What is Our Motive for Serving?

N.T. #261 "What is Our Motive for Serving?"

March 12, 2024 

Matthew 23-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

Are you being a self-servant, exalting yourself, or a servant of Jesus, exalting Him? (verses 11-12) Love people to Jesus should be our motive for serving. God will give us opportunities if we are looking for them. For example, yesterday, a family member had surgery. My husband with to be with them in the hospital while I took their child to and from school. In between times, I fixed food for them whenever they got home, exhausted. We didn't do it for show or thanks, but out of love for them.

Today, we begin reading about the 7 woes with which Jesus confronted the scribes and Pharisees. (verses 13-36) 

In the Greek language, woe means exclamation of grief; hypocrites is an actor under an assumed character (stage-player).

Why should this group of acting-religious guys be sorrowful?

1. They were condemning others, while rejecting the kingdom of heaven through Jesus Christ, being a stumbling block to prevent others receiving salvation. (verse 13) 

Rather than drawing others into God's kingdom life with the glorious message of forgiveness and hope, they intentionally resisted the truth themselves and stood in the way of others. The scribes and Pharisees were only performing outward observances, wearing elaborate garb, keeping tedious rules and regulations when people were watching. Behind the religious mask, they harbored bitterness, envy, hatred, pride, arrogance, even murder.  (Swindoll)

Did Jesus hold back? It was time He put them in their place. Remember, Jesus saw their hearts. He sees ours as well. Are we being a noisy cymbal or loud gong, pointing to our servanthood, like this group? Or are we genuinely serving with love, doing unto others like we want them to do unto us? 

LET IT GROW

2. They exhorted money from the helpless and put them into debt and bondage, while making an outward show of religion. Theirs was the greater sentence. (verse 14) These guys were greedy for money, so they administered the estates of widows.

Their long prayers was only a pretense of a loving heart. Being a religious leader in Jerusalem was different back them. The religious leaders were the best known, most powerful, and most respected of all leaders. Jesus' stinging accusations were revealing their hunger for more power, money, and status. However, they lost sight of God and and their blindness was spreading to the whole nation. (Life Application Study Bible)

Are our prayers for show or from a humble heart? Are we speaking to God or to people listening?

To Jesus, greatness came from serving. Are we aware of the needs of others? It stops us from focusing only on ourself. What kind of greatness are we seeking? Are we serving God's way or our way? Things to think about.

 LET IT GO

 Help us let go of money, power, status, Jesus.

May we serve someone today out of a heart of love for You and them.

To God be the glory forever and ever.