He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

- Matthew 23:1-12

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His dialogues in the temple -- He's been questioned by a group of disciples of the Pharisees and Herodians, and also by a group of Sadducees. Yesterday, we read of His testing by some Pharisees. One of them was a lawyer (an expert in the Law), and he asked, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Then, as He has in the previous confrontations, Jesus went on the offensive. He asked them, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 'The LORD said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool" ' ? If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do." Here, Jesus begins His critique of the Pharisees. Moses' seat was the special chair in the synagogue that was assigