And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23:12
Jesus never got angry with anyone... except the religious leaders of His day. He never yelled at a teenager for having sex on a Friday night. He never scolded anyone for smoking a joint, or getting drunk, or stealing from a business partner. Instead, He always said, "Repent."
But it was a different story with the religious leaders. Jesus didn't hesitate to rebuke the scribes and Pharisees. And He did it in front of the people who respected them most -- the public.
The scribes and Pharisees were hugely popular among the people of Jesus' time.
Unlike the Sadducees, who were the "snobby," upper-class aristocrats, the scribes and Pharisees were mostly middle-class businessmen, lawyers, and judges. Even though the Sadducees were technically more powerful, the scribes and Pharisees were much more famous -- and they knew it.
They liked that the people looked to them for the interpretation of the truth, rather than looking to God. They liked making themselves the peoples' only access to God. But Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
You see, the scribes and Pharisees had exalted themselves to the very throne that Jesus came to occupy. They had made themselves the "way" and the "truth" -- except they neither had the power to give life to one lost soul, nor did they even desire such a thing; they only wanted power and fame for themselves.
They didn't love the people -- they thought they were better than the people. They didn't care for the people -- they burdened the people. And Jesus would not tolerate it. Four times in Matthew 23, He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees!" Is it a surprise that Jesus would want to warn the multitudes of such vultures? Is it any wonder that He would be outraged by such pride?
Today, who sits on the throne of your heart?
Is it you? Are you, like the Pharisees, living only for yourself, even when it burdens and impedes others? When we exalt ourselves, we tell the world that this is exactly the case. But if Jesus Christ sits on the throne of your heart, He will be life to you, and you will bring life to others.
Some of us walk around with these big burdens on our shoulders, but if you will place Jesus on the throne of your heart, you will be totally free -- free from religion and the entanglements that men have put in your way; free from the stumbling blocks that make you feel guilty. God is madly in love with you. Not just a little bit. His love is overpowering. He forgives you of your sins, and He sets you free. Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
May I encourage you to exalt Jesus higher and higher in your life. Make Him the center of everything. Don't exalt yourself, and don't look to others who exalt themselves. Matthew 23:11 says that "he who is greatest among you shall be your servant."
Humble yourself, and become someone, like Jesus, who gives, who loves, who pours out their life for others -- and who never asks for anything in return. That is being a servant... and that is greatness.
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