Matthew 23:12

CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHRISTIAN

‘And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.’

Matthew 23:12

Thus does our Lord sum up the lesson of the preceding verses of this remarkable chapter.

I. The teacher and his office.—‘The scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat’: rightly or wrongly, they occupied the position of the chief public teachers of religion among the Jews; however unworthily they filled the place of authority, their office entitled them to respect. But while their office was respected, their bad lives were not to be copied: and although their teaching was to be adhered to, so long as it was scriptural, it was not to be observed when it contradicted the Word of God. However much we may disapprove of a minister’s practice, or dissent from his teaching, we must never forget to respect his office: we must show that we can honour the commission, whatever we may think of the officer that holds it.

II. Avoid inconsistency, ostentation, and love of pre-eminence.—As to inconsistency, it is remarkable that the very first thing our Lord says of the Pharisees is, that ‘they say, and do not.’ They required from others what they did not practise themselves. As to ostentation, our Lord declares, that they did all their works ‘to be seen of men.’ As to love of pre-eminence, our Lord tells us that the Pharisees loved to have ‘the chief seats’ given them in public places, and to have flattering titles addressed to them. All these things our Lord holds up to reprobation.

III. Honour to Christ alone.— Christians must never give to any man the titles and honours which are due to God alone and to His Christ. We are to ‘call no man Father on earth.’ The rule here laid down must be interpreted with proper scriptural qualification. We are not forbidden to esteem ministers very highly in love for their work’s sake (1 Thessalonians 5:13). But still we must be very careful that we do not insensibly give to ministers a place and an honour which do not belong to them.

IV. Humility the chief grace.— There is no grace which should distinguish the Christian so much as humility. He that would be great in the eyes of Christ, must aim at a totally different mark from that of the Pharisees: his aim must be, not so much to rule as to serve the Church. ‘Church greatness consisteth in being greatly serviceable.’ The desire of the Pharisee was to receive honour, and to be called ‘master’; the desire of the Christian must be to do good, and to give himself, and all that he has, to the service of others.

—Bishop J. C. Ryle.