Weekly Sermons

Get Out of God’s Seat - Matthew 23:1-12

Less than 30 years after the Reformation began the Roman Catholic Church met at the Council of Trent (1545-1563). At that council they basically said that Luther and the reformers were wrong about everything, and they recommitted to their non-biblical additions to the Bible. Over the coming centuries both the Reformation and Counter-Reformation spread.

13th rule of the Exercise:
“If we wish to be sure that we are right in all things, we should always be ready to accept this principle: I will believe that the white that I see is black, if the hierarchical church so defines."

Matthew 23:1-12

In Matthew 23 Jesus warned the crowds and His disciples about the proud and self-serving religious leaders. He revealed their hypocrisy and departure from the intent of the Bible, making themselves the authority over the Bible instead of vice versa.

God’s leaders stick with the Bible’s authority - V. 2-4

The Bible is to sit in authority over us, not any of us in judgment of the word. In putting their teaching and tradition on par with God’s actual word, they had sat themselves in a seat that is already taken!

God’s leaders aren’t seeking the applause of men - V. 5-7

God’s leaders know who the True Leader is - V. 8-10

In the rest of the N.T., there are titles given to church leaders. Paul calls himself an apostle, and Peter calls himself an elder. But God’s leaders aren’t to find their identity in their positions but their position in Christ.

A father is a life-giver! To call a man a “Father” in spiritual matters is to put him in the place of God who gives spiritual life. This is blasphemous. - J. Vernon McGee

The word for instructor in verse 10 occurs only in this verse. It is the word Kathegetes (G2519). Notice how close that is to the word for seat, kathedra (G2515). No person gets to sit in the seat of authority over you reserved for Christ and His word!

The one who rejects me and does not receive My words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. - John 12:48

God’s leaders are humble servant leaders - V. 11-12