Good Morning Friends,
“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his
disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So
you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do,
for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them
on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to
move them.’” (Matthew 23:1-4)
Hypocritical teachers, that’s what the
Pharisees were. Jesus was willing to call them hypocrites right to their faces.
He would do that several times before this chapter is finished. Yet, the
hypocrisy of the teachers did not invalidate what they taught. Jesus challenged
the people to obey their teachers, not because of the quality of their lives,
but because of the truth of what they taught.
We still have hypocritical teachers today.
There have been all too many times when American pastors of large churches have
been accused of immorality or embezzlement. The truth of the charges has been
evident. The church has been faced with many such scandals over the years.
Hypocritical teachers are not confined just to the days of the Pharisees -- nor
just among large churches.
It is tempting to ignore everything we’re
taught by someone else. Who knows whether or not that teacher will be revealed
as a hypocrite someday. Truly, every teacher could be revealed as a hypocrite
at some level and in some area of life. There has never been a sinless and perfect
teacher, except Jesus!
It is not the quality of the teacher that makes
what they say worthy to be followed, rather, it is the truth of the message. If
it is from the Word, the message is true and should be followed, despite the
inadequacy and failure of the messenger.
Focus on the Divine Message, not the human
messenger.
His, by Grace, Steve
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