DO NOT DO ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS

1 THEN Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
2 SAYING: “THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES SIT IN MOSES' SEAT.
3 THEREFORE WHATEVER THEY TELL YOU TO OBSERVE, THAT OBSERVE AND DO, BUT DO NOT DO ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS; FOR THEY SAY, AND DO NOT DO."
Matthew 23:1-3 (NKJV)

The point Jesus was making in the above Bible passage is very important. The attitude He was talking about that was peculiar to the Bible scholars and the Pharisees is also commonly found in the lives of those who claim to be born-again today. This has no other word or name than hypocrisy—feigning to be what you are not or behaviour that contradicts what you claimed to believe.

Jesus Christ did not deny the credibility of the law, the Word that the scribes and the Pharisees were teaching, thus, He encouraged the people to observe and do whatever they were teaching—but they should not emulate them. In other words, people should not imitate the scribes and the Pharisees because they are hypocritical.

Why did Jesus say that? The answer is: " . . . FOR THEY SAY, AND DO NOT DO" (Matthew 23:3 NKJV).

Another translation says:
"FOR THEY PREACH BUT DO NOT PRACTICE" (Matthew 23:3 PHILLIPS).

This attribute is very important for a believer or whoever is occupying a leadership position in the kingdom of God on earth. In other religions of the world, being morally sound is not a requirement to be met before being considered a leader, but in the Christian faith, It is.
Whoever would be a disciple or follower of Christ Jesus and much more whoever would lead others should be morally sound (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9; 1 Peter 5:2,3). Jesus Christ was unequivocal about it, He wanted whoever would be His disciple or follower and whoever would serve others or lead others to be someone who does whatever he or she teaches. Hypocrisy is not welcomed in God's kingdom on earth.

Why would a leader tells others to do something whilst he or she would not do it. Kingdom leadership pattern is servant leadership pattern: "BUT HE WHO IS GREATEST AMONG YOU SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT" (Matthew 23:11 NKJV).

"THE ONLY ‘SUPERIOR' AMONG YOU IS THE ONE WHO SERVES THE OTHERS" (Matthew 23:11 PHILLIPS)

A leader in God's kingdom is someone who first of all practice or do whatever he or she wanted the followers to do. You as a leader should be a practicer of whatever you are teaching others to do. What you do not do or practice, you do not have the moral right to teach others to do it.

If you did teach others to do or practice what you are not doing or practicing, the anointing to back the teaching up would not be on what you are teaching the people. In other words, the power of God or the anointing to make your words, your teaching, effective or impactful would not rest on the teaching. You would just discover that people lack enthusiasm, impetus or stimulant, to practice or do whatever you have taught them. However, If you are a practicer or doer of what you have taught them, the urge or the impetus or the enthusiasm to practice or do what you taught would accompany the teaching; the people you taught would not be able to recover from it until they have started practicing the teaching you taught them.

Note:
The spirit of whoever is teaching literally communicates with spirit of those who are being taught. This might be unknown to the people but they would discover that they find themselves doing what the person is doing; even when he or she does not specifically tell them to do what he or she is doing. This is the reason why you would see the adherents or followers of a particular leader started dressing like he or she dresses, walking like he or she walks, in short, do things like he or she does. This is why you have to be careful on whoever you are following or listening to or reading after because a servant is not greater than his master (Matthew 10:24; John 15:20). When you read after someone so much, the spirit that is working in the life and ministry of the person you submitted to or you are following would begin to operate and manifest in your life and ministry as well; It all depends on the spirit that is operational in the life of the person, either that of God or that of the devil.

This is why If a minister who indulges in immorality is teaching others, those who are under his leadership; It would be discovered that without their knowledge of the secret thing that the minister is doing, a good number of people in the congregation of such a minister would be engaging in immorality as well. Because as they are under his leadership, he is transferring what he has in his spirit to them.

When a leader is teaching, he or she is mainly passing across what he or she is doing! This means If you are a leader you would actually produce your kind. Leaders replicate who they are!
Peace.

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