Do you have a prestige job, own a big house or drive a luxury car? Have you made a name for yourself in your community, your work or at church? We compare ourselves to others in so many aspects of our lives, but it’s dangerous when a desire for prestige and power grows stronger than our love and loyalty to God.
Being a religious leader in Jerusalem was quite different than being a pastor today. In Israel, everything in a person’s life was centered around its relationship with God. The religious leaders were the best known, most powerful and most respected of all leaders.
However, Jesus said “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra-long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’ Matthew 23:5-7 New Living Translation
These verses refer to the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the time. The “prayer
boxes” were leather boxes containing Scripture verses. The Pharisees wore these as a sign of their love for God and the importance of keeping His commands. It was a good tradition, but it got out of hand. The boxes were made larger than necessary so they could be used as a sign of status…and the “status” of the boxes became more important than the scripture they contained.
Jesus exposed the Pharisees for their hypocritical pursuit of status. Once again, we learn it is not what people see on the outside that is important, but what is in our heart that really matters. Jesus warned His followers not to use the Pharisees as role models for holiness.
The greatest person will be the one who shows His love to the Savior by bending down to serve others. Jesus never asked His followers to do something He had not already done. Jesus, the Son of God had stooped down to serve. Look into Bethlehem’s manger and see the baby; stand before Calvary’s cross and see the Savior’s sacrifice. Jesus stepped down from His position in heaven to live, suffer, die, and rise again, so all who believe on Him might be saved. Jesus stepped down so you and I might be brought up. Do not live like the Pharisees, focused on outward status, but model your life on Jesus, humbling yourself as you serve God and others.
Matthew 23:11-12 says it well: The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
