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.

Serving and Humility

N.T.#260 "Serving and Humility"

March 11, 2024 

Matthew 23-Part 2

LET IT GLOW 

It is one thing to love being honored and another thing to seek it for yourself, like the scribes and Pharisees. they thought too highly for themselves. Here we read of more teachings of Jesus:

• There is one Master, Christ. (Master is a guide, a teacher.) (verses 8 and 10)
• All are brethren, brothers in Christ. (No pulling rank here.)
• Call no man your father on earth. (verse 9)
• One is our Father in heaven, whom we worship and exult. Thus, our Heavenly Father. (verse 9)

The Rabbi were placing themselves above others and on a pedestal. Thee are no spiritual titles for us. Believers in Christ are brothers and sisters of the faith.

Philippians 2:3-4 says, Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Do we pray for our pastor, teachers, and leaders? They are equipping the saints for the work of service. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

LET IT GLOW 

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (verse 11)

A servant is a minister or attendant. When was the last time you served someone who could not do anything for you in return? That is what Jesus did.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (verse 12)

Humility is an ornament which is a great price in the sight of God. Are we being humble?

LET IT GO

Jesus, You are our Master, Teacher.

god, You alone are our Heavenly Father/

May we serve You today as we serve others.

Thank You for choosing us to be Your child.

Grow our faith so we honor You above all.

Doing What We Say

N.T.#259 "Doing What We Say"

March 9, 2024 

Matthew 23 

LET IT GLOW 

Jesus warns the crowds and His disciples about the religious leaders in this chapter. 

The scribes and Pharisees were:

•  good at telling others what to do but not good at carrying those instructions out themselves. they say and do not; (verse 3)
• weighing down the Jews with burdens (a task or service, something carried) that were grievous (hard, with difficulty) not lifting a finger to help; (verse 4)
• works done to be seen, for show, extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture inside and extra long tassels on their robes; (verse 5)
• sitting at the head of the table at banquets and seats of honor in the synagogues; (verse 6)
• loving to be called Rabbi, as an respectful greeting in the marketplaces. (verse 7)

Those religious leaders were not a living example of what they were teaching. 

LET IT GROW

We are to be doing what we say, an example of our teachings. 

What can we learn from them?

• Practice what we preach/teach , .Be doers of the Word, not just hearers. Live integrity and not as a hypocrite.
• Live by standards that are reachable for common people. Show sympathy and love.
• Don't do things for show, but with humility model life like Jesus did.
• Watch what we say, where we sit, every word we utter, act we perform, and title we have for the glory of God, not ourselves.

 Are we helping others come to Jesus or are we complaining about people in the church? Are we drawing attention to how "holy we are?" Do we sit in places of honor instead of dwelling among servants? How does our family, friends, the lost, and church people perceive us? Are we loving others as ourself?

LET IT GO

Love and serve others, letting go of pride.

Love and serve Jesus, not ourself.

Live what we say.

 

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

N.T.#258 "Who Do You Say Jesus Is?"

March 7, 2024 

Matthew 22-Part 9

LET IT GLOW

Are we blessing and praising the Lord, as in Psalm 103:1? What about honoring and esteeming others? Are you calling those who are sick to ask how you can help them? Do any elderly around you have a need? Are youngsters needing a listening ear by you?

Jesus asked the Pharisees four questions in verses 42-45:

1. What think ye of Christ?  (Christ, in Greek , refers to Messiah.)
2. Whose son is He?
3. How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord? (Ps. 103:1)
4. If David then call Him Lord, how is He (the Messiah) his son?

Look how the Pharisees answered Jesus:

• He is the son of David, in referring to the Messiah Jesus Christ. That was their view of the Messiah. They accepted the Davidic lineage of the Messiah. (Mark 12:35)
• The Pharisees did not believe the Messiah is divine, but only human. Jesus is God, but they would not believe and be saved.

No one could answer Jesus any more, not did they ask Him any more questions. 

LET IT GROW

No one could answer Jesus any more, nor did they ask Him any more questions. In one day, Jesus humiliated the religious ones. They heard the voice of God  and caught a glimpse of God's very face. the divine Lord rendered the crowd speechless. (William Barclay)

It was Jesus' claim of deity that would lead to His rejection and crucifixion. (26:57-68)

David and Mery called Jesus Lord.

Who do you say Jesus is? Do you believe Jesus is who He says He is? Are we loving the Lord with everything we are, do, and have?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31) 

The Lord is the way of salvation for each person.

Believe means to have faith, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ).

Are you trusting Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? Are you living for Him?

 

LET IT GO 

Hallelujah what a Savior!

How patient and loving You are, Jesus!

Be our Lord and Master today.

*Please pray for me, friends. I have a unique bacteria in my urinary tract. Waiting on a culture to see if it is clear or not. By Monday, I should know. If it is still with me, then I will have an IV of antibiotics that it is not resistant to. Trusting Jesus in the meantime to not allow any serious disease to develop in my wait. Thanks.

