Scripture: Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:1-12 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Jesus, turning the tide on the Pharisees, goes on the offensive and asks questions about the identity of “the Christ” (the paramount issue the religious leaders should have pursued with him earlier but for fear of the crowds). Unsurprisingly, these highly-educated ruling elders immediately reply that “the Christ” is the Son of David. So Jesus gets to the point with a follow-up question regarding what David meant when he declared: “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool” (Psalm 110:1 ESV). Not waiting for an answer, Jesus asks a third and final question that silences the Pharisees: “If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” (verse 45 above). Here, Jesus suggests that David refers not to Solomon as some held but to the Messiah.
For today’s reading, Jesus turns toward the crowd to warn them about their religious leaders. He challenges them to listen to and obey what the scribes and Pharisees preach and teach but not follow their example (i.e., how they adhere to the law). He contends that they are quick to expound on the application in a burdensome manner, yet they are unwilling to come alongside others and lighten their load. Moreover, their praxis of the law is pretentious and self-aggrandizing. And they are all about titles. So Jesus tells his listening audience not to show deference and feed the monster by addressing the religious leaders as rabbis (Hebrew for “teacher”) because only God is their teacher, and they must not revere any individual as their father, for they have only one Father in heaven. Furthermore, ditch the “instructor” title because they have only one instructor, “the Christ.”
So having addressed the formalities of unctuous salutations, Jesus concludes with a familiar saying that aligns with his earlier teachings to his disciples regarding his upside-down kingdom: The greatest in his kingdom are servants, and those who exhibit genuine humility will be exalted. But those who self-promote will be humbled. (Of note, the above introduction paragraph to chapter 23 flows into Jesus’ seven woes addressed to the scribes and Pharisees, which we will cover in subsequent devotions.)
Takeaway: This is not the first time Jesus spoke forthrightly to (or about) Israel’s hypocritical religious leaders (see 15:7-9). And he earlier warned his disciples about the Pharisees’ corrupted teachings (see 16:5-12). Still, while Jesus speaks harshly about their outward behavior, he acknowledges their official capacity to preach and teach the law as those who “sit on Moses’ seat” (v.2 above), appealing to the succession of authority. Thus, we must not hastily apply passages like this to support an anarchist agenda. Jesus submitted not only to the law of Moses but to the authorities—even when they sought ill intent for him (e.g., he did not resist the temple guards the night they arrested him). But he refused to oblige the religious leaders’ self-serving misinterpretations of the levitical law—nor remain silent (as we will read in the coming days).
Regarding the issue of titles, Jesus does not address the use of titles bestowed on civil leaders or in the job place that otherwise would be deemed disrespectful. Indeed, he referred to Rome’s emperor as Caesar (see 22:21). His concern is with titles within the body of Christ that create a sense of hierarchy that sets us above others—which is why he concludes the greatest among you shall be your servant (v.11) and those who exalt themselves will be humbled (v.12).
Our takeaway? Apply the Scriptures to our lives first before instructing others. And do so graciously: first toward self and then naturally outflowing toward others. In contrast, the scribes and Pharisees who sought control were legalistic, devoid of grace, and thus weighed down those they should have served to alleviate their burdens. So if the title comes with the church position (i.e., father, pastor, elder), do not flaunt or promote it. And for those who serve under others who possess these titles, do not make an issue of it. Otherwise, we are no better than the legalistic Pharisees. Lastly, stay tuned to the Holy Spirit, who will guide us in all truth and reveal the motives of our hearts, either directly to our minds or through others. And even though we may feel offended or ashamed in those transparent moments when our motives are exposed, if we press on with a teachable spirit, we will find freedom in our paramount instructor, “the Christ.”
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, our paramount instructor, who held nothing back but gave his all in fulfilling the law. We confess, though, that we are prone to interpret Scripture to suit our agendas, and we feel the pull toward wearing titles that distinguish us from others. So would you please help us to clothe ourselves in Christ and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in learning to exercise grace and humility toward ourselves and others by focusing not on self-promotion or advancement but on the welfare of others? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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