“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12
In highlighting the pride, worldliness and tyranny of the Pharisees, what we would call today – “men of God” – to the multitude, Christ gives us a view as to how men will be judged by the One who is able to search the hearts of men. (Matthew 23:1-12). While we tend to be easily swooned by external words and acts that imply holiness or a deep spirituality, we do well to observe Christ’s revelation and use it as a guide for discerning what we should look out for in those that we look up to, as well as ourselves. Some Take-Aways:
-The religious office/position remains good and useful even when it is temporarily occupied by bad officers who dishonor the seat.
-The Word of God remains the Truth as long as it is not altered, even when proclaimed or preached by those who do not live up to it.
-Our obligation is not just to hear the Word when spoken to us or shared with us by man, but to follow up by reading it ourselves and allowing God’s Holy Spirit to write it upon our hearts and apply it to our individual circumstances in life.
-We must watch out for those who proclaim their good works and seek attention and applause for their deeds. They keep the glory for themselves, refusing to cast their crowns before the throne of their Enabler.
-We must watch out for those, who though deserving of honor because of their position in society, love and idolize the seat of honor, feeling entitled and valuing themselves by the position and respect they crave. As they live for that recognition, something dies in them when they don’t get it, they become resentful and bitter, setting up an opportunity that the devil will not waste.
Hypocrisy is not only in those who hold offices. We must also watch for these traits in ourselves and our fellow Christians, praying that the Holy Spirit reveals God’s assessment of our lives to us in daily self-examinations. C.S. Lewis encourages each person to assess if they are the center of their own lives or if God is the center of their lives. Whatever we radiate outwards will depend on who is at the center.
May we learn to humble ourselves so that we may be exalted by Divine Grace. Amen.
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Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 