CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ON YOUTUBE
Matthew 23:1-12
In Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus gives respect to the Pharisees and the scribes for the positions they hold in keeping the Law as God gave to Moses. Jesus instructs His disciples and the multitudes to follow the guidelines given to them by the scribes and Pharisees, but He also adds that they should not follow the example that the scribes and Pharisees set in their own lives. Jesus states in Matthew 23:4-7 (NKJV), “4For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’” In Matthew 23:8-11 Jesus instructs His disciples and the multitudes that they should not be called teacher or father as there is One Teacher – the Christ, and there is One Father – the Father who is in heaven. Then Jesus leaves a lasting humble impression of what His disciples and the multitudes should seek in life as He states in Matthew 23:11-12, “11But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This is an example of the pride, arrogance, and self-centeredness that had overtaken the scribes and Pharisees.
This is an example of the humility and servanthood that we should seek in the humility that is reflective of our Savior Christ Jesus.
Satan, through the sinful nature, has implanted within all of us the desire to receive glory, to have the best seat in the house, and to receive praise and be greeted by others as if we are more important than they. This is the attitude that Satan took towards God as he attempted to take the highest place in heaven and become (in his own eyes) more important than God.
If we display this kind of attitude toward others, it is reflective of the sinful nature that Satan has put within us through disobedience to God. But God sent His One and only Son Jesus to overcome Satan so that through Him we may break the hold of the sinful nature and be set free from it to live a new life that is reflective of Jesus. In doing so, we are living a life of humility and obedience to God. Satan tried to put himself before God; Jesus broke that hold by putting others before Himself.
Dear LORD,
Jesus is our Teacher, and You are our Father in heaven. Please help us to see that breaking the grasp of Satan on our lives is only possible by putting our faith in the One who has defeated Satan – Jesus our Teacher and Lord. Please fill us with humility to others and obedience to Jesus who set the example for us to follow in being set free from the sinful nature for eternity. In Jesus name I pray, amen.