With so many different preachers out there making all sorts of different claims, how do we know whom we can trust? Jesus gives us some good indicators in today’s passage.

First, we should only trust those who avoid the sin of hypocrisy. Jesus said that the scribes and the Pharisees knew all about the Law of Moses, and they taught what it said, but did not practice it. Just so, we should not follow those who teach the love of Christ but do not live it out in their words and deeds.

Second, we should only trust those who avoid the sin of legalism. The scribes and Pharisees had taken the Law of Moses and made it ridiculously complicated. They even condemned Jesus for healing sick people on the Sabbath because they thought such “work” broke the Fourth Commandment. We should not follow those who make God’s law of perfect love seem to be a burden, or who try to regulate every aspect of our daily lives.

Third, we should only trust those who avoid the sin of pride. Jesus condemned those who put on a show of religiosity in order to look good in the eyes of others, but fakers of that kind are still around, aren’t they? We should not follow those who do not love God and love others with sincerity. Instead only those who serve others in genuine humility are worthy of our trust.

But in the last few verses of the passage, Jesus brings all these lessons home to each one of us. He says we shouldn’t look for human teachers or fathers at all. Instead, He says that all Christians should seek to follow Christ our Teacher and God our Father. That’s because every Christian has the Holy Spirit inside of him. Every Christian thus has the power to understand God’s Word for herself.

So, while it is a good thing to take advantage of the learning and guidance of good and godly pastors and teachers around us, we all have the responsibility of knowing more of God’s Word, and of putting it into practice in our lives. And as we do that, we must all avoid the sins of hypocrisy, legalism and pride.

Matthew 23:1-12 (NAS)

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;
3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.
4 “And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
5 “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
6 “And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi.
8 “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 “And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10 “And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.
11 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 “And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.