Who is Our Neighbor?

N.T.#257 "Who is Our Neighbor?"

March 5, 2024 

Matthew 22-Part 8

LET IT GLOW

Having you been living God with all your heart, soul, and mind? That is the first and great commandment. (verses 37-38) In other words, are our will, thoughts, feelings, soul, spirit surrendered to God?

What is the second and great commandment that Jesus gave? 

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (verse 39)

Neighbor refers to close by; fellow (man, countryman, or friend)

It does not mandate self-love. It contains in different words the very same idea as the Golden Rule. (7:12) It prompts believers to measure their love for others by what they wish for themselves. (MacArthur)

The two command are inseparable. You can't obey one without the other. To love your neighbor is the decision to compassionately and righteously pursue his or her will-being. Do you want to draw closer to God? Help someone else draw closer to God. When you love others, God will boomerang it back to you and provide you with a deeper experience of Him. (Tony Evans)

There is our assignment. Love whomever we come in contact with.

LET IT GROW 

Jesus didn't have to deliberate, ponder, or wrack His brain. He evaluated each of the 613 commandments in the Law. He placed the vertical love of God and the horizontal love of people as the foundation and structure of the entire Law. (verse 40) (Swindoll)

No Pharisee could fault such an answer. 

LET IT GO

Help us let go of ourself-interest and love God and others.

Open our eyes to the needs of others.

 

How Do We Love God?

 N.T.#256  "How Do We Love God?"

March 4, 2024

Matthew 22-Part 7

LET IT GLOW 

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians got no where debating Jesus. So the top dog (lawyer) started in asking Jesus questions. (verse 35)

Lawyer is an expert in the Mosaic Law. 

A Greek speaking lawyer was equivalent to a Doctorate of Theology today. By this time, there were over 600 Jewish laws the Pharisees had. A lawyer was usually a scribe, who spent their life meticulously copying the Hebrew Scriptures in order to preserve it or prevent corruption. They were the best trained, most brilliant scholar they could be. This ivory-tower scholar was no match for the Son of God, the Creator of all things. Yet, this lawyer's question was asked to tempt Him.

Tempting refers to entice; examine; prove; try.

Question: Which is the great commandment in the law? (verse 36)

Great means beloved; solitary.

Which single one was the most important of the laws? God's entire law can be reduced to this one of two found in verse 37.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.(verse 37)

LET IT GROW

Let's take a closer look at these key words:

• Love means deliberate assessment of the will.
• Heart refers to the thoughts or feelings.
• Soul is that which is the rational and immortal soul; life; breath; spirit.
• Mind is the deep thought; understanding.

How are we to love the Lord our God? With all our thoughts, feelings, soul, and understanding mind. God is the source of all we need, so we believers are to allow Him to work in us according to His will and His good pleasure. Have you turned over your will to God?

What about our thoughts or feelings? Does God control them? How is our understanding and mind? Is our focus loving and praising Jesus, or has the world moved in and occupied our mind most of the times?

God wants a relationship with you. He wants you to love Him, to passionately and righteously pursue His glory. Loving God with some of our heart, soul, and mind isn't all. However, don't we want all of God? Love for God is consistently expressed when we obey His commands. (John 14:5, 1 John 5:3)

LET IT GO

Father, we owe You our all in all

Worthy of praise, love, and glory are You.

Help us love you with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind.

Please forgive us when we do not.

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

 N.T.#255 "Where Will You Spend Eternity?"

March 1, 2024 

Matthew 22-Part 7

Jesus asked if the Sadducees had not read: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (verse 32)

LET IT GLOW 

The topic was still about the resurrection. The Sadducees did not believe in it. Even though the patriarchs were dead physically, they were very much alive spiritually. God is still their God. 

Jesus used the present tense to point to the resurrection and the eternal life that all believers enjoy in Him. (Life Application Study Bible)

Our Christian loved ones, which are departed from us, are not dead in spirit, but with Jesus. They exist in an afterlife, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. One day we will sit down at the table with those men. (8:11)

As a result of Jesus' words, the Sadducees were silenced, the multitude was astonished, and the Pharisees continued to question Jesus.  (verse 33) 

Silence means to muzzle; hold peace. It is like shutting the mouth of an animal with a muzzle.

As believers, may nothing silence our sharing the Gospel with the lost.

Where is your afterlife going to be spent-Heaven or Hell?

LET IT GROW

The questioning wasn't over. The first attack had come from the Pharisees in cahoots with the Herodians. (verses 15-16) The second attack came from the Sadducees. (verse 23) The third and final attack came from the Pharisees with their star experts in the Law. (Swindoll)

LET IT GO

Give us a hunger for Your Word, Father.

Help us apply it in our life.