Traits of a Spiritual Leader | Matthew 23: 1-12 | October 05, 2025

In Jesus’ final sermon before His arrest, He warns the crowds and His disciples about the Pharisees, who “sit in Moses’ seat” but do not live out what they teach. They burden others with rules, crave honor and recognition, and practice religion for show instead of from a transformed heart. This passage challenges us both to examine who we allow to speak into our lives and to become the kind of spiritual leaders Jesus calls for—marked not by titles, platforms, or appearances but by four key traits: spiritual authority grounded in God’s Word, integrity that practices what it preaches, compassion that lifts burdens instead of adding to them, and humility that serves rather than seeks status. Jesus’ words call us to reject “high talk, low walk” religion and instead build lives of authentic faith, fruitfulness, and freedom in Him.