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LIsten to an oldie: The Mixed Up Marriage: https://bit.ly/3tZoYqP
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.3 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. 4 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. 5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. 8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-12 NIV Bible)
I am now more convinced than ever that there existed a secret school for Dads. I said it existed, because no one invited me to attend! But at that school, besides classes on wisdom and patience, there was a class on clever come-backs to wise-acre children. I won't bore you with all of them, but the title of today's devotional was one my Father said to me on numerous occasions. My Dad was stern in his teachings but faithful in his example, but on numerous occasions I might have challenged his wisdom and patience by asking or saying something contrary to what he may have tried to impart. "Do as I say, not as I do!" would be his comeback to me. I have to confess that I did not know what that meant at the time; but with age usually comes wisdom, and to that I was usually invited. And it was my understanding from others at school, their dads said they same thing. Oh, my favorite was "This is going to hurt me more than it is you." LOL.
Today's passage finds Jesus teaching His disciples and the crowd gathered that day that they must be obedient to God and not to the so-called leaders of their faith. Jesus does affirm their authority in the reference to the place on which they taught, the Moses' seat. It wasn't until I was in the ruins of an old synagogue near Jesus' home, that I saw with my own eyes a real Moses' seat (Or replica as the original one was taken to a museum in London). The common ritual followed by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, was to have an attendant bring the scroll which contained the law and their scriptures, and they would unroll the scroll, read the passage for the day, re-roll the scroll and hand it back to the attendant and they would seat in the seat of Moses. The symbolism was that from the man who gave us the law, we sit. We rest on his authority and his relationship with God to have brought us this law and as we teach it, we're doing it from that position of trust and obedience.
Then Jesus shares His warning, Because they sit in Moses' seat, "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 loved to preach, but did not like to practice what it was they preached about. It was all about show and not real living. Jesus describes their attraction to their garments and add-ons, rather than taking the time and effort to live out what these add-ons contained. The phylacteries were small leather boxes containing scriptural passages which were worn on the left hand or on the head as reminders to follow the law. Jesus further says these religious leaders loved the prestige that came with their office, such as sitting in the place of honor at feasts and taking the most important seats in the synagogues, and the greetings of respect in places such as the marketplace, and they loved the title of "Rabbi." Jesus warns that they (and we) are not to call anyone on earth "father" for we have only one Father. Please know that Jesus was not outlawing our calling our Dads, "Father," but instead He was cautioning against our misusing titles and positions of authority in ways that detract from the authority of God and that promotes self-exaltation. Jesus wants us to give all spiritual authority to God, Whose reverence belongs exclusively to Him. Honestly, Jesus says, "The greatest among you will be your servant. In other words, those who learn to humble themselves and their authority under God, will we truly realize our place and purpose.
Friends, ours is to work in a humble manner, obedient to God and following His example and teachings, to bring about the changes that God desires to have among the world and its needs today.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts of humility, acknowledging that our desire for recognition and honor can sometimes lead us astray. Help us, Lord, to embrace the way of servanthood that Jesus exemplified. Teach us to put the needs of others above our own desires for recognition and praise. May our lives reflect the humble heart of Christ, and may we find true greatness in serving others. In His name, we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Live a life that glorifies God!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
