Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “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. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 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 and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. (Matthew 23:1-7)

As we follow the life and ministry of Jesus throughout the Gospels and listen in as he interacts with the people of his day, we hear words of hope, words of blessing, words of comfort, challenging words, and even some harsh criticism. Jesus did have some harsh criticism directed at some people. The harshest criticism we hear from him was directed at the most religious people of his day, the Pharisees.

It is a bit confusing when we stop and think about it. The Pharisees were not a bunch of hedonistic rebels; just the opposite in fact. They were outstanding students of Scripture. There were incredibly conscientious about obeying the law. They were serious about their giving. They were serious about being the people of God.

As we look at this list, we might wonder which of these characteristics would warrant such stinging rebukes from the lips of Jesus? Weren’t they supposed to be obedient, ethical, generous, and knowledgeable? The truth is that it wasn’t any of these characteristics in particular that earned them such pointed criticism. It was actually a characteristic that they lacked, namely humility.

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:8-12)

Jesus was not critical of them because they were obedient, morally pure, generous, and hungry to learn. He was not pleased with these things because their service to God was a source of pride for them, and they had forgotten what had been done for them. They lacked humility and it is something that is desperately needed.

Humility is fertile ground for empathy and service. Jesus tells his followers that the Pharisees bind heavy burdens on others, but do nothing to help carry them. Humility allows us to recognize that without what God has done in Jesus, we were in a helpless condition. Remembering that should move us to love, serve, and be patient and kind with those who struggle. We are called to bear one another’s burdens, love one another, serve one another, and forgive one another. We are called to do that because Jesus has borne our burdens, loved us, served as a sacrifice for our sins, and forgiven us. In short, humility was a defining characteristic of Jesus.

Humility calls for us to see our complete dependence on God. The Pharisees seemed to believe diligently keeping the Law was what made them God’s people. In other words, they were obedient so that they could be God’s people. What they were actually called to do was to be obedient because God had rescued them and made called them to be his people. It may sound like there’s little or no difference in those two views, but the difference is actually huge. Over and over the Israelites were reminded that it was God who delivered them from Egypt and made them a nation. Their obedience to his commands was to be in response to his grace.

It is the same with the people of God today. We are certainly called to be obedient. God is holy and calls us to be holy as well. That obedience is to be our response, and they way in which we show our love for and trust in him. We don’t do the things that Jesus commands so that he will save us; we do the things he commands because of what he has done to save us.

Jesus still calls his followers to be obedient, morally pure, generous, and hungry to learn. Those are still desperately needed. But, those things are to be done in a spirit of humility which enables us to be people who love and serve the way he did.