Verses 1-7
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Jesus instructions are simple. Do what is in the Word, and what teachers of the Word tell you to do, if it is truly in the Word.
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But many leaders can be hypocrites. Being puffed up by their prominence, they neglect the doing of the Word and become content merely with teaching it. And works that they do do are only to be seen by people, to make the appearance of godliness. So...
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Verse 3. Understand that knowing and teaching the Word do not make you right in God's eyes. Being a doer of the Word is what matters (Romans 2:18-23, James 1:22-25).
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Verse 4. Don't teach or expect others to do what you yourself are not doing.
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Verse 5. And do the Word to honor God, not to gain honor or recognition from people (see teaching on Matthew 6)!
Verses 8-10
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If you're a leader, don't be known as a person's teacher, and don't take on a formal title for yourself.
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Remind others and yourself that God is your Teacher and Father.
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There are teachers in the church, and this is good. It is not wrong to be a teacher, but it is wrong to seek and cherish titles.
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Simply give God the glory for great instruction that comes from a human teacher. See God as the Great Teacher behind any great teacher we hear from in the church.
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Don't give to people credit that belongs to God!
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Verses 11-12
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Truly, the greatest in God's eyes are selfless servants. Those who exalt themselves will be judged. The Pharisees, and all bad leaders, exalt themselves. Here is how ungodly leaders exalt themselves:
Verses 13-15 – Ungodly leaders need to be exposed and rebuked, as Jesus exemplifies here.
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Evil, religious leaders prevent people from being obedient to God. And in appearing godly themselves, they intend to win people to themselves and to their own opinions, rather than to God and His truth.
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Notice that it is very possible for a bad leader to prevent someone from accessing God.
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There will be great punishment from God for leaders that do this.
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For yourself, work on winning people to Christ, not to yourself.
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If you want people to follow you, and not Christ, you will lead them astray.
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And avoid leaders that exalt their own name or opinion over the name of Jesus and His Word!
Verses 16-22
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Under the Old Testament law, vows were made to God, and all who made vows were obligated to perform them (Deuteronomy 23:21). But, the Pharisees created a system of vows, on different articles of the temple, where some promises were binding and some were not.
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This way, they could appear religious by make solemn promises, yet get away with not doing what they promised; and so they remained just as disobedient.
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Jesus was reminding the people that swearing by any part of God's temple is to swear by God. Any level of association with God obligates you to obey God.
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So, do not associate with God's name or His church in vain (Exodus 20:7), by calling yourself a Christian yet not acting like one.
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Let your yes to God be a yes to obeying every part of His Word.
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Verse 23
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Giving money to the church does not replace obedience to God—the obedience of doing what is right, forgiving others, and believing the Word.
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Yes, honor God with how you use your money, and do support godly churches, but most importantly, work on your own obedience to God's Word!
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Verse 24
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This verse speaks to what we might call nit-picking. Many people are full of sin (swallowing camels), and yet they will judge and criticize a person for small mistakes (straining out a gnat).
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See Matthew 7:1-5. Work on correcting yourself first, and don't worry about small or unimportant issues in other people's lives!
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Verses 25-28
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Don't try to look good on the outside. Work on being clean inside! Change your thoughts and your actions. Be truly godly; don't just try to look godly.
Verses 29-39
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The Pharisees, by adoring the graves of the prophets, were only showing that they approved of the prophets being dead. How so? The Messiah, Christ, and apostles that were sent to them after the Christ, they also murdered.
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Verses 35-36. Also notice (Jesus teaches this here) that those who know the sins of their forefathers, and still choose to continue those sins, will be punished not only for their own sins but also for the sins of their fathers. Why? In their actions they show approval for the sins of the past, which is sin in itself, and sin that will be punished.
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Be careful not to continue sins of previous generations! Instead, learn from history and act accordingly!
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Verse 37. Notice that even in judgment, God longs for us to repent. Remember that people are not saved, and experience destruction, because they are not willing to listen to God. Listen to God!