Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
-Matthew 23:1-12 NIV
One would imagine that Jesus, a rabbi and fellow teacher of the law, would commend the Pharisees and the scribes for their zealous devotion to God’s Word and the pursuit of holiness. Shockingly, it’s these so-called righteous religious leaders Jesus most harshly confronted! It’s never a good day when the Savior of the world calls you white-washed tombs and snakes! Yikes! (See Matthew 23:23,27)
And why such criticism from Jesus? Because their worship had become self-absorbed. Instead of seeking to serve those around them, they sought out opportunities to be seen as important. Instead of influencing others to worship the Lord in awe and wonder, they leveraged their leadership to stroke their egos and puff up their pride. Their leadership wasn’t centered around pleasing God or helping others, but rather on elevating their own status.
Jesus called his disciples to a different type of leadership– one characterized not by what a leader can gain, but what a leader can give. Jesus the Good Shepherd modeled for his disciples and followers a style of leadership not defined by control, manipulation or power, but one grounded in humility, love, and faithfulness. Jesus showed us leadership that wasn’t self-absorbed, but God-centered and others-oriented.
This type of loyal and loving shepherding glorifies God and is rewarded in His Kingdom. It’s this type of shepherding that empowers others to know Jesus and to make Him known to others. It’s this type of shepherding that God is looking to use to further his redemptive plan on the earth.
Today, ask yourself if there’s a bit of the pharisee or scribe in you that needs to be challenged, rebuked even? In what ways is Jesus calling you to lay down selfish-ambitions for the much greater pursuit of serving others? How can you choose to practice humbly helping those around you without worrying about what you can get out of it or how you appear to others? How can you look at your own image a bit less, and look upward and outward a bit more this week?