Introduction
There is a vast amount of online information about Christianity and the Bible, which can be overwhelming if we are not grounded in the truth of God. And even if we have some understanding of this truth, we can still be deceived if we do not consistently pray and meditate on the Word of God.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-9, we are warned about the godlessness that will occur in the last days. Specifically, verse 7 states that there are godless individuals, who have corrupt minds, who are “ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Meanwhile, in 2 Timothy 3:13, we are told that “evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Furthermore, the apostle Paul, writing through the Holy Spirit in Titus 1:10-16, warned about unruly men, vain talkers, deceivers, and liars. In Titus 1:16, it specifically says that such individuals “profess to know God; but by their actions, they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”
Meditating on these warnings, we should ask ourselves whether we are always learning and reading the Bible, yet never truly grasping the truth, and how this can happen. Alternatively, do we follow the teachings of the Lord Jesus with humility and an open heart, conducting ourselves with purpose, faith, patience, love, and perseverance even in the face of persecution and suffering (2 Timothy 3:10-11)?
The Lord Jesus, while on Earth, often confronted the leaders and teachers of His time for straying from the Word of God and adhering instead to the traditions of men. In this blog article, we will explore the teachings of the Lord Jesus as presented in Matthew 23:1-12. Additionally, we will offer some pointers to help identify potential similarities between these leaders and teachers from His time and those we encounter today in our churches.
The Lord Jesus is Our True Teacher and Master
In Matthew chapter 23, the Lord Jesus interacts with His disciples, the Pharisees, the scribes, and the crowds. In verses 1-12, He addresses both the multitudes and His disciples, highlighting the failures of the religious leaders—the scribes and Pharisees. He teaches the people, both then and now, to be cautious of corrupt leaders and false teachers. In verses 13-39, the Lord Jesus delivers woes and warnings to the scribes and Pharisees. The reflection in this section focuses on Matthew 23:1-12 to help us draw lessons on how to remain true to the Word of God. Are some constantly studying the Bible and participating in various Bible studies, yet still unable to grasp the truth?
1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat;
Comments Matthew 23:1-2. The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of leadership; as Moses led the Jews out of Egypt, they have the duty of leading, but not of judging.
3 all things therefore, how many if they might command you, these keep and observe; however, according to their works do not, for they speak, and do not.
4 Moreover, they bind heavy burdens and hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders; but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
Comments Matthew 23:3-4. Because they have schooling, they lead the reading of Scripture, but they should not judge. However, all of them had put themselves in a leading and judging role when only the Lord is the judge. The Lord tells us to take the Scripture they read, but not to follow their judging of the Scripture. Here, it means they judge what the Scripture says and lay rules and regulations for people without having the authority.
5 Now all their deeds they do to be seen by people; for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge their tassels,
6 and love the chief place at the feasts, and the first seats in the synagogues,
7 and the greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by people, Rabbi.
Comments Matthew 23:5-7. These verses have a clear meaning. You can observe this behavior nowadays within the church as well; they no longer dress as they did in the past, but instead, all their clothes are from famous brand names. The wages for the clothes themselves can be used to do more things for the Lord, but the things of this world have captured all humans, as the Bible tells us.
8 But you shall not be called Rabbi, for One is your Teacher; moreover, all you are brothers.
Comments Matthew 23:8. “Rabbi” means my teacher or my master. In those times, the meaning of the rabbi was deeper than that of a teacher or master, as we understand it today. A rabbi is a person who is qualified to surrender to him, as the person who has the most knowledge of the Word, and all have to follow the Word as he interprets it. Or you could say a rabbi is the person who knows the teachings of the Lord, and people must follow all they say; they have almost replaced God in people’s lives. Rabbis were highly respected in those times because they had an education. In this world, education is higher than all because it measures you in a human way of living; to be lifted high, you just need to have an education.
