DGT Episode 372 - Leaders Who Follow - Seven Wishes From Seven Woes Part 7

In the seventh part of our seven-part series on Matthew 23, we take a look at the seventh and final woe that Jesus Christ proclaims against the scribes and Pharisees of his day.  In this his seventh and final condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees Jesus is expressing a desire in his heart.  He desires that the leaders of his people be those who follow and hopefully by hearing his admonition we will follow more closely ourselves.

In Matthew 23 seven different times in a row Jesus says “Woe to you” to the leaders of his day.  Far from expressing simple indignation or disappointment, they also revealed to us seven desires that Jesus has for leaders.  In this sixth part of our seven-part series on the “Seven Woes” we touch a kind of spiritual nerve - the heart of what Jesus is driving at.  He doesn’t want leaders who simply lead from the outside he wants leaders who are holy.

Looking to sacred scripture for inspiration on leadership is a task that requires us to sometimes read backwards.  Such as the case in Matthew 23 where Jesus issues seven woes.  Seven consecutive condemnations of the leaders of the Israel of his day.  Reading from the other side we see what he really was looking for from the leaders of today.  Here we examine the fifth of the woes -OK a desire for leaders who lead from the inside out.

Today’s world is full of messages.  People claim to know the truth and to assert that their opinion is a true guide.  The choice of the people we listen to is one of the most important decisions a leader can make.  Who is guiding us?  Who is pointing us in the right direction?  In Matthew 23 Jesus accuses the scribes and Pharisees of being blind guides.  Why?   What do they do?  What can we learn from this correction of Matthew’s gospel and how can we lead better thanks?

They say that the mark of a good leader is their ability to do the right things.  Making choices to stay focused on what needs to be done is essential for anyone wanting to succeed in their endeavors.   But what does God want us to focus on?   What are the things that he expects from us in the places where he’s asked us to lead?  In Matthew 23 Jesus gives us a clue.   He criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for missing the point and shows us what he wants from us as well.

In Matthew 23 Jesus gives us a list of seven woes addressed to the Scribes and Pharisees of his time.  These woes read like a list of condemnations and that of course they are, but what would happen if we flipped those conversations to see what they were saying on the positive side?   That is, what is Jesus looking for from his leaders and that he did not find in the Scribes and Pharisees of his time?   Today we take a look at the second of the seven woes.

In Matthew 23, Jesus says “Wo” seven times.   He’s not speaking to a horse but rather to the Scribes and the Pharisees declaring that evil is upon them for things that they are doing.  Since they represent leaders of their time, condoned by religion, I think it’s appropriate for us to look at these seven “Woes” from Jesus and understand what exactly he’s desiring.   What is he really looking for from us?

Leadership needs rules but whose rules are we following?  Robert Green lists 48 laws of power in his 1998 work ,“The 48 Laws of Power”, and at the very end the last law he puts is “assume formlessness.”  Jesus Christ gives us a different way to rule.  He speaks about the cross and gives us the example of assuming the ultimate freedom.  But what’s the difference between leadership according to either of these rules?

In 1999 the book “The 48 laws of Power” emerged as an amazing example of the thinking of the world regarding leadership.   These 48 laws were rules that were taken from history about what made leaders great in the eyes of the world and what kept them in power.   But what happens when we hold them up to the law of the cross, the way Christ leads the world?   Today will look at law 32 and see the difference between fantasies and heaven.

Leading from our faith and in the light of faith has many advantages for leaders.  In particular Christian leaders are allowed to shine to give the best of themselves in unique ways without fear of incurring jealousy from their boss since their boss is Jesus Christ.  What would our world look like if we allowed those who worked for us and under our authority to shine in the same way?  In the seventh part of our series on the 48 laws of power we look at law 41.