Download Study Materials
A Godly Leader
Be great leaders who can lead our family – friends – to Jesus Christ!
1st – Breakfast with a Pharisee… vs. 37-38
While Jesus was speaking – one of the Pharisees requested him to come over for breakfast…
The Pharisees were one of the main religious denominations of the Jews…
They sat in the ‘Seat of Moses’ – Matthew 23:2 – enforcing the Law of God…
Like saying a congressman represents the Constitution…
The Pharisees were the ones who were supposed to represented the Law of God…
The word ‘seat’ – kathedra – is only used three times in the Bible…
The other two times it is used – those who sit in the Temple selling doves…
These religious leaders – the Pharisees – had taken the Seat of Moses…
And made it the seat of moneymaking – as they profited off of God people!
Rather than teaching the people – they took advantage of the people…
Too often today we see those who take the role of a spiritual leader…
Not to teach and instruct God’s people – but to take from them…
A pastor is not a profession – it is not a career – not a job…
It is not about collecting a salary – making money – or being famous…
It is a calling from God to love and feed His people!
When Jesus sat down to eat – He did not wash His hands prior to eating the meal…
I can see Jesus smiling as He did this – He knew He was provoking a confrontation!
Sure enough the Pharisee marveled at Jesus’ refusal to follow the Jewish tradition!
Speaking of the ceremonial dipping of your hands in ‘blessed’ water – in special bowls
Jesus responded by giving 6 woes to these religious leaders of Israel…
By contrasting the Pharisees & Lawyers – we see a picture of Godly leadership!
1st – Clean on the outside and on the inside… vs. 39-42
Woe unto you Pharisees – you only make the outside of the cup and dish clean…
The idea is they made themselves look good – on the outside…
But on the inside they were full of greed and wickedness…
The appearance might have been good – but their motives were selfish/evil!
If you had two bowls – one clean on the outside – but full of filth on the inside…
The other filthy on the outside – clean on the inside – which would you eat from…
No matter how clean on the outside – if its filthy on the inside – you don’t use it…
Often men focus only on the outside – give the appearance of being religious/good…
They carry a bigger Bible – have the fanciest clothes – volunteer for the choir…
They have their name written in bulletins – or on plaques in the church…
They pray long fancy prayers – for what seems like hours – using big words…
Giving the appearance of great godliness – but their lives do not match their words
God is not impressed by the outside – the Lord looks at the heart – I Samuel 16:7
No matter how ‘good you look’ – if the heart is not right – you are still unclean…
In contrast – if your heart is right – no matter how the outside looks – you are clean!
When we get saved Jesus doesn’t clean the outside first – He takes care of the heart
Then in time the outside comes to reflect the new life we have on the inside!
How to clean the inside of the dish…
Jesus commanded the leaders to give to the poor – then they would be clean…
The Pharisees needed a new heart – because their heart was full of evil…
Their actions revealed who they were – they took from God’s people…
But if they gave to the people – rather than take from them…
It would show a change of heart – it would show they were clean on the inside…
The Pharisees – religious leaders did tithe – 10% – even of their spices…
They tithed in obedience to the Law – Deuteronomy 14:22 – which was good
That they tithed from something as insignificant as their garden – even better
But they missed the more important matters of the Law – Justice/ Love…
If would be like saying I am a good Christian because…
I went to church last Sunday and read my Bible – which is a good thing…
But I also hate / lie / and steal from my neighbor – BIG problem!
Going to church and reading is a good thing – but does not make up for all the sin!
2nd – A Godly leader seeks the praise of God… vs. 43
Woe unto you Pharisees – love the praises of men…
In the Synagogues – there were the special seats that faced the rest of the church…
The places where people of importance and power would sit – ‘up on the stage’…
That is where the Pharisees loved to be – they loved the ‘best seats’…
Looked for greetings in the marketplace…
The Pharisees loved to hear their own name – love to be recognized…
They loved to be seen by men – they loved the praises of men…
John 12:43 – “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
The word “love” in John 12 – is the word agape – perfect love
It should not matter if men know our names – does the Lord know our name…
What good is man’s recognition – if God says – ‘I never knew you’…
The leaders had so much love for men’s praises – they cared nothing for God’s!
Galatians 1:10 – “If I were trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
A godly leader does not seek the praises of men – the acceptance of men…
If a leader is seeking to please men – he is listening to men and not to God…
He becomes a leader who is tossed about by the whims of men – no direction…
He becomes the blind leading the blind – both fall into the ditch! – Matthew 15:4
The Godly leader listens to the Lord – and is directed in his decisions by the Lord
3RD – A Godly leader sets a good example… VS. 44
Woe unto you Pharisees – like graves that cannot be seen…
Numbers 19:16 – if you touched a grave – even unknowingly – unclean for 7 days…
For that reason all graves were to be white washed – so they could be clearly seen…
The Pharisees were like unmarked graves – defiling people without them knowing…
They defiled them by what they taught them – by the example they set…
They were supposed to lead God’s people – but they were leading them the wrong way!
