Bishop J.C. Ryle gives us some sound advice from our passage in Matthew 23:1-12 this morning, “we are not forbidden to esteem ministers very highly in love for their work’s sake (1 Thessalonians 5:13). Even Paul one of the humblest saints called Titus “his own son in the faith”, and says to the Corinthians, “I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15). But still we must be very careful that we do not insensibly give to ministers a place and an honor which do not belong to them. We must never allow them to come between ourselves and Christ. The very best are not infallible. They are not priests who can atone for us. They are not mediators who can undertake to manage our soul’s affairs with God. They are men of like passions with ourselves, needing the same cleansing blood, and the same renewing Spirit, set apart to a high and holy, but still after all only men. Let us never forget these things. Such cautions are always useful. Human nature would always rather lean on a visible minister, than an invisible Christ.” “Well did Richard Baxter say, ‘church greatness consists in being greatly serviceable.’” (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Volume 1 p.300)
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