Humbled To Be Exalted

“Do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. . . . Everything they do is done for people to see. . . . Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! . . . Woe to you, blind guides! . . . You snakes! You brood of vipers!” -Matthew 23:3, 5, 13, 16, 33-

Matthew 23 records one of Jesus’ last sermons here on earth. It’s a sermon traditionally known as “The Seven Woes,” and it is directed at the religious leaders of the day — the Pharisees. In this particular sermon, Jesus holds nothing back. If you grew up thinking of Jesus as a “Mr.Rogers” character who was always smiling, winking at people, and wearing a sweater vest, the tone Jesus takes with these religious leaders may surprise you. He isn’t trying to fix the Pharisees; He’s not simply giving them a warning or a caution. Jesus isn’t offering them counsel or advice. He is strongly opposing these religious leaders because He doesn’t want people to confuse following the rules with following Him.
The word “woe” is both an expression of grief and a curse, and Jesus repeats it multiple times. He is saying to the Pharisees, “Cursed are you. You’re afflicted and tormented.” And He is saying to us, “Don’t imitate these leaders.” Jesus is not impressed with their fancy robes, wordy prayers, or self-righteous authority. He takes issue with the way they operate. And Jesus doesn’t want His followers to imitate them or admire them.
Instead, He wants us to “imitate God” (Ephesians 5:1 NLT). He calls us to deny ourselves and have the “same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). He practiced what He preached: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He reminds us that in His kingdom, “anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). And He used the Pharisees to illustrate this “upside-down way of Jesus” truth: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

DENYING TODAY
Read Philippians 2:1-11. Write down several words or phrases that jump out at you. Take a quick but thorough inventory of your last several days. Describe a time when you demonstrated “selfish ambition or vain conceit.” Is there someone you need to make amends with because you didn’t consider or value them above yourself? When did you look out only for your own interests? Humbly confess these things to the Lord. Then picture the greatest servant of all — Jesus — humbly washing your feet, forgiving your sin, extending His grace.