Do What they Teach, Not What they Do

 Matthew 23: 1-12; I Thessalonians 2:9-13

 Jesus when he talks about the scribes and the Pharisees in Matthew 23 basically says: “Do what they teach but not what they do.” What he questions most is their motivation. They do what they do to be seen by others. They wear fancy robes and love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues. They love to be greeted with respect. All this Jesus sums up in the word pride or not being humble. He states then that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Years later Paul writes to the Thessalonians telling how he did what Christ had instructed. That he was humble leading a life worthy of God, his motivation being for God’s glory not his own. He tells that not only are the Thessalonians his witnesses of this but God also. They have seen how pure, upright, and blameless his conduct has been. He encourages the Thessalonians to do the same. To live a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. This is where the humble are exalted.

He dealt with each of them like the father deals with his children, lovingly urging and encouraging them to live the worthy life for God since God has called them into his kingdom. Even though an apostle, Paul worked hard to support himself. He loved others embodying the gospel he proclaimed and modeled a life lived in keeping with God’s kingdom call. His ministry was unlike those who flatter another to gain favor. Paul was definitely their servant being in God’s eyes as Jesus said, the greatest among you.

Paul commends them for not receiving the word as human words but accepting it as the word of God which he points out is at work in the believers of Thessalonia.

Do we practice the word of God or the words of man – human wisdom? Are we following God’s kingdom call by leading a life worthy of God? Do we live for the approval of people or of God? May we like Paul be humbled by being a servant to God’s call and by humbly serving God and others by following the call to bring in God’s kingdom. Amen

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