“Therefore, the one who swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it.  And the one who swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells in it.  And the one who swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it” (Matthew 23:20-22).

Keep looking up and seek the top level.  Do this for all things.  If you do not stop, you will come to the place where you see that all things are under the One who made them.  This world plays its games and stops short of the God of all creation.  You have been told and now you know.  We are to fear God above all things.  The world may play its games, but we should seek to be honest with the Lord in all we say and do.

Lord, I know the games of the world well.  Sometimes, I fall into the world’s traps without even realizing it.  Guide me through the maze of this world so that I may humbly walk knowing that I am always in Your presence.  Guide me, dear Lord, in order that I may now and always walk according to Your way.  Let me see the pitfalls that the world sets before me in order that I may continue walking with You.

Lord Jesus, You speak only what the Father has You speak.  You teach us to look to the Father for all things.  Guide me so that I may humbly walk knowing that You are always with me.  Lead me in the way of truth and help me to be honest with myself and others.  Lord, I know I will be humbled by this world.  Help me so that I know what will be beneficial to my character which You are preparing for the life to come.  Amen.

“And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering that is on it is obligated.’  You blind men, which is more important, the offering or the altar that sanctifies the offering?” (Matthew 23:18-19)

The One to whom you give the offering is more important.  In our faith, it is not the what, but the Whom that we seek.  We sinners know how to play games.  We crawl all over one another, but the Lord, who sees all, calls us to Himself.  Do not be as the wicked and the hypocrites.  Such foolishness is played out in every generation.  Be led to and by the One who has called you.

LORD, aid me to see through the games of this world.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to understand that You are calling me to Yourself.  Lead me in truth so that I may humbly follow Your lead.  Keep me in the truth You have revealed so that I walk knowing that I am always in Your presence.  The world may not believe it when I speak truth but help me to be willing to always speak it even if You are the only One who listens.

Lord Jesus, You have given me words to live by.  Keep me from falling back into the way of the world and help me so that I speak truth.  If another requires some kind of vow, remind me that I am always in Your presence, so lead me to speak truth.  You are above all things and You have called me into the eternal presence of the Father.  Lead me so that I live with this understanding at all times.  Amen.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’  You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?” (Matthew 23:16-17)

This world values what it values.  Some things are seen as more important than others. The truth is that the Lord is above all things.  He tells us to speak the truth.  Either you will tell the truth or else you will not.  Why do you need to give an oath?  Does lying under the guise of a big oath make a difference?  Big or small, we are all called to be honest and fair.  Live the way the Lord intends.

Lord, I do get carried away by the games of this world.  I do think some things are more important than others.  Help me learn the simple way of seeking to be fair and honest in all my dealings and not seek a way to sneak around things.  Guide me out of the pit of the thinking of this world and into the light of the eternal truths You have revealed.  You are more important than everything else.

Lord Jesus, take away my blindness and foolishness.  You are above all things.  Help me to live this life You have given me with right priorities.  Take me out of this world’s thinking and into the light of the truths You have revealed once for all.  In You, Lord Jesus, I can learn how to live into the true life which is eternal.  Guide me, Lord, and help me to be led by You.  Teach me to become like You.  Amen.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15).

Hell is filled with the arrogant and proud.  Everyone in hell knows exactly what they are doing – although they actually know nothing – and are quick to tell others that they are perfect and if one wants to be perfect, then to be like them.  There is only One who is good, and that is the Father.  Christ has come as the model of the godly life.  Follow Him and not just all the rules that men make.

Lord, we are not to be lawless, but neither are we to live for the law.  Help me to live the life You have given me to live.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk the way You know I need to walk and avoid the pitfalls of this age.  If You have me teach, let it be Your words that fall from my lips.  In and through all things, be the One who guides me all the days of my life.

Thank You Lord Jesus for giving us the words of life.  Help me through the dangers of this world in order that my soul would always remain in Your hands.  You know what I need.  Thank You for providing all that is needed.  You know where I am.  Thank You for navigating the way before me.  Lord, You are my Savior, and I need You to be my Leader.  Guide me into the narrow way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:14).

There are those who make rules and create barriers to the kingdom of God.  The Lord loves each one of us and wants us to enter into an eternal relationship with Him.  Beware the rule makers.  Mind you, we need boundaries, but we do not live for those boundaries.  If we live, then we live to the Lord.  This world is filled with hypocrites and those who believe themselves superior.  There is only One who is superior and that is the Lord God.

Lord, I continue to need the lessons which You teach me.  I still need to be guided by Your wisdom.  Keep me from being a doorkeeper and an impediment to others.  Help me to live the life of hope in the promises that You have given me.  Guide me in the eternal way of salvation so that I may grow into Your likeness.  You know where I am a hypocrite.  Take that out of me so that I may serve You with a pure heart.

Lord Jesus, none of us needs to prove ourselves to anyone other than You.  Help me to humbly submit to Your leadership and walk the path of faith that You have set before me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly go where You send me and do what You give me to do.  Help me to not be a hindrance to anyone, but instead be an encouragement for all to follow You, our Leader of grace and mercy.  Amen.

