israel. They were motivated by a lust for power and greed. And the common people understood that very thing. Therefore they looked to scribes and Pharisees to teach them the decrees of God.
Scribes were the experts in the Word of God. They were the theology professors of their day. Over the centuries the term scribe had different meanings in the OT. At first they were part of the king’s court and their job had to do with mustering the troops. After the time of the Babylonian captivity the term scribe came to be used to refer to men like Ezra who were skilled in the Scriptures. By Jesus’ day most of the scribes belonged to the party of the Pharisees, but they were an elite group within the larger body of Pharisees. And so it is natural for Jesus to mention them together.
The scribes were not merely experts in the Word of God, but they were experts in the commentaries on the Word of God. Now, there is nothing wrong with using commentaries. I use a bunch of them every week in preparation to teach and preach. But it seems that commentaries were put on a even plane with the Word of God. That is dangerous, my friends, because commentaries are written by fallen men, and do not come about as a result of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. There is a sense in which the Roman Catholic Church has followed in this method, making the word of the pope as authoritative as the Word of God. Many other false religions have done so as well with things like the Book of Mormon, etc.
Look with me at verse 3 for a moment. Even a false teacher, such as the scribes and Pharisees were, can occasionally hit the nail on the head. Some commentators believe that Jesus is saying that to the extent that the scribes teaching conforms to that of Moses, they should be obeyed. Others believe He is speaking this “tongue in cheek.” Still others that he is using “biting sarcasm.” But the point is that Jesus is comparing their words to their actions.
The next thing I want you to see is that
Hypocrites often abuse the authority they have been delegated
Notice verse 4. A common custom of the day was to load up a donkey, or other load bearing animal, with a heavy load which would make it almost impossible for them to travel with. As they would walk down the road the owner would be beside the animal, carrying nothing, and berating the beast if it stumbled or fell.
That is the very same type of thing that Jesus said of the scribes and Pharisees. The Jews were taught by them that it was only by their own good works that they could please God. If at the end of life the good works outweighed the bad, then God would grant entrance into heaven. Therefore, Judaism had become insufferably depressing. But Jesus taught a new and living way:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.”
There are many types of burdens associated with the gospel. One is a burden of sin, such as what was described by John Bunyan in his classic, Pilgrim’s Progress. You and I, who are believers in Jesus Christ can help people with such a burden by sharing the life saving message of the gospel with them. Explain to them that this burden is caused by the offense their sin has brought to God. But that God has made a way possible for them to deal with this sin by offering His Son, Jesus Christ, as an atoning sacrifice on their behalf. Jesus died for their sins according to the Scriptures, was buried and rose again the third day. And all who place their faith in His person and His work will be rid of this awful burden of sin.
Another burden, which comes only to believers, is the desire to walk in a manner worthy of the calling we have received. And yet realizing just how often we fail. Like Paul, we often cry out “Oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?” But for those who are in Jesus, there is no condemnation, because Jesus has paid the price for our sin.
Like the owner of a beast of burden, the scribes and Pharisees would load the people of Israel down with their regulations, but they would do nothing to help the people carry the burden they had. But for the believer, this should not be the case. As Paul said:
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Legalists often add demands that the Bible does not give. Or they make things essential which God’s Word does not make essential. A perfect example of that is what might occur during a “confession session” within the Roman Catholic Church. The priest who is hearing the confession might state something like: “If you want to find absolution for your sins then say ten ‘Our Fathers’ and three ‘Hail Marys.’”
Forgiveness doesn’t have a price tag. It comes through the act of God’s free grace. It comes through the work of Jesus Christ, and only through the work of Christ.
Hypocrites often perform their religious deeds for the sake of impressing man
Notice verse 5. Here Jesus mentions two things that were a part of every Pharisees clothing.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke 1) Warning the Crowds and the Disciples (23:1–12)
“Phylacteries” (23:5) were small leather or parchment boxes containing a piece of vellum inscribed with four texts from the law (Exod 13:2–10, 11–16; Deut 6:4–9; 11:13–21). They were worn on the arm or tied to the forehead according to Exodus 13:9, 16; Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:18
Phylacteries
“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew 2. Jesus’ Denunciation of the Pharisees, 23:1–39
The tassel (see on 9:20, where we find that Jesus himself wore this) was sometimes used of the edge of something, but it was also used of tassels attached to the outer garment to remind people to follow God’s commandments (Num. 15:37–38).
The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying,
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.
It seems that the scribes and the Pharisees took very literally what was meant to be understood metaphorically.
Hypocrites often love recognition for their advanced spirituality
Jesus listed various things which the hypocrites loved, and loving the Lord with all their heart was not one of them.
They love being seated in a place of honor
They love respectful greetings
Reminds me of soldiers standing at attention
They love being called Rabbi
To call a person “Rabbi” in that day was the rough equivalent of addressing someone with the title “Doctor” today.
Let’s read now about
The Contrast with True Followers of Christ
The Contrast with True Followers of Christ
The main contrast between a hypocrite and a true follower of Christ is that of humility
My Name is Phil
Many of you call me Pastor. Some have referred to me as Reverend (which is at present a mistaken reference). I’ve been wrongly addressed as Professor, and many other titles. But my name is Phil. My office and function at this point in time is Pastor or Elder. But my name is Phil. And you may freely call me by my name. I don’t require that you call me Pastor. To insist on calling me Pastor would be the equivalent of insisting that we call Bob Fetters Trustee, because that is his role in this assembly.
When Gail and I were first married we lived in Waterbury, CT, where I served as the Minister of Music in a Independent Baptist Church. One of the things we learned early on in that ministry is that even the Pastor’s wife had to call him Pastor. It was not his demand, but she was rebuked by some in the congregation for referring to her husband, publicly, as Craig.
A true follower of Christ recognizes that he or she is not to promote themselves or their position. But rather, they are to promote Christ; they are to make much of Jesus, and not of themselves. Just as John the Baptist said “He must increase, but I must decrease,” so should our attitude be.
In verses 8-12 their is a shift from “they” to “you.” In other words, verses 1-7 reference the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, while verses 8-12 reference followers and potential followers of Jesus. To address this contrast Jesus used a series of three commands that begin with the words “Do not!” The first and third commands are in the passive voice, while the second command is in the active voice.
Do not be called Rabbi (passive voice)
Jesus is our Teacher
We are all on an equal plane as brothers and sisters in Christ
Do not call anyone on earth your father (active voice)
This is not saying we shouldn’t refer to our dad as father — this has to do with an exalted or revered position
I’m not sure how the Catholic Church explains this one away...
God is our Father
My childhood Pastor did not like to be called “Reverend” even though he was ordained. That is because on God is truly to be revered
Do not be called leaders (as in a guide)
Christ is our guide and leader
He is the head of the church
He has sent the H.S. to guide us into all things
Deacons are great!
I am privileged to work with the deacons that have been elected by this assembly. They are earnest men who love the Lord, and are serious about the welfare of this faith community. There is a very real sense in which they fill the function of an elder, even though we call them deacon.
But the reason why I put this point in the message is that the term that Christ used for “servant” in verse 11 is the same from which we get the word “deacon.” Diakonos.
A few years back there was a series of commercials promoting Direct TV. They would go something like this:
This is Doug. He has cable. Because his cable is so bad he takes to a life of crime. Don’t be like Doug. Get Direct TV.
The main point Jesus was making in this discourse was that we should not pattern our lives after the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees. Don’t Be Like Them. Rather, we should pattern our lives after Jesus. He was the only One who could truly say: “Do as I say, And as I do.” For His actions were always consistent with His words. It was on the very next night that Jesus gave His apostles an example of what true humble service really looks like: Jesus
got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Let’s pray.
Closing Song: #669
Make Me a Servant