“For One is your Teacher.” This verse clearly tells us who we should consider as the teacher of our lives—only Christ alone can have that place in our lives. There is only one teacher in our lives, the Lord Jesus Christ, the begotten Son of God.
“Moreover, all you are brothers.” Because all have one Father, as the Bible tells us, we have one Father (the Creator), which is why we are all brothers (among believers). If you are not a believer, you will not call the Father to be your heavenly Father. In the eyes of the Lord, those who are not believers are just His created creatures, not His children. To be children of God, you must acknowledge the Lord Jesus, the begotten Son of God, as your Lord and follow the Father’s commandments.
All humans are His creation (and, in this sense, His children), but some are rebellious children. The rebellious children are those who do not acknowledge the Father. The Father has created all things, but the rebellious children do not acknowledge the One who created them. The Father loves all His creation; He has only One Begotten Son and gave His Son for the redemption of all humans He has created. Many places in the Bible refer to the rebellious children, where you can see the Father’s love, through His Word and His action, is greater than His anger.
9 And call no one your father on the earth; for One is your Father, who is in heaven.
Comments Matthew 23:9. The Father discussed in this portion of Scripture is not about the father of the human body but the Father of the soul; this passage refers to the Father of your soul, not of the physical body. Because the soul comes from the Father, He is the Father of your soul.
10 Neither be called masters, for One is your master, the Christ.
Comments Matthew 23:10. In this verse, master, or instructor in other translations, is Christ Himself, who obeys the Father even to death on the cross. Therefore, we humans should obey the Lord Jesus Christ; He is our master to follow. Love one another as Christ loves all humans and took all their sufferings on the cross of Calvary. Love brothers in faith as Christ loves you in faith.
11 Moreover, the greatest among you will be your servant.
Comments Matthew 23:11. See Comments Matthew 20:26.
12 And whoever shall exalt himself will be humbled; and whoever shall humble himself will be exalted.
Comments Matthew 23:12. We can hear about famous people in many places on Earth; when pride gets hold of them, they all fall; nothing lasts. They fall because, in them, they lift themselves up and think they are wiser and better than other brothers; instead, they should be humble.
Reflecting on the teachings of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 23:1-12, a true believer can pose several questions to themselves and to the leaders and teachers they encounter. We summarize these questions and encourage everyone to evaluate themselves and their leaders to determine if there are any similarities with the scribes and Pharisees during the time of the Lord Jesus on Earth. 1) Are we as church leaders creating rules and regulations and judging people based on our own understanding rather than on the Word of God through the Holy Spirit? Only God is the ultimate judge of all. 2) Are we elevating ourselves by boasting about our education to secure our leadership positions and status within the church? 3) Are we showcasing our status and well-being in society by following current fashion trends and staying connected with the entertainment industry? 4) Are we constantly emphasizing our education and degrees to prove that we are capable teachers? 5) Are we striving for recognition based on worldly standards and seeking fame by any means necessary?
Conclusions
In conclusion, these reflections can help us align our actions and aspirations with the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. They offer insight into why some individuals are constantly learning and reading the Bible, yet never truly grasping the truth, and how this can occur. The main issue is that some people focus on themselves to show off, forgetting that their true duty is to glorify the Lord, not themselves. Additionally, others may make promises to serve based on social pressure from friends or relatives, losing sight of who they are ultimately serving. It is essential to remember that our service should always be for the Lord, not for ourselves.
Most of all, all believers should remember that the true and ultimate Teacher and Master is the Lord Jesus Christ and that He sends us the Holy Spirit to teach us all things about Him and the Word of God. Therefore, we are called to follow the teachings of the Lord Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit. We should stay on the narrow path, be vigilant against those who distort the Word of God, and conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of His name.
Meditation Tasks
- We encourage everyone to reflect on the entire Chapter 23 of the Gospel of Matthew and consider the comments we post alongside the verses.
- Additionally, we encourage all readers to consult our blog articles, “Who Is Our True Teacher” and “Thus You will Recognize Them by Their Fruits.”