Wednesday, April 9, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Matthew 23

Has there ever been a time when someone made you feel small or unworthy? 

Maybe it was someone of a higher spiritual or worldly status. I have experienced this on several occasions, and sometimes, it made me feel hopeless or less than.

What does the Bible say about this issue? In Matthew 23:11-12, Jesus teaches us that the humble in this world will be first in the Kingdom of Heaven:

¹¹ “The greatest among you must be a servant. ¹² But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Before Jesus made this statement, he had criticized the Pharisees, the highly respected teachers of Jewish law. In fact, Jesus spent much of Matthew 23 humbling the Pharisees for placing impossible and legalistic religious demands on the Jewish people, even when they were not following God’s law themselves. The Pharisees believed themselves to be superior to everyone else. They were the very definition of hypocrites!

Then again, who among us hasn’t judged others for their sin while refusing to acknowledge our own? 

…Just like the Pharisees.

Sometimes, pride gets the best of us, and we forget that those who go through struggles and trials will be placed first in the Kingdom of Heaven. Humbling ourselves before others does not mean that we shouldn’t consider ourselves and fulfill our own needs. Rather, it means that we are to make serving others a priority instead of viewing them as less than.

We forget that we are all sinners who desperately need Jesus. All of us—those of high status, those who go to church every Sunday, those new to their faith, and those who are far from God. 

Matthew 23:8
“…all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.”

The sum of God’s law is love—loving God with everything we have and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). As Jesus followers, we are called to humble ourselves before others, letting go of our pride and showing everyone God’s love and grace. 

As you go about your days, always remember that to love and serve others is to love and serve God (Matthew 25:40)…. And those who humble themselves today will be exalted in God’s Kingdom forever.

Questions:
What are some ways that you can humble yourself before others?

How can you use your unique spiritual gifts to serve others?

Next Steps:
Participate in GrowthTrack to discover your spiritual gifts and find opportunities where you can use them to serve others.

This week, find a way that you can humble yourself and serve someone in need of God’s love.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thanks for sending Jesus into the world to save me from my sins and be the perfect example of how to live my life. Give me opportunities to serve others who need your love and to see them as you do. Remind me that when I humble myself, I am rewarded in your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 4:15
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

This post was written by Isabelle Billnitzer, a Perrysburg attendee and regular contributor to the LivingItOut.