Avoiding Religious Pride
Mathew
23:1-12
Leaders
sometimes take advantage of their situations to unethically become wealthy.
Influence of a leader needs to be done according to God's will.
Spiritual
Shepherds in the Old Testament
-
Jeremiah 10:21- The
leaders became spiritually ignorant and the nation suffered the
consequences.
-
Jeremiah 20:1 - The
shepherds let the sheep scatter. The leaders had failed.
-
Jeremiah 50:6-7- The
people were like lost sheep. Because the shepherds weren't doing their
jobs, the sheep were unsettled.
-
Ezekiel 34:1-19 - The
shepherds should feed the flock not themselves. The sheep are without
leadership and are scattered. God promises that he will do what the
unfaithful shepherds failed to do. God has a heart of compassion.
Admonishment of the Pharisees
Matthew
23:1-12 - Jesus talks to the Pharisees just like God talked about the
Shepherds. He points out the leaders:
-
Were Disobedient (vs.
3) -Jesus points out that these leaders were sinners.
-
Were laying Burdening
others (vs. 4) -It is so easy to point other's sins and not coming along
side of them to help them.
-
Were Seeking
self-glorification (vs. 5-7) - We have a tendency toward pride. We should
love God and other people.
Jesus'
Instructions
-
Recognize brotherhood
(vs. 8)
-
Be a servant (vs. 11)
-
Humble ourselves (vs.
12)
Caring for
God's Sheep
-
John 21:15-17 - Jesus
says tend, shepherd, and feed his sheep. Serve Jesus because he loves us
and we love him.
—Robert Lee, 1-13-08, p.m.