We are continuing to examine how Christ lived and served the Father.

Jesus lived and served the Father by practicing what He preached. If you heard Jesus preach it, then He lived it. The scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus’ time, however, were unwilling to live what they preached. “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 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” (Matt. 23:2-3). We never want to be hypocrites like these scribes and Pharisees, but how easy is it to proclaim Christianity but not live it? Some of the things that Jesus taught were hard, because they required sacrifice; however, Jesus never taught something that He Himself was not willing to live.

Jesus told His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).

Jesus spent His life living this command to be our example. One instance of this is recorded in Matthew where Jesus preached the greatest sermon ever preached while He went about His life. He sat on the mountain and took the opportunity to teach (Matt. 5-7). Jesus always took the opportunities to teach and preach that were presented to Him, the same as He commanded His disciples to do. “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matt. 10:7). Jesus desired His disciples to preach and teach as they went about their lives. As Jesus went about His life, He walked in the same shoes He asked His disciples to. “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matt. 4:17). Jesus never taught something that He was not willing to live.

Jesus not only preached the same message, but He lived the same way. He commanded His disciples to live sparsely and to depend upon brethren and God as they went about preaching. “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food” (Matt. 10:9-10). He wanted His disciples to understand that this life does not consist of the abundance of the things they possess, because they could become like the man who tore down his barns to build bigger barns, always concerned with how much he had (Luke 12:14-21). Instead, Jesus taught them to not worry about their needs, because God knows their needs and will provide (Matt. 6:32). “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matt. 6:25). Jesus could have had all the riches and possessions this world has to offer, but He chose instead to lay up His treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-21). Earthly possessions, even a place to lay His head, were low on His priority list. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58). Jesus lived the same sparse lifestyle He asked His twelve disciples to live. Jesus never taught something that He was not willing to live.

What about you? Are you a hypocrite like the scribes and Pharisees who bind heavy burdens but are unwilling to lift a finger? (Matt. 23:4). Or are you like Jesus, who had high expectations but was not willing to ask anything that He Himself would not do?

Just something to consider.