A Professor's Prayer from Matthew 23
My Heavenly Father,
For they preach, but do not practice. May it never be that your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is seated on heaven's throne, should look down upon me, teaching from my professor's chair, and tell others, "Listen to what he says, but do not follow his example" (v. 2-3).
They tie up heavy burdens...and lay them on people's shoulders. Please keep me from calling others to Christian duty and gospel sacrifices that I am unwilling to make myself (v. 4).
They do all their deeds to be seen by others. Guard my heart from such things as quoting Scripture or preaching, putting on a fancy coat and tie, or donning academic regalia to impress men rather than to serve You, O Lord (v. 5).
They love the place of honor. Help me to sit lovingly with the lowly rather than angling to proudly have a place with the powerful (v. 6).
Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. As I teach and preach, may my heart's true longing not be for people to put titles before my name or initials after it, but to know you as the only true Teacher, Father, and Lord (v. 7-10).
The greatest among you shall be your servant. May any greatness be measured only on the scale of being a lowly, humble, thankful servant of my great Lord, whose sacrifice gave me life and a place of service in Your glorious kingdom (v. 11-12).
You shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. O, Lord, may I never hear You say of me that I closed the door of the kingdom to myself and others, by such things as taking advantage of the widow to raise funds for the seminary, or offering long, pretentious prayers to impress others rather than seek Your favor (v. 13-14).
You travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte. Help me not travel far and wide for the mere aim of gathering students and supporters for the seminary's glory, but rather to raise up gospel laborers and gospel partners for Your glory (v. 15).
Whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. May I always, always care more for the true temple that is Your church, the souls of the people who form it, and the blood Your Son shed to purchase them than for their monetary pledges and having a beautiful building. Indeed, the Reformation started over this very issue (v. 16-22)!
You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Do not allow us in our teaching to push denominational distinctives so strongly that the centrality of the gospel of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is forsaken, in effect straining out gnat-sized lawlessness in order to swallow camel-sized legalism (v. 23-24).
First, clean the inside of the cup and the plate, so that the outside may also be clean. How easy, Father, it can be to impress people with the clean outer cup of apparent sacrifice, when inwardly I have let a position result in the dirtiness of a pampered lifestyle and self-indulgence. Please cleanse me and protect me from this temptation (v. 25-26).
You are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. Save me from the danger of the rotting, grave-like death of institutional hypocrisy that calls people to practice faithful ministry when I myself no longer do so (v. 27-28).
You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. Let me not mention the names and share the quotes of famous saints, martyrs, and preachers without taking to heart their testimony for truth and the sacrifices they made for it. May I honor, rather than being jealous of or even attacking, those believers who in my day live likewise. How You hate spitefulness among Your people (v. 29-33).
On you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth. O Lord, please help this teacher to always be a learner, a disciple who recognizes Your kingdom provision in sending me those who can lead me further into Your Word. May I never dishonor others that You have raised up to proclaim Your message (v. 35-36).
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! O merciful Father, please do not let me become a stumbling block to Your living stones, tearing down the very kingdom You have called me through Your Spirit's power to build (v. 37-39).
To You alone be the glory.
Amen.
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Note: A version of this prayer first appeared on Gentle Reformation on October 17, 2017. For several reasons, I revisited it this morning.