Whether we know it or not we are setting an example for those around us…
I Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow my example, just as I follow Christ’s.”
Dad’s – Mom’s – can we say that to our children – are we leading them to Jesus…
We are leading them somewhere – what is the example we are giving…
4th – A Godly leader is does not tell others what to do… vs. 45-46
One of the Lawyers who was also at the breakfast answered…
He argued Jesus’ words against the Pharisees – also attacked the Lawyers…
This is not a lawyer in the sense we think of today – he studied the Law of God…
Lawyers were the Bible scholars of their day – they were well educated in the Word…
Man of the Lawyers were also Pharisees – so they stood on common ground…
Jesus was more than willing to share the rebuke – there was plenty to go around…
When I was a kid – I was grounded (likely for a good reason) and could not go out…
But I snuck out anyways – then stole some money to buy some ice cream…
I thought I could get out of trouble / have ice cream – instead I got in a LOT more trouble!
The lawyer would have been wiser to say nothing – instead Jesus turned his attention…
Woe unto you – Lawyers who bind heavy burdens – hard to bear – and lay them on others…
The Scribes and Pharisees were quick to make demands of others…
You were required to keep all their additional rules and regulations…
Example – The Law commanded you were not to work on the Sabbath day…
The Lawyers interpreted the Law in a way that made the command to rest – a burden!
They clarified the 39 different categories that they constituted as work…
Going so far as to say you could not tie your shoes / or comb your hair!
The Sabbath became a hardship that took all week to prepare for!
Yet somehow they were exempt from their own rules!
They were not willing to even lift a finger…
A Godly leader should not be telling others what to do – but shows them…
Godly leader does not tell you to serve – he serves as an example…
A Godly leader does not tell you to give – he gives as an example – a Godly example!
Do we tell others how to follow Jesus – or do we show them by example…
5th – A Godly leader is not afraid to tell the truth… vs. 47-51
Woe unto you Lawyers – build the tombs of the prophets…
The same prophets whom their forefathers had murdered…
Attempting to show their respect for the Prophets of God…
Saying if they’d been there – wouldn’t have taken part in the murder of the prophets…
But they bear witnesses that they were indeed the sons of murderers…
They rejected the teachings of the prophets – just as their fathers had done…
And just as their fathers had killed the prophets to silence God’s Word…
Rather than listen and obey – they would shortly kill Jesus – the Word of God!
I have had times when someone got upset cause they thought I was teaching about them
In truth I was just teaching the Word – it was God’s Word that was convicting them…
When the Word convicts us – we often try and blame/silence the messenger…
But a godly leader does not back down from sharing the truth – in love…
Because he knows it is God’s Word that can save/transform a life!
Therefore on them came the blood of all the prophets…
God had sent prophets/apostles – men who called Israel to repent – come back to God…
But instead they persecuted them – others they killed…
But the Lawyers would face the greatest condemnation of all…
On them would come all the blood from Abel (1st martyr) to Zechariah (last martyr)…
Because they would be the ones who would kill Jesus Christ!
6th – A Godly leader point others to Jesus… vs. 52-54
Woe unto you Lawyers – keep others out of heaven…
It was the responsibility of the religious leaders to teach men how to get to Heaven…
They were to instruct the people about God – through teaching His Word
Instead they kept people from knowing about God…
When men came to them to hear about God – learn how to get to heaven…
They were instead taught as law the traditions of men…
Matthew 15:9 – “Their worship is fake… replace God’s commands with their own…”
The Lawyers had the keys to heaven (the Word) – but not only did they not go in…
In effect they hid the keys (the Word) to keep others from going to Heaven as well!
The religious leaders thought they were the answer – they were Lawyers/Pharisees…
Men love to be called – Pastor/Father/Minister/Doctor/Most Holy/Reverend
Titles only separate – they only make one person seem higher and another lower
We love titles because it makes us feel like we are better than others…
When in truth – we are all in the same boat – we are all sinners saved by Grace!
Godly leaders do not point men to themselves – they point them to Jesus…
We do not have the answer – we can only point to the one who does!
Breakfast was over…
Like stepping into a red ant mound – Jesus had stirred up the Pharisees and Lawyers…
They began to assault Jesus with a barrage of questions – trying to trip Him up…
Looking for something He might say the could use against Him – catch Him in His words…
They missed the point – they did not get it – Jesus was not the problem – they were!
Don’t miss the point – be a godly leader – Be clean on the inside / Seek the praises of God…
Set a good example for others / Tell the truth in Love / Point other to Jesus…
Leave a Reply