“And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ.  But the greatest of you shall be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:10-13).

Who is in front of you, showing you which way to go?  Yes, we have earthly leaders, but if Christ is not their leader, then all who follow are going the wrong way.  The way is narrow and only Jesus knows the way.  We all must follow the One who leads.  It is not a matter of position, but of posture.  Jesus leads.  That’s it.  We follow.  Yes, it is a life of follow the leader and Jesus is our leader.

Lord, this world suppresses the truth and tries to make things different than they are.  Help me to see things the way they are.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly follow You wherever You lead.  Help me to understand that in You alone will I arrive at the place in which the hope You have planted in my heart and longs for will be satisfied.  Teach me how to serve as You would have me serve and let me be always willing to do what You give me to do.

Lord Jesus, continue to humble me. Take away from me the desire to be elevated, and instead, complete the process of making my heart a servant’s heart.  You are my leader and I am Your follower.  You are the author of my faith and I am the one who is being shaped by You.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, along the narrow path of salvation so that I may finish the race and meet You face to face with joy.  Amen.

“But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.  And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven” (Matthew 23:8-9).

Who are you that you would stand in the place of God?  Many do and sometimes each of us has.  What I share with You comes from the Lord.  I speak nothing new, but that which I have received.  Where it is wrong, leave it alone.  Where it is from the Lord, listen.  Titles and names mean nothing except the name of the Lord, which means everything.  Give all adoration to the One who created you.

Lord, You know that this world loves its titles.  We seek after those things which lift up our pride.  Keep me from these things.  Only in humility can I see  clearly.  Lead me out of the snares of this world to live the life You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to know that You alone are my teacher and the Father alone is the head.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew within me a right spirit.

Lord Jesus, I do need to be saved.  My pride and ego arise within me each morning and I chafe when others do not honor me.  Suppress that in me.  Raise me up as Your servant to live in this world serving others as I would desire to be served.  Lord, You know what I need.  Continue to lead me along the path I need to follow for Your name’s sake and take from me what will hinder me, adding what You know I need.  Amen.

“And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.  And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people” (Matthew 23:5-7).

Look at me!  This world is about seeking to gain power: power over your life, power over others, power in pride, and for its own sake.  The rich want more because they lust for power.  That is the way of wickedness.  We are called to be under the authority of Christ and know that all authority and power belong to Him.  We are the created and He is the creator.  Equality with God is something that will never be.

Lord, I do have this in me and it gets me into trouble.  Lead me out of trouble and into the place where I seek to serve others as I would want to be served.  Guide me into goodness so that I learn from You that it is not about what others think of me, but what You have called me to become.  You are teaching me as I serve You and others.  Continue to lead me upon the narrow path so that I may humbly follow wherever You lead.

Thank You Lord Jesus for making these things clear.  Help me in the struggle I have with authority and power.  The old Adam craves the attention, but what is that?  Help me to live with Your approval which comes to me by grace, and that is Your doing.  Without You, I am nothing.  I can do all things with You leading me.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of salvation and help me to not veer from its path.  Amen.

“Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them.  And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger” (Matthew 23:3-4).

Learn how to honor authority.  It is not that all who hold authority are honorable, but honor the truth that all authority comes from the Lord.  Yes, we are laden with burdens that those who give them will not bear.  Serve as if you are serving the Lord.  If you are one with authority, do not burden another with a burden you would be unwilling to carry.  Sinners love a display of power.  Saints serve one another.

Lord, help me to see the difference clearly.  This world encourages us to climb rungs of a ladder to become powerful.  You have leveled the field, and we are to treat others as we want to be treated.  The difference between sin and Your rule are clear.  Teach me to understand the line clearly.  Guide me to live under Your authority.  Help me to live out this reality in my daily life, for I am one under Your authority.

Lord Jesus, in our day there seems to be an increasing lack of respect for authority.  There are increasing burdens upon those who can on behalf of those who won’t.  Help me to respect legitimate authority no matter how I feel about any situation.  Let me not fall into the trap of crawling over others to get to the top.  Guide me so that I am respectful of all whom You appoint to positions of authority.  Lead me so that I always look to You, the One who holds all power and authority.  Amen.

“Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses” (Matthew 23:1-2).

Sinful humanity loves to set themselves up in seats in which they imagine that they have power.  A simple principle applies here: Jesus is the One who has all power.  We live under authority, but even that is granted by God.  God has all authority.  Do not seek power or authority, but live humbly by the call of the Lord.  He will place you where He knows you need to be.  We are all under His ultimate authority.

Lord, calm the internal wrestling in me.  Guide me so that I humbly walk where You would have me walk.  Lead me in Your goodness and mercy to live in the truth that You alone are God.  All things are possible because of You.  Let me not be led astray by the vain things of this world, but live in the truth of Your provision alone.  You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to take comfort in You alone.

Lord Jesus, You came to set me free from the bondage of this world.  The problem is, I am comforted by what I know.  But this is a false comfort.  Lead me forward to be comforted by You alone.  Guide me so that I humbly walk where You lead and live the life You have given me to live.  Let me not settle for what this world offers, but press on for the prize of the eternal life You give me by grace through faith.  Amen.