Hypocrisy and Praise Addiction
Hypocrisy and Praise Addiction
Matthew 23:1-12
“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.”
The seat of Moses is a term that they are teachers of the Law seen, but to only teach but do is hypocrisy. What about what Rabbi Jesus taught? The word burden is related to Matthew 11:30. Jesus gave a light burden—it is faith.
“They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts.”
When one no longer desires an inward heart attitude but an outward appearance and thirsts for honour, then he is meanwhile not serving God but gratifying himself and making himself the idol of many.
Honor is like an opiate. It is this addiction that leads many people to do work out of thirst or addiction to praise. But Jesus says, “The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Rev. Hermawan — Deacon at PAC Jakarta