Teague Bible Church

Most of the time when someone talks about a Pharisee we think of legalism. We also think about hypocrisy. Rarely do we think of them as long-lost cousins. We rarely see ourselves in them, and see their narcissism as our own.

We are forgiven in Christ and are being transformed into His image. As that takes place we must beware of the negative influence of our spiritual cousins.

Matthew 23: 1-12 is not uncomfortable to read because we think it is far removed from anything in our life. I submit that our old cousin may still be affecting our lives.

Mathew 23:4,
“”They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”

My demand for perfection in others usually has something running in the background like this, “And when I see this, then I can do my part; but until then I will keep searching for a heart of gold in others.” Could you imagine trying to say that before the Lord at the judgement seat of Christ? Hey, you don’t have to imagine it, you may be doing it right now!

I remember watching Jonnie Cash always wearing black, and saying he would do so till he saw the world act differently. Unless I missed the facts of his autobiographic, he would have done better to work on his own darkness.

Matthew 23: 5, ” They do all their deeds to be noticed by men.”

I noticed a pattern in church work. A lot of the things we do in benevolence work is designed to make us feel good. Some get upset if you say the way we are giving to feed the hungry is inefficient. For instance, our local Christian food bank can do three times as much in buying power when buying food because we write them a check, than we can by collecting the food ourselves.

I heard someone say recently, ” But if we do it the other way, (even if ineffective), we will feel so good about ourselves.” What ever happened to not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing? Who are we really doing it for?

Matthew 23: 6 “They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the market place,,,”

So we had an older couple come to our church in the NW to visit. They liked it and the wife said, ” We feel like with our wisdom and experience, and our means, that we could help this struggling church, ( had about 50 people at the time and was not struggling. Small does not mean struggling) to live up to the maturity we have gained if they will listen to us.”

The husband I really liked, he began laughing and gave me a hug, and whispered in my ear, “Welcome to my world buddy!” I mentioned that we would love to have them “in spite of” what she just said. That did not go over well for her. For him, he knew he had just found a great church home.
They came anyway, and after a few Sundays, she realizing she was not worthy to untie the shoes of most of the apparent misfits there at our church. She started to do what we all need to do; disown our long-lost cousins!

Are we all narcissists? Yes we are! It just a matter of degree. The sad part is not to know you have a long-lost cousin that is clearly affecting your everyday thoughts.

Matthew 23: 8-12, ” But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” JWP