IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Humble Will Be Exalted

Date: Nov. 17, 2015

Passage

Matthew 23:1-12

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being 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 call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Matthew 23:12

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

First, hypocrisy condemned (1-7). The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were teachers. They should have served people with the word of God and prayer. But what they taught did not match their lives. Jesus told people to obey their teachings but not to do what they were doing. They made their phylacteries (leather boxes for scriptures) wide and long. They looked religious in the eyes of people but they sought human honor rather than God's. Jesus warned his disciples not to follow the bad examples but study the Bible and obey his words.

Second, the humble will be exalted (8-12). To exalt oneself is man's sinful tendency ever since Adam's fall. But we can learn to be humble and obedient to God our Father and to the Messiah our teacher. We are called to be servants who serve others. Jesus promised that one who serves will be exalted. We must learn from Jesus our teacher and from one another.

Prayer: Lord, thank you, Jesus, who became a servant of all. Help me repent of pride each day and learn to serve others today.

One Word: God exalts the humble

Daily Bread

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

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