BE EXALTED BY GOD
Key verse: 12
NIV
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
ESV
Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
23 Then Jesus (A)said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 (B)“The scribes and the Pharisees (C)sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, (D)but not the works they do. (E)For they preach, but do not practice. 4 (F)They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 (G)They do all their deeds (H)to be seen by others. For they make (I)their phylacteries broad and (J)their fringes long, 6 and they (K)love the place of honor at feasts and (L)the best seats in the synagogues 7 and (M)greetings in (N)the marketplaces and being called (O)rabbi[b] by others. 8 (P)But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are (Q)all brothers.[c] 9 (R)And call no man your father on earth, for (S)you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, (T)the Christ. 11 (U)The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 (V)Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 23:4 Some manuscripts omit hard to bear
- Matthew 23:7 Rabbi means my teacher, or my master; also verse 8
- Matthew 23:8 Or brothers and sisters
Cross references
- Matthew 23:1 : For ver. 1, 2, 5-7, see Mark 12:38, 39; Luke 20:45, 46; [Luke 11:43]
- Matthew 23:2 : [Ezra 7:6, 10, 25; Neh. 8:4]
- Matthew 23:2 : [Deut. 17:10, 11; John 9:28, 29]
- Matthew 23:3 : [ch. 5:20; 15:3-13]
- Matthew 23:3 : Rom. 2:17-23
- Matthew 23:4 : Luke 11:46; [ch. 11:28-30; Acts 15:10]
- Matthew 23:5 : [See ver. 1 above]; For ver. 1, 2, 5-7, see Mark 12:38, 39; Luke 20:45, 46; [Luke 11:43]
- Matthew 23:5 : ch. 6:1, 16; [John 5:44]
- Matthew 23:5 : Ex. 13:9; Deut. 6:8; 11:18
- Matthew 23:5 : See ch. 9:20
- Matthew 23:6 : Luke 14:7, 8
- Matthew 23:6 : Luke 11:43
- Matthew 23:7 : [See ver. 6 above]; Luke 11:43
- Matthew 23:7 : ch. 11:16; 20:3
- Matthew 23:7 : See John 1:38
- Matthew 23:8 : James 3:1
- Matthew 23:8 : Luke 22:32; John 21:23; See Philem. 16
- Matthew 23:9 : [1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4]
- Matthew 23:9 : ch. 6:9; Mal. 1:6; See ch. 7:11
- Matthew 23:10 : See ch. 1:17
- Matthew 23:11 : ch. 20:26
- Matthew 23:12 : Luke 14:11; 18:14; [ch. 18:4; Prov. 29:23; Ezek. 21:26; James 4:6, 10; 1 Pet. 5:5, 6]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Jesus taught his disciples and the people to respect the religious leaders who were stewards of the law of Moses. The law was the word of God given to them by his servant, Moses. They should carefully obey it and practice it. But he also warned them not to live by the example of these same religious leaders, for their practice was poor. They did not help God’s sheep to seek God through his living word. Instead, they became self-seeking, promoting their own honor and exalting themselves at the expense of the precious children God had entrusted to them.
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
