Practice What You Preach!

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 Text: Matthew 23:1-3, 4

"Then Jesus said to the crowds and his disciples: The teachers of the law and of the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."

Introduction

It is very important to understand the context of Matthew 23:1-4 where Jesus spoke unto the crowds and that of his dicsciples concerning religious leaders of his day. The scribes and Pharisees were vanguards of the law by which they sought Moses authority by which they sit in Moses seat. There are religious phonies in the professing church today who possess such self-imposed authority by which they did not have been sanction by God's authority. There is a difference between the self-imposed authority set by men as opposed to the authority sanctioned by God. The inconsistency of false spiritual leaders is that they require others to live according to such standards or man-made rules and regulation but they themselves not willing to live by the rules that they require others to live by.  The danger of legalism is that it hinders people's spiritual growth in the Lord by living by man-made rules and regulations. (Gal. 3:1, 2-4) Living by rules and regulations does not produces such holiness nor righteousness. (Rom. 10:2-3)


Sermon Outline


 I. The Self-Imposed Authority of False Spiritual Leaders (Matt. 23:1)

   A. They sought to usurp Moses authority. (v. 1)

   B. They were not sanctioned by God's authority. (v. 1)

 II. The Danger of Blind Obedience and Loyalty to False Spiritual Leaders (Matt. 23:2)

    A. Obedience without questioning. (v.  2)

    B.  Enforce dogma and obedience. (v. 2)

 III. The Inconsistency of False Spiritual Leaders (Matt. 23:3)

    A. Its danger (v. 3)

    B. Its hypocrisy (v. 3)

IV.  Jesus Warnings Concerning False Spiritual Leaders (Matt. 23:4)

    A. The danger of legalism (v. 4)

    B. The hindrance of legalism (v. 4)


Conclusion

       




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