April 21, 2024 - Higher Standards

Joshua 22:21-23:16

Luke 20:27-47

Psalm 89:14-37

Proverbs 13:17-19

One Year Bible Audio & Daily Reading (oneyearbibleonline.com)

Luke 20:45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

Here we have Jesus talking about the Jewish leaders the "teachers of the law". They put on a great big outward appearance of religiosity. They were prideful and arrogant expecting people to lower their eyes in their presence and expected the place of honor in all gatherings. They took advantage of even widows by expecting financial gifts for their teaching. They thought their long prayers with fancy words made them more spiritual. All their outward appearances stood up to the standard that they set for being godly, but their hearts were wrong. They did not follow the 2 greatest commandments to love God and love people. They expected to be respected and honored like a god and they did things to benefit themselves at the expense of their people. As teachers of the law, they should have known better. They will be held to a higher standard. After Jesus ascension the disciples were moved by the Spirit and put to use their spiritual gifts. Some have the gift of teaching some do not. In James he warns that teachers are held to a higher standard.

James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.

Today we have those who are given the gift of teaching. Pastors, priests, speakers, Sunday school teachers, bibles study leaders. Someone in those positions need to be sure that they are living for Christ inside and out and be seeking His guidance in their teaching. I was just talking to someone who had been playing music in a church every Sunday and the preacher gave great sermons but he also stole money from the church and this soured him on church. There are people who teach others to follow the word of God. They come to church and put on a great appearance but go out and have an affair on their spouse, have premarital sex, cheat on their taxes, drink in excess or any number of other sins that they teach against. I am not saying that teachers have to be perfect. We all sin and we all struggle with sins. That is part of the process of sanctification, but when we are so prideful that we do not acknowledge our sin as sin and don't humble ourselves before God and repent, we are no better than the teachers of the law that Jesus was talking about. Teachers are held to a higher standard because their hearts will dictate their actions and when people look to them and see the false image they portray because their lives and actions don't match their teaching it can turn them away. So to those of us who are in positions of teaching we are held to this higher standard. I know these are words I needed to hear to be reminded of this. Lord forgive me for partaking in things of the world and not being a good representation of you to others.

Thank you for your words and your grace. Change my heart that I might live more like you so that I might be a better witness for you in the world.

For those of you who are not in positions of teaching do not let the sinful human teachers of this world who struggle with sin as much as you do turn you from God Himself. When you find a teacher who is like the teachers of the law that Jesus is speaking to you should leave that church but there are plenty of churches out there that have good teachers. Pray for God's guidance and keep looking for the church that you know God has for you. Don't put the failures of people on God. It is not Him who let you down it is and imperfect human. Remember yesterday's post. God is faithful and will never let you down.