Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Friedheim
Celebrating our 167^th Year

A 21^st Century Parish with a 1^st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

3^rd to Last Sunday of the Church Year
November 6, 2005
Matthew 23:1-12
Practice what you preach

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INTRODUCTION: Christians both clergy and lay people, are often criticized for not practicing what they preach. Disagreement between word and deed can cause offense and weaken the church’s witness. The leaders of the church in Christ’s day were notorious for saying one thing and doing another.

I.        Let’s not substitute forms for true religion.

A.     We do that by emphasizing externals.

1.      We may observe certain Christian customs for no other reason than to fulfill what we regard as a divine requirement.

2.      We may use God’s Word mechanically so that it loses its meaning and we quench the Holy Spirit. “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say {things,} and do not do {them.} Matthew 23:1-3

B.     We do it by loading people with obligations that we do not take seriously ourselves.

C.     We do it by greedily grasping for titles and recognition and by using any means to get them.  "But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels {of their garments.} "And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi. Matthew 23:5-7

D.     The result of not practicing what we preach is self-righteousness, unbelief, and perdition (consider the woes Jesus pronounced on the scribes and Pharisees)

II.     Let us thus used the forms of religion to exalt God rather than ourselves.

A.     Jesus is not opposed to our calling someone our father in the faith so long as in doing so we give highest honor to the Father who is in heaven.  "And do not call {anyone} on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven”. Matthew 23:9

1.      Our father in the faith have led us to know that we are children of the heavenly Father by faith in the Christ who died for us and reconciled us to God.  "And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, {that is,} Christ”- Matthew 23:10

2.      Our fathers in the faith encouraged us to live in the grace of the heavenly Father.

B.     Nor does Jesus forbid the use of titles of respect and the giving of recognition for work well done.

1.      These formalities can be a means of honoring God, who provides leaders and blesses our work.

2.      Jesus wants us to quench the desire for self-glory that makes us eager for respect and recognition.

3.      He wants us to serve not ourselves but others.

C.     Whatever we do for others, even for the least of Christ’s disciples, we do for Him, and we shall not lose our reward.

1.      The Christ who exalted us by making us sit with Him in heavenly places regards highly the smallest good we do for others.

2.      When we follow the forms of religion – worshiping, praying, giving money observing God’s laws so that we can serve others – we are thereby serving God. And God exalts those who serve Him. What an encouragement to practice what we preach.

+ Soli Del Gloria +