Missions Paul

Titles can bring confidence in those who are needing help from that person. It means that person has credibility.

Titles bring respect, a recognition that the one with the title is in a more knowledgeable position that the one coming to see them.

Titles can release the person to serve better because it gives the authority perhaps that is needed.

On the other hand …

Titles are all people have left when their ministry/office/work is fading.

Into a culture of hierarchy and religious power, Jesus says to the crowd and his disciples:

 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23 v 8-12)

We never stop being a disciple, so don’t call yourself Rabbi.

We never become God, so don’t call yourself father.

We never master anyone, so don’t call yourself instructor.

Never magnify yourself over someone else.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.” (Matthew 23 v 5-7)

Knowing what we do not want to become is as important as what we do want to become.

Jesus provides a list:

1. Phylacteries (small boxes containing Scriptural verses tied to wrists and the forehead): We may want to be known as being a Bible-believer but we do not want to boast of our Bible obedience.
2. Tassels (On the 4 corners of the garments reminding people to obey God): We may want to be holy but we don’t need to make people feel unholy.
3. Honour: We may like to go out for dinner but we do not need to sit at the centre of the table.
4. Seats: We may like to sit down but we do not insist on a VIP seat.
5. Greetings: We may like to be welcomed but we do not chase after the praise of men.

What is just too heavy for you?

“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.” (Matthew 23 v 4)

The Pharisees were so committed to the system they had built but it did nothing to lead the people to recognise the move of God through Jesus.

The cumbersome load was the failure of not reaching the expectations of pleasing God.

There are 613 do’s and don’ts in the Law of Moses.

But then the Mishnah contains more commandments. This was a commentary on those 613 laws which had further man-made rules which served to help people not even come close to breaking the Law of Moses. At the time of Christ these were passed down the generations verbally, it would not be till the 3^rd century were they written down. They were not laws, the intention was to train in thinking through the law. So the Mishnah tries to help the questions regarding: Can cheese and meat be on the same table? How much water is needed for a ritual bath? The punishment of a rebellious son is clearly in the Law however, what are the behaviours that actually make a son rebellious? That’s what the Mishnah helps with. They served as oral laws and Jesus denounced the Pharisees who did nothing to help the people.

They created cumbersome loads and placed them on the people who could never carry them and this served only as a reminder they had failed in pleasing God.

In 2021 what is coming against you? What are you burdened down with? Be careful with the cultural norms that may be laid upon you.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.” This is the Word of God (Hebrews 13:17). However, what does that obedience look like? What are the expectations of submission? Is this leading you to love Jesus more? Years ago I sat in the offices of a senior Pastor waiting to be taken out into the church service to preach. I was sat with members of his staff. When he walked in they all stood to attention. I thought a king had walked in and sadly that’s what they believed!

Cultural norms that may have the intention of good can do more harm to those who do not meet them. Tear them up.

Relationship with Jesus not the rules of Jesus is the most important thing.

“What do I do with all his books? Should I throw them out?”

Those were the 2 questions someone asked me recently over a preacher/leader who was not only a great author and International speaker he was now someone who threw all that away because he lived a double life.

So what is the answer?

“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 be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23 v 1-3)

The religious leaders were hypocrites as we will once again find out in this chapter. But what they taught and preached wasn’t all that bad. In fact, Jesus told the crowds and even his own disciples to practice what they preach. Why? Because the Word of God can withstand erroneous leaders who are bad examples of it. The truth of the Bible is not dependent on the truth of the preacher. That is why some preachers are deceived into thinking just because their books are flying off the shelves and they are being booked for this and that conference that God is blessing them etc. He isn’t. He is just using them and their office to speak the truth of His message to people who are there.

So don’t throw out the books. Practice what they preach … even if they don’t practice it themselves!

It was time for Jesus to ask the questions and within the question lay the answer.

Jesus is revealing that he is more than human. He is not just the son of David which everyone knew as his genealogy but that He is Lord, He is Divine.

“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.” (Matthew 22 v 41-46)

No father calls his son ‘Lord’ so why did David do this?

Apostle Peter knew as he quotes this same text of Psalm 110 in Acts 2:34.

Peter shows how David was prophesying of the coming of Christ. Let me write it like this: David writes, “God said to my Christ, “Sit at my right hand …”

God said to David’s Lord (Jesus).

David was prophesying of the Christ to come. He knew He would be Divine.

Jesus asks the question and the answer lies within that question. He knew who he was and chose the last few days before his crucifixion to reveal it.

Peter knew.

The position of Christ indicates His authority and His power.
The Bible refers to the right hand as a place of refuge and protection. A place where blessing is declared. A place of intercession. Where authority over all powers is established.
And where is Jesus? At the right hand. Therefore, Jesus is God.

Because Jesus is at God’s right hand then there is nothing you are facing today that He cannot help you through.
Call upon God’s right hand today to move in your life.

“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22 v 34-40)

What does this mean?

• The vertical relationship is expressed in the horizontal relationship. You cannot separate your worship of God and how you relate to others.
• Nothing is greater than the commands to love. All the other great things we can do in life are secondary.
• Exclusivity is pride that needs to be broken. Whether a person desires to be apart from God or apart from others believing that they can do it ‘my way’ they are intrinsically wrong.
• Whatever you long for, long for it for your neighbour. Whatever you seek then also give. If it is food then long to make sure no one goes hungry. If it is a house then have a heart for the homeless. The list goes on.
• Let love for yourself be first transformed and fulfilled in the One who gives life abundantly and who satisfies the heart, soul and mind. Then from this place love others with the same love that transformed your self-love.

“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.” (Matthew 22 v 34)

Gatherings can be powerful but not have the Presence.

They gathered together in unity.

They gathered to rejoice their enemy had been silenced.

They gathered for vision, for purpose and ‘for an assault’ (Msg)

Not all religious gatherings have Jesus at the centre.

“That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.” (Matthew 22 v 23-33)

Another attempt at trapping Jesus, this time from a different sect, the Sadducees. They obviously didn’t believe in the resurrection. They didn’t believe in much actually. Nothing of the spirit realm. They didn’t hold to any oral tradition of passing down the teachings. It had to be the written Law of Moses only.

So for them to come to and ask about resurrection is ridiculous. Ignore what they said, whether it be a created or actual story. Why did they come up with what they thought was an impossible puzzle to solve?

If Jesus was unable to answer he might have backed down on his belief of the resurrection and then he would be supporting them and against the Pharisees who they hated for believing in it.

If Jesus said he didn’t know whose wife she would be or if he named the husband then it would make him look foolish amongst the people.

They were not ready for the answer!

The answers of Jesus seem to go deeper than the question, to the heart and character of the one asking.

Jesus exposed these well-known Bible people as people who didn’t know their Bibles! “You do not know the Scriptures.”

Lesson: YOU DISPLAY YOU ARE BIBLE BELIEVERS BUT YOU ARE NOT BIBLE READERS.

Jesus exposed these people of God as people who didn’t know Him. They were not interested in whether there was marriage in heaven it was about the resurrection.

Jesus uses Exodus 3:6 when he states that God didn’t say to Moses I was the God of Abraham … but I am. Abraham is still alive. God is God of the living not the dead.

Lesson: YOU WORSHIP GOD BUT YOUR IMAGE OF GOD IS TOO SMALL.

The point is that Jesus is saying you are not who you proclaim to be.

You only hold to the Law of Moses (the first 5 books of the OT) but resurrection is clearly in there but you cannot see it. God is powerful, able and alive but you do not know Him.

GOD IS BIGGER. BIGGER THAN YOU. BIGGER THAN YOUR BELIEF.

“Give your taxes to Caesar” and the Jewish crowd of followers would have walked away from him.

“Don’t give to Caesar the taxes” and the Romans would have stepped in and he would have been in danger of sedition.

“But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.” (Matthew 22 v 18-22)

Jesus asks for a coin on which the image of Caesar was printed on each of them. They belonged to Caesar.

“Give Caesar’s coins to Caesar and give to God what is God’s”. That is his answer.

And suddenly the point is actually not about Caesar, but it is God.

Where is the image of God? Everyone knew they had been created in the image of God. Stamped on their hearts was God’s image. So Jesus calls them to surrender their hearts to the one whose image is all over them. He still calls us to do that today.

And they were amazed! As we are!

There is a whole lot of difference between honour and flattery.

However, they look the same.

You can be congratulated on your work, how you speak, your wisdom and how you are with people. You can be praised for your righteous lifestyle. You can have lots of ‘likes’ on social media.

But flattery strokes the ego; it manipulates; it tells you things what is not being said behind your back; the passive-aggressive use flattery as a weapon of war.

“Those who flatter their neighbours are spreading nets for their feet.” (Proverbs 29 v 5)

 “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22 v 15-17)

The religious leaders wanted Jesus to fall into their trap of making him say something against Rome. His answer was perfect as it always is.

The duplicitous are always close by.

Some don’t even know they are doing it. They think they are simply being nice. Flattery is nice, right?

We learn flattery early on in life and then some can become experts in it.

Some have friends that are actually friends with gain. They are hoping to get. Their new friend will open doors for them etc.

Secret plans are being made today based on greed and selfish need. This is spiritual warfare and the Church, the Christian, you, can be at the centre of that plan.

These comments can honour you and yet be a manipulative ruse, a dishonest ambush and as much an attack as if someone had punched you.

Be careful what is taken from you. The narcissist is never far from us.