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23rd Sunday after Pentecost (cycle a)
Proper 26 (31)
Humor | Peace & Justice | NexGen Worship
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Reformation
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Commentary:
First Lesson;
Epistle;
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Prayer&Litanies
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Children's Sermons |
Sermons based on Texts
Sermons:
Reformation Day Sermons:
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Do As I
Say and Not as I Do!
a sermon based on Matthew 23:1-12
by Rev. Elizabeth Ann Quick
I 've
not yet experienced what it is like to be a parent, but I can tell you,
from a child's perspective, that there's not much greater joy than when
you can catch your parent doing something they've been telling you
not
to do. All along, your parent tries to teach you something, like to
always tell the truth, or to stay away from alcohol, or to always clean
up messes, or to be a responsible driver. And then, you catch them in
the act - of going 80 on the thruway (in this I speak from personal
experience), or of telling a white lie. And you know, as a child, you've
got them right where you want them - your parents aren't even doing
themselves what they've insisted you do! From a parents' perspective of
course, the situation is a nightmare, and the best a parent can usually
come up with is to remind the child: Do as I say, and not as I
do! After all, parents know better, and in their wisdom, may have
some good reasons, though mysterious and unknown to children, for their
behavior. In reality, though, parents hopefully more often choose to
lead by example. The best way to teach someone and convince someone of
what is right is by living these behaviors ourselves. In the church, we
call this "practicing what we preach" and we call failure to practice
what we teach hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is one of the topics
Jesus frequently addressed in his teachings, and he was most likely to
bring up the topic when he was talking to or about the religious leaders
in the community - the Pharisees. The Pharisees were scholars of the
law, or the commandments. They interpreted the commandments in the
scriptures to see how they should be applied in everyday life. For
example, if the scriptures say we should keep the Sabbath holy, the
Pharisees would debate and discuss exactly what this meant - exactly
what is prohibited and what is allowable to do on the Sabbath? The
Pharisees sought to follow God's commandments, just as we today seek to
interpret how the Bible guides us in our daily living, and in their
study of the law, counted over six hundred commandments that should be
followed for faithful living.
But Jesus accused the Pharisees of
missing the mark, and losing the message in their quest for obedience to
the law. He warns the crowds against them - he tell them, "the scribes
and Pharisees are in the line of Moses, and know the commandments, so
listen to them, and follow as they teach, but don't do what they do, for
they do not practice what they teach. Jesus then continues on to accuse
the scribes and Pharisees of several faults in his words to the crowds.
He accuses them of not practicing their own teachings. He accuses them
of laying burdens onto others that are hard to bear, without offering to
"lift a finger" to help ease the load. He accuses them of making a show
of their faith. He says that they "make their phylacteries broad and
their fringes long. Phylacteries were boxes that were tied to the arm
and forehead that contained words of scripture in them, and fringes were
part of a garment worn by Jewish men. The long fringes and phylacteries
would be worn not by common people, but by the Pharisees, as a show of
their devotion. Jesus insisted that it was actually a show of pride in
their own piety. And Jesus accuses the Pharisees of being obsessed with
titles and positions and places of honor.
Jesus criticizes the Pharisees
not for seeking to follow the commandments. Jesus himself said that
he came to fulfill the law, not abolish the law, and so he urges us to
follow the commandments as the Pharisees teach. But Jesus criticizes
them for taking what is [continue]
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