PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

PROCLAMATION

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.  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.’ ”  Matthew 23:1-3 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to the Apostle Matthew.  As Jesus continued to speak, He offered a warning to them against hypocrisy.  He said that the scribes and the Pharisees did not themselves do that which they told the people to do. (Matthew 23:3-4)  They did things so that people would take notice of them, and they like to be greeted publicly with respectful titles. (Matthew 23:5-11)  Jesus, The Christ, said: “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)  He then went on to state seven woes on the scribes and the Pharisees because of their behavior. (Matthew 23:13-31) He also condemned them along with the people of Jerusalem who stoned and killed His prophets. (Matthew 23:33-39)

APPLICATION

The best way to determine if you are listening to a real man of God or a false teacher is to compare what he says to The Word of God.  If what he says does not follow The Bible, then do not follow him.  Also, be careful of anyone who says one thing but does something different.  We all should practice that which we preach.  That old saying: “Do as I say do and not as I do,” is not appropriate for leaders or people in authority.  No one is above the law.  It is also not good advice for anyone to give to someone else.  We need to live by the same rules that we expect others to live by.  The Word of God applies to all of us and all of us should follow it.  We may occasionally slip, and fall short, and sin, but our sins are not acceptable and are not to be overlooked.  We all need to confess our sins and ask to be forgiven.  We should not only “talk the talk,” we should also “walk the walk” and do the best that we can do to live to the glory of God. “Whatsoever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)