Matthew 23:1–12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father - the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Commentary
Jesus talks to two groups of people in today’s Gospel reading: the Pharisees on the one hand, and the people and his disciples on the other. This point is very important for us to understand Jesus’ teaching because we can be both the Pharisees and Jesus’ disciples and the common people at the same time.
Many of us are people of authority, be it parents, professionals or in our service to the church. Like the Pharisees, the danger of people of authority is the temptation of adopting false values. It is easy for us to be self-righteousness on the one hand, and play down the evil of what we do, on the other. Meanwhile, we are also the disciples and the common people, who are oppressed by others and even by the system that we live in. Being in such circumstance for a long period of time, we simply forget about our freedom and dignity. And Jesus reminds us that he comes and restores our freedom and dignity.
Whether we are Pharisees or the disciples or the common people, today’s reading brings us to focus on Jesus and to look at him to be our example and model. Jesus is fearless in confronting people of authority and authoritative institutions. On the other hand, he respects the common people.
In today’s teaching, Jesus first speaks to the common people in verses 1 to 3: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” He assures them that they don’t have to be awed by those in authority who do not practice what they preach. It is not difficult to such persons in our society nowadays. But the real question is am I one of them? Another question we beg is who can liberate us from such persons? Is he not Jesus?
Immediately after addressing to the common people and his disciples, Jesus turns to the Pharisees, or people of authority in verses 4 to 7: “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.” Apart from pointing out their tendency to pay lip service, Jesus also draws their attention to their strong desire for external signs of honour. Have we not also desired for other’s approval and praises like the Pharisees? We should give thanks to Jesus because he brings us to this consciousness.
Jesus not only brings us to this consciousness, he also reminds us of the right to be guided by conscience in verses 8 to 10: “But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father - the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.”
Following his reminder, Jesus gives a commandment in verse 11: “The greatest among you will be your servant.” We should note how different that Jesus gives this commandment to us than those preaching given by the Pharisees. While the Pharisees pay only lip service to what they preach, Jesus not only gives this commandment but also practices it as a servant to us all.
Jesus concludes his teaching in verse 12: “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” Here, he urges us to be patient in our frustrations in being humble because humility is the only path to exaltation. May we all be humble in our life and in serving our God. Amen.