PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 23:1-4
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“For they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:3)
Jesus does not promote rebellion against the religious leaders.
He recognizes that they represent Moses, sitting in his seat.
They urge the people to trust and obey God, and to keep the Moses law.
But what they say does not match what they do.
Jesus agrees with the religious leaders – people should follow Moses.
But Moses did not do what the religious leaders did.
This chapter exposes many of the ways they were not following Moses.
As Jesus followers, we do not follow Moses; we follow Jesus.
Church leaders today sit in Jesus’s seat, urging people to follow Jesus.
But is this what the church and its leaders are DOING?
The test of any Christian is whether they sound AND behave like Jesus.
Jesus is the pattern, and His life is clearly described for us.
Do I, or the church, burden people, or do we help relieve burdens, like Jesus?
The church preaches grace and good news; is it gracious, is it good news?
Lord Jesus, the test for me and for all Jesus followers is not whether I SAY what You said but whether I DO what You did. You came to relieve us of our burdens, help me to do the same for others.