Practice What We Preach

 

 Matthew 23:1-12

A Warning Against Hypocrisy

23 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.

This scathing observation of the Pharisees we hope cannot be applied to us, or can it? We might complacently think that we are faithful followers of Jesus, but on closer observation of our actions, we find ourselves as guilty as they are. Hypocrisy can creep in gradually and imperceptibly at first, but before we know it, we are guilty and need to "clean up our act."  May we make a good examination of our behaviors and pray to practice what we preach.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, cleanse me from my hypocrisy and set me on the path of truth. Amen.