Do As I Say, Not As I Do!

Matthew 23:1-22

As we have been hearing over these last few weeks and chapters, Jesus has been giving a blistering rebuke to the scribes and Pharisees. Pastor Jerry and Pastor Toni have done a great job in helping us to understand why there was a major problem not with their teachings, but with the way they lived them out.

They would tell everyone else how to live but they themselves didn’t live that way!

We still see this today all a round us in the government, with the courts, law enforcement, pastors, teachers and even our parents.

There is a major problem when it come to setting the example and leading the way. We can’t ask anyone to do what we are not willing to do ourselves.

We have to live it out and be people of character, integrity and uprightedness. We have to be betterer and gooderer than what we say and teach. We need and must be the example.

It all starts here

Matthew 22:37–39 ESV

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

When it comes to setting the example and leading the way it all starts right here with loving God with your entire person and then some and then loving your fellow persons in that same manner.

Now I am not saying that this is easy, I know it is hard, why because there always those EGR’s out their that require so much more.

ERG’s (Extra Grace Required)

Let us start to look at our text for this morning.

Matthew 23:1–12 ESV

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

What is Jesus saying hear you can tell all what to do and how to live, but you yourselves can’t do yourselves.

What is hard for me to swallow is that Jesus encourages the people to do as they have been taught because it is correct, but put the scribes and Pharisees on blast notice.

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

Jesus’ counsel that his disciples obey the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees echoes Deut 17:10 (23:3, cf. 23:23), but it is truly surprising in light of his earlier confrontations with them. Therefore, interpreters tend to downplay the words by adding implied qualifications to them.

Deuteronomy 17:10–13 ESV

Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place that the Lord will choose. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you. According to the instructions that they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do. You shall not turn aside from the verdict that they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left. The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear and not act presumptuously again.

Jesus is quoting from the Scripture in the law of Moses.

We may not like what we are bing told by our leaders, pastors, teachers, but if it is the law and they are right we must live it out accordingly.

Even if They Don’t

But here is the key to all of this, don’t follow their examples, but follow the word.

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

but don’t follow their example. Jesus enjoins total obedience to the leaders’ teachings in spite of their hypocritical example. What they teach should be followed because of their authoritative position, but their example was inconsistent with this teaching and should not be imitated (cf. Rom 2:21–24)

Romans 2:21–24 ESV

you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

vs. 4 They load on unbearable religious demands!

vs. 5 Everything they do is for show!

vs. 6 They are seeking prominence, the best seats in the house was to be held for them.

vs. 7 They require the best greeting, like rabbi, teacher!

They were prideful, self-seeking, for them it was about prominence, superiority. They wanted special recognition as they felt they were better than everyone because of the position they held or the class they were in.

We see this today in sports, if you are an elite athlete in college you get special favor.

If you are a man you think you are better than women.

If you come from money you think you are invincible.

But we all put our pants on the same way, One Leg at a Time!!!

vs. 8-10 Don’t let anyone call you, Rabbi, Teacher, Father!

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

The disciples are forbidden the use of respectful titles such as “Rabbi,” “Father” (Acts 7:2; 22:1), and “Teacher,” (or “leader”), because no human being is worthy of such honor. Rather, such titles should be reserved for the heavenly Father and Jesus the Messiah.

vs. 11-12 Stay humble, be a servant!

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

True greatness is a matter of service, not title. Those, like the scribes and Pharisees, who seek to exalt themselves will be humbled, but Jesus’ disciples who seek humble service will be exalted.

I love that statement that: True greatness is a matter of service not title!

What we just read was about not being like those guys, the scribes and Pharisees, but to be honorable, humble and a servant to all.

Here Come The Woes

Jesus denounces the Scribes and Pharisees with 8 Woes. These are rebukes and charges of hypocrisy.

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

These verses are the first of seven prophetic denunciations against the Pharisees (23:13, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29; cf. 11:21; 18:7; 24:19; 26:24). Each woe, except that of 23:16 which refers to the “blind guides,” is spoken to the “teachers of religious laws and you Pharisees. Hypocrites!”

It is important for us to know and understand the purpose of the woes, they are a strake warning for us today.

We need to be careful how we live out our life, knowing that we will all be judged for the way we lived our life.

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

The general pattern seems to be (1) pronouncement of woe, (2) reason for pronouncement, and (3) explanation of the reason for the pronouncement. The stark contrast between Pharisaic “righteousness” and Kingdom norms is reminiscent of the antitheses of the Sermon on the Mount in 5:21–6:33.

Woe #1

Matthew 23:13 ESV

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

The first woe goes right to the heart of the matter with the ironic charge that the scribes and Pharisees who claim to open the door actually keep people out of the Kingdom.

If you are a true leader, shepherd then you are to guide and feed the flock not starve them and not to scatter them but draw them in.

Woe #2

New Century Version Chapter 23

How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees. You are hypocrites. You take away widows’ houses, and you say long prayers so that people will notice you. So you will have a worse punishment.]

You are not to take advantage of the those who are hurting and less fortunate but you are to reach out and help them.

Woe #3

Matthew 23:15 ESV

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

You are not to mislead the new convert but to train and equip them for the work of the Lord, not use them for your mischievous s ways that lead to the path of destruction.

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

Since they themselves were not entering the Kingdom, their efforts only result in others not entering it. Far from their converts becoming children of the Kingdom (18:3), they become children of hell

Woe #4

Matthew 23:16–22 ESV

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

You are not to major on the minors of the scripture and not minor on the majors. The word of God is for us the adhere too. We are to let our yes’s be yes and our no’s be no!

We should may any vows, but if you do you are to keep them.

When you refuse to keep a vow you are lying and not walking in integrity.

James 5:12 ESV

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Volume 11: Matthew and Mark Notes

A person may not reduce his obligation to be true to an oath by constructing facile distinctions between the objects mentioned in that oath. Personal integrity means that one does what one says one will do

Facile is superficial, easy, not complex, to be downplayed.

If we truly love the Lord with all our entire person, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength it will be easier to honor the word of God.

If we truly love our neighbor as ourselves, then it will be easier to honor and respect those that the Lord puts a round us.

Don’t be someone who the Lord see’s as ugly or hateful, because God didn’t make you like that.

God don’t make junk!