Matthew 23:3
Arabic Bible ERV 2009
فَاحفَظُوا وَمارِسوا كُلَّ ما يَقُولُونَهُ لَكُمْ، وَلَكِنْ لا تَعمَلُوا أعمالِهِمْ. لِأنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ، وَلا يَعمَلُونَ وَفْقَ ما يَقُولُونَ.
What Does This Mean?
Jesus is telling his followers to follow the teachings of the religious leaders but not their bad behaviors, because those leaders don't practice what they preach.
Explained for Children
Imagine your teacher tells you how to do something right, like cleaning up toys. The teacher says it's important, but never cleans up themselves. Jesus is saying we should still clean up our toys even if the teachers don’t always do it themselves.
Historical Background
Matthew wrote this part of his gospel in the first century AD. He was addressing Jewish followers and Gentile converts who needed guidance on how to follow God's laws amidst conflicting teachings from religious leaders of the time.
Living It Out Today
In today’s context, consider advice from mentors or experts: if they tell you to eat healthy but never do it themselves, still value their advice about nutrition. But don’t blindly copy their unhealthy habits.
Topics
hypocrisyobediencereligious leadersteachingadviceexample
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jesus' main message in Matthew 23:3?
Jesus emphasizes that we should follow the teachings of religious leaders but avoid imitating their hypocrisy and bad habits.
How can this verse help us in making decisions about advice from others?
It reminds us to discern between good advice based on knowledge versus actions driven by hypocrisy, encouraging us to seek wisdom over blind obedience.
Can you provide a real-life example of Matthew 23:3?
If your friend tells you to save money but always spends impulsively themselves, listen to the advice about saving but don't copy their spending habits.
What does this verse say about hypocrisy in religious leadership?
It highlights that some leaders may teach good things but not practice them, and warns against copying such behaviors, focusing instead on following the teachings faithfully.