Matthew 23:1-3 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 obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

The first point I get from this is that we can learn from bad examples as well as good ones. I well remember Kevin Conner talking about having been given exactly that Word when he was on a church staff as a young man. The Bible is clear in many places that we are not to be judgmental, but we are to be discerning, and that is what it takes to learn from bad examples. We are surrounded by such, and need to strive to avoid falling into that category ourselves. The second point I get from this is that someone can exercise legitimate spiritual authority even while they are being disobedient themselves. That can be a hard one to swallow at times! This is where real discernment is called for, because even horrible examples can be used by God as His mouthpiece to speak His truth. And that brings us to the third point, which is that saying something doesn’t mean you are doing it. This is a major snare and trap for any minister of the Gospel. We are admonished by James to be doers and not just hearers of the Word (James 1:22), but this goes beyond that to teaching the Word without obeying it ourselves. That was one of Paul’s concerns. (1 Corinthians 9:27) It is often helpful to hear ourselves speak God’s truth. That can be a real faith strengthener. However, having spoken the truth, we need to seek God’s help in putting it into practice.

Of course this applies to me on all levels. I have seen some really bad examples, and I have learned from some of them. The biggest point for me is in applying the Word I speak. My familiarity with the Bible from childhood is a huge blessing, but it opens up the temptation to take the Word for granted and do exactly what the scribes and Pharisees were doing in Jesus’ day. I need to pay attention to my own sermons! I am to recognize my own weakness and allow God’s Word to have its full work in me, never dismissing it because of familiarity. I want to be a good example indeed, because there are many who watch me and not a few who actively look to me as an example.

Father, You know even better than I do that I can’t follow through without Your help. I’m back to that song, “I can’t even walk without You holding my hand.” Help me be faithful as an example to the flock, and not as a bad one! Help me apply the Word You speak to and through me, so that Your Word may indeed do all for which You send it, for Your glory. (Isaiah 55:11) Thank You. Praise God!