The overlooked qualities that open—or shut—the door to another’s faith
By Dean Collins
All through life there will be closed doors and open doors. Many say open and shut doors help us determine God’s will for our lives. Shut doors may clarify our directions or next steps, while open doors give us new opportunities for discovery. But I suspect we don’t think much about the doors we swing open or shut for those around us now or who come after us later. Jesus challenges us to consider those doors in words recorded in Matthew 23.
Broad audience
The chapter opens by telling us the audience for this teaching was broad. It included the crowd and the disciples, those who were just curious as well as those who had already decided to become a part of the community Jesus was building, the kingdom of God. It seems there were also scribes and Pharisees in the crowd because within a few verses Jesus directs his comments to them in front of the disciples and whoever else was listening.
Some in the crowd were clearly trying to figure out whether they should follow the Pharisees or follow Jesus. It was becoming pretty obvious you couldn’t do both. Sooner or later you have to make a choice on whom to follow, who is my community, and what is my authority.
Personal agenda
Right out of the gate Jesus lets everyone within hearing distance know the scribes and Pharisees have access to and teach from the Torah, God’s written Word. Jesus basically affirms that following God’s Law is right, good, even essential. But then he points out to those listening that they should follow God’s Word but not the behaviors of those who were the prominent teachers of the day, namely the scribes and Pharisees. That would be equivalent to someone telling us, “Obey the Word of God the preacher shared last Sunday, but by no means should you live and act like the preacher!” Jesus explained his thinking this way: “They don’t practice what they preach!”
In essence, what many of the religious teachers of the day were teaching had drifted from simply God’s Word to all of their interpretation they taught as having equal authority to what God said. Of course, sadly, things haven’t changed much in our current moment. Pushing one’s agenda, bias, politics, or preferences has become too common and much too easy with the addition of social media.
Self-promotion
And now, just as in Matthew 23, one motivation for declaring one’s “truth” has become self-promotion. People then and people now like to be seen as the expert and the authority. When we catch ourselves with that attitude we need to remember what Jesus said in verse 12 of this chapter, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
In the verses before this one, Jesus said we need to be careful with seeking titles for ourselves, such as rabbi, father, teacher, or instructor. None of these titles is particularly bad, but Jesus gave clear indication that he is the ultimate teacher and giver of life. No one else compares.
‘The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.’
Jesus wasn’t teaching anything new in chapter 23, but he was escalating his focus as he walked closer and closer to the cross where he would once and for all set things right and set us free from the sin that destroys. And one of the primary sins that destroys us is our pride and pursuit of greatness in this world. In Matthew 18 Jesus called us to be childlike and to humble ourselves before God rather than seeking greatness. In Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus calls us not to pursue greatness as those in the world do but rather to become a servant of all. So it is no surprise that here Jesus calls us again to resist title and glory and become servants. He concludes that only humility results in being exalted. To reverse it has deadly consequences.
Shocking warning
Right after this call to humble ourselves Jesus gives a shocking warning for us and condemnation to those who were focused on power, self-promotion, and authority. Jesus said those who behave like that literally shut the door of the kingdom of God in the face of those who want to discover the path to God. Ouch!
As we continue our season of reflection and repentance during Lent, it might be worthwhile to reflect on this question: Is there anything about my behavior that is blocking the entrance of another to discovering Jesus?
As followers of Jesus, we are called to share the good news of Jesus. Humility before God and others opens the door for others to walk into the kingdom of God. Pride may very well slam the door in someone’s face.
Your time with God’s Word
Matthew 23:1-13, 15; 18:1-4; 20:25-28 ESV
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo from Unsplash
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