Following The Right Leaders

Following the Right Leaders

Matthew 15:12-14, NLT

Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” 13Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, 14so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”

Setting the Scene

By confronting the Pharisees this way, Jesus was establishing himself as the right interpreter of Scripture. God had given Israel numerous dietary laws, but these laws and the leaders’ interpretations of them had become more important than the meaning behind them, leading to the idea that people could be clean before God because of what they refused to eat. And because the Pharisees had become the religious authorities of the day, they naturally became offended by what Jesus said. The disciples pointed out this offense, the implication being that Jesus had taken on the religious establishment at great risk.

The Pharisees were offended, but Jesus explained that they were being rejected as leaders of God’s people and, like weeds in the garden, would be “uprooted.” Then Jesus told the disciples to “ignore them.” They shouldn’t follow, listen to, or regard the hypocritical Pharisees.

The Pharisees claimed to be leaders of the people, but Jesus turned this around to show that, in reality, they were “blind guides,” who would lead people the wrong way.

Getting Personal

Who are your spiritual leaders?

What can you do to make sure you’re not following a “blind guide”?

When have you seen a “leader” go beyond the teachings of the Bible or assume too much authority for him- or herself?

What can you do to make sure that your teaching stays true to Christ and the Bible?

Today many claim to be religious authorities. Some teachers, preachers, pastors, and others draw large crowds and have huge followings in churches, special events, seminars, online, and in publishing. Although they may sound and look good, we must be careful whom we follow. Our earthly spiritual leaders should affirm Jesus as fully God and fully human, the only way to salvation and the Bible as God’s written and inspired Word, our only rule for faith and practice. Any leader who is offended by those beliefs and values should be left behind. As soon as we know that the true intent of a teacher or preacher is not God’s glory, we should stop listening to him or her.

Talking to God

Thank God for the Bible, written authority that helps us know what truly pleases him. Pray for those in spiritual leadership over you, asking for God’s truth and wisdom to guide them—and to guide you as you listen and learn from them.