JESUS REBUKES THE PHARISEES, Dr. Samuel Lee
BE EXALTED BY GOD
Passage: Matthew 23:1~12  
Key verse: 12
A Warning Against Hypocrisy(A)(B)
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law(C) 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.(D)
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see:(E) They make their phylacteries[a](F) wide and the tassels on their garments(G) long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;(H) 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.(I)
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,(J) 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.(K) 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.(L)
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:5 That is, boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm
Cross references
- Matthew 23:1 : 23:1-7pp — Mk 12:38, 39; Lk 20:45, 46
- Matthew 23:1 : 23:37-39pp — Lk 13:34, 35
- Matthew 23:2 : Ezr 7:6, 25
- Matthew 23:4 : Lk 11:46; Ac 15:10; Gal 6:13
- Matthew 23:5 : Mt 6:1, 2, 5, 16
- Matthew 23:5 : Ex 13:9; Dt 6:8
- Matthew 23:5 : Nu 15:38; Dt 22:12
- Matthew 23:6 : Lk 11:43; 14:7; 20:46
- Matthew 23:7 : ver 8; Mt 26:25, 49; Mk 9:5; 10:51; Jn 1:38, 49; 3:2, 26; 20:16
- Matthew 23:9 : Mal 1:6; Mt 6:9; 7:11
- Matthew 23:11 : S Mk 9:35
- Matthew 23:12 : 1Sa 2:8; Ps 18:27; Pr 3:34; Isa 57:15; Eze 21:26; Lk 1:52; 14:11
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
Jesus is our wonderful example. He came from heaven to be our teacher. He calls us to live under our Father God only. He is our Messiah by his coming to die for our sins. He bore the rejection of this world in his body and died on the cross. In this way he gave life to all who trust in him. Jesus is the greatest, for he obeyed the Father and served sinners. We are called to live in his image, to humbly serve sinners that they may come to know God and have hope to be exalted by him.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to serve me, a sinner. Help me to serve others, so that they may know his glory.
One Word: Seek to be exalted by God