WEBVTT 00:00:00.987 --> 00:00:05.457 Let's think of some expressions of pride. 00:00:05.457 --> 00:00:08.153 The Scribes and the Pharisees. 00:00:08.153 --> 00:00:11.521 A great example of pride of position. 00:00:11.521 --> 00:00:13.408 The pride of recognition. 00:00:13.408 --> 00:00:15.590 You remember what Jesus said of them? 00:00:15.590 --> 00:00:17.604 "The Scribes and the Pharisees love 00:00:17.604 --> 00:00:20.325 the place of honor at feasts 00:00:20.325 --> 00:00:24.041 and the best seats in the synagogues." 00:00:24.041 --> 00:00:25.384 So you come into the church, 00:00:25.384 --> 00:00:28.993 and if you have people that are competing 00:00:28.993 --> 00:00:30.688 for the highest seat, 00:00:30.688 --> 00:00:33.695 what does that look like? 00:00:33.695 --> 00:00:38.841 I mean, we're adults - many of us. 00:00:38.841 --> 00:00:41.100 We wouldn't imagine, 00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:46.009 you know how it is with little children when they play - 00:00:46.009 --> 00:00:48.295 what is that game they play with the chairs? 00:00:48.295 --> 00:00:49.929 Musical chairs. 00:00:49.929 --> 00:00:51.920 You've seen when there's one chair left. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:53.924 Or even when there's multiple chairs left, 00:00:53.924 --> 00:00:57.288 but two people try to get in the same seat. 00:00:57.288 --> 00:01:00.766 That's basically what Jesus is saying about Pharisees. 00:01:00.766 --> 00:01:02.923 They're fighting to get the highest seat. 00:01:02.923 --> 00:01:06.178 You know, you can just see two of them 00:01:06.178 --> 00:01:08.019 with all of their long garb on 00:01:08.019 --> 00:01:11.949 and they're trying to push each other off the seat 00:01:11.949 --> 00:01:14.100 like children playing musical chairs. 00:01:14.100 --> 00:01:16.946 We would never think of doing that. 00:01:16.946 --> 00:01:21.819 And yet, there can be that subtle reality in the heart 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:25.194 that we want position. 00:01:25.194 --> 00:01:27.252 We want recognition. 00:01:27.252 --> 00:01:29.381 We want place. 00:01:29.381 --> 00:01:31.520 Oh, wanting to be recognized... 00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:39.660 wanting to be honored. 00:01:39.660 --> 00:01:40.948 You know what? 00:01:40.948 --> 00:01:43.315 Every part is not working properly 00:01:43.315 --> 00:01:47.242 when you've got that attitude in the church. 00:01:47.242 --> 00:01:52.800 Or how about the pride of power and achievement? 00:01:52.800 --> 00:01:54.464 You get this from Nebuchadnezzar. 00:01:54.464 --> 00:01:57.040 But this can come into the church just as well. 00:01:57.040 --> 00:02:01.048 "Is this not Babylon? 00:02:01.048 --> 00:02:03.652 Great Babylon - 00:02:03.652 --> 00:02:06.388 which I have built by my mighty power 00:02:06.388 --> 00:02:09.068 and for my great majesty." 00:02:09.068 --> 00:02:11.398 And you know, that can come into the church. 00:02:11.398 --> 00:02:15.507 People do what they do because 00:02:15.507 --> 00:02:18.071 they want to show what they can do. 00:02:18.071 --> 00:02:21.211 "Look what I can do." 00:02:21.211 --> 00:02:22.403 This achievement. 00:02:22.403 --> 00:02:26.697 And you know, the reason that we know 00:02:26.697 --> 00:02:30.384 that this easily infects the church 00:02:30.384 --> 00:02:34.476 is there you've got how many times, repeatedly, 00:02:34.476 --> 00:02:38.289 the inner circle of disciples. 00:02:38.289 --> 00:02:41.721 Luke 22:24 "A dispute also arose among them 00:02:41.721 --> 00:02:47.002 as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest." 00:02:47.002 --> 00:02:49.750 Now you know, we would not be so bold 00:02:49.750 --> 00:02:52.380 as to say it out loud. 00:02:52.380 --> 00:02:54.534 I mean, those guys were pretty brash, right? 00:02:54.534 --> 00:02:55.492 Having an argument? 00:02:55.492 --> 00:02:57.677 Especially some of the times they were arguing that, 00:02:57.677 --> 00:02:59.023 Jesus is over there telling them 00:02:59.023 --> 00:03:00.859 how He's going to Jerusalem to die. 00:03:00.859 --> 00:03:02.228 They're over there: 00:03:02.228 --> 00:03:03.770 "I'm going to be greater than you." 00:03:03.770 --> 00:03:09.083 And Jesus is saying, "I'm going to die." 00:03:09.083 --> 00:03:11.412 Peter, who do you think you are? 00:03:11.412 --> 00:03:13.270 You think just because you walked on water out there 00:03:13.270 --> 00:03:15.878 you're going to be greater? 00:03:15.878 --> 00:03:17.590 See, we wouldn't think of that 00:03:17.590 --> 00:03:20.968 because why? Because of pride. 00:03:20.968 --> 00:03:22.536 That would be too embarrassing. 00:03:22.536 --> 00:03:24.234 You see, that's almost like little children. 00:03:24.234 --> 00:03:25.786 Little children can fight over the toy: 00:03:25.786 --> 00:03:27.107 Give it to me! Give it to me! 00:03:27.107 --> 00:03:30.326 You know, I saw some of that happen over here. 00:03:30.326 --> 00:03:33.195 And with children, they can do that shamelessly. 00:03:33.195 --> 00:03:34.755 But two adults, can you imagine 00:03:34.755 --> 00:03:36.484 if two of the mothers were like: 00:03:36.484 --> 00:03:37.513 Give that to me! 00:03:37.513 --> 00:03:39.556 And it's like no, they wouldn't do that 00:03:39.556 --> 00:03:44.506 because pride itself would indicate that they not. 00:03:44.506 --> 00:03:46.371 Because they don't want to be shamed. 00:03:46.371 --> 00:03:50.105 Little children don't have that sense of shame. 00:03:50.105 --> 00:03:52.006 But these guys were bold and brash. 00:03:52.006 --> 00:03:53.385 No, we might not do that, 00:03:53.385 --> 00:03:56.286 but you're thinking, in your heart, 00:03:56.286 --> 00:03:57.487 you desire that. 00:03:57.487 --> 00:03:59.162 You actually desire to be the greatest. 00:03:59.162 --> 00:04:00.552 You don't desire to be the least. 00:04:00.552 --> 00:04:01.926 You desire to be recognized. 00:04:01.926 --> 00:04:03.453 You desire to be applauded. 00:04:03.453 --> 00:04:05.636 (incomplete thought) 00:04:05.636 --> 00:04:09.246 You desire the glory of man.