Sermon at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Cassville WI
Audio Version
Micah 3:4-12
Psalm 43:1-5
1 Thessalonians 2:9–13
Matthew 23:1–12
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew, the 23rd Chapter
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat (for us today this would be parallel to a pulpit); 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. (phylacteries were small boxes containing scripture, worn on the arms and as headbands during morning prayers. The fringes were worn abut the waist and were similar to prayer beads or a rosary) 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.[1]
Jesus calls out the Pharisees and the scribes by first acknowledging that those things they teach can be valuable. We need to remember that Jesus is Jewish and initially came to the Jews, as the chosen people. He did not come to denounce the law, to which the Pharisees were teaching, but to fulfill the law. The Pharisees were part of a very strict religious sect of the Jews. They taught the laws handed down through the Moses traditions.
The scribes interpreted the laws of Moses. They and the Pharisees taught these laws; at a place of honor known as “Moses’ seat”. This may have also been an actual chair in the Synagogue. It would parallel a pulpit today, where I stand today, interpreting the scriptures and providing a sermon of teaching. At least I hope so.
When I read this scripture, it causes me to step back and take a breath. I am a hypocrite at a pulpit. We are hypocrites at a church service. Christians are often thought of as hypocrites, and you know what…..we are! We know what God demands of us in the law, yet we do not follow the law to the letter and at the same time know the law and look at others in light of the law.
Don’t get me wrong, maybe not always, but surely often enough to be called a hypocrite. We seek to be loved, which is a basic need of humans. God loves us always. In our seeking of love, we stray, stray to doing, not doing and thinking things that take our focus from loving God with all our heart, soul and mind. We fail to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Consequently when we do this, we put our hearts, soul and minds towards other things and thus we worship idols. Anytime we put priority away from God and neighbor, those things we put priority to, become our gods, our idols.
Jesus warns us, to do whatever the Pharisees and scribes teach but DO NOT do as they do, for they speak of the law and do not follow the law. The burdens of the law are great. So great the burden of the law is, that is it not life-giving.
To be called rabbi, teacher, father is also a burden and Jesus is telling us to think about what these titles mean. Rhetorically He says that we are not to be called these titles because there is only one Father, God in heaven. There is only one rabbi because there is only one teacher and the only instructor is the Messiah.
These titles are not wrong but they are wrong if used for the wrong reasons. Are they used in the furtherance of love of God? Are they used in furtherance of loving our neighbor as ourselves? There is significance in of what these titles carry and how we use or don’t use these titles.
There is also significance in showing outward signs of “religious beliefs” for the sake of others to see; yet not believing in our hearts. Being a Christian, like being a Jew, is more than outward signs. It is also a transformation of ones heart.
Have you felt the weight of the laws for us? How about the additional weight that has been put upon each of us in the scriptures today? More and more law and it is heavy like a ton of bricks and does not seem to lighten up at all.
Oaky, take a breath, there is hope for us though. Are you weary? Are you carrying heavy burdens? Jesus has a solution for us that lightens our load and gives us rest.
Matthew 11:28-30 says; 28 “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. 30 The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.”[2]
God so loves the world, that God sent God’s Son into the world, incarnate as a man named Jesus. God is righteous, and our sins need satisfaction that is accomplished through Jesus who is both human and divine. Jesus being without sin loves God so perfectly. Jesus loves the neighbor, you, me and all the world, as Himself. We know both of these to be true because Jesus obeyed God and took the entirety of the sins of the world into himself, for the neighbor, you and me.
As Martin Luther would say, Jesus took our place by taking upon our sins and guilt. He does this before God. [3] This is the “happy exchange” that Jesus does for us. [4] He then “…makes satisfaction for sinners in a twofold way. He fulfills the will of God expressed in the law; he suffers the punishment of sin, the wrath of God. Both are done in our place and for our benefit.”[5]
Jesus, in our place, has fulfilled the law and we benefit of the actions of Jesus in eternal life. Jesus took upon Himself the heavy yoke, the burden and death of the law so that we do not die from the law and may live in Jesus.
[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 23:1–12.
[2] The Everyday Bible: New Century Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005), Mt 11:28–30.
[3] Paul Althaus, The Theology of Martin Luther, trans. Robert C. Schultz (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966), 203.
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid