The Bible says:
“Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”
— Matthew 23: 1-3
There are many things that leaders do that cause their followers to lose respect and confidence in them. One of the most disastrous is when they contradict themselves.
Often a leader will put in place restrictions and regulations for the purpose of governing the people, but will not govern themselves by the same restrictions, and regulations. For instance, during the coronavirus pandemic the masses were put under some strict regulations in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
But we found out many in government who were the biggest advocates of those regulations did not govern themselves by them. We were to do as they said because of their position of governance, but if we did as they did we would be jailed.
The same happens all the time with religious leaders. It’s a known fact many church leaders, past and present, said what the Bible said while they were in the pulpit, but didn’t do as it said in their lives.
I personally have known liars to preach against lying. I’ve known adulterers to preach against adultery. I’ve known thieves who preached against stealing.
I know many who love the world that preach against the love of the world. I personally know people who love money that preach against the love of money.
They preach and teach men to do the right thing, to do what the Bible says, to do the God-honoring thing, but failed to do it themselves. They’re not what they’re telling us to be.
They didn’t practice what they preached. People could follow their preaching and teaching but could not follow their example. We should do as they say but not as they do.
We’re not demanding perfection here but the importance of one following their own advice. They honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him.
Jesus told the multitude and His disciples to follow and do what the scribes and Pharisees were teaching because they were teaching the truth from the writings of Moses.
But they were not to live as they lived because they were not living according to those same truths.
A hypocrite who doesn’t live the truth can preach the truth and the listener can be blessed if they obey that truth because God’s word doesn’t return unto Him void, but accomplishes the work He sent it out to do.
(Isaiah 55: 11)
It’s always better though to listen to a man that has submitted to the word of God and has experienced the same things he is talking about and is an example of the truths he is telling us to live by.
Paul was an example of everything he preached and taught, and told others to follow him because he was following Christ.
(Philippians 3: 17) To preach truth is one thing but to preach and then do what we preach is something else entirely.
We must all, from the pulpit to the pew, from the shepherd to the sheep be doers of the word and not hearers only. (James 1: 22)
James H. Cagle is a Ray City resident who pastored several churches for a total of 11 years. Email him at pastorjameshcagle@ yahoo.c
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