The Only Teacher

“Practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don’t follow their example.” Matthew 23:3

I can imagine if Luigi and I brought up our son in this manner: “Josh, do and obey everything we tell you, but never, ever follow what we actually do!” Or what if a teacher would instruct her students not to lie or cheat or steal, and they would catch her not telling the truth to their parents! How successful would a church be if the Pastor would preach powerfully about loving one another but the members would see him insulting the janitor repeatedly. How despicable is a man who tells his followers it is wrong to kill and when he turns around says he has killed many and promises to kill many more? The world is full of examples of how we should not follow the models of men. We need not look far. 

We have Bible Study in our office every Thursday morning. Our Music Ministry is composed of the most dedicated and passionate singers and musicians. One day, I caught them practicing past lunchtime, and they were so caught up in their singing, they could not hear my first reminder that it was time to work already. So I started to shout! Of course I had to apologize afterwards for my anger.

The only example we need is Jesus. “Only one among you is teacher,” Jesus said, “the rest are learners.” And so it is essential we go back to the source of good, of right and wrong. We need to learn from Scripture how to live rightly to please our Father. “To whom shall we go, You have the Words of everlasting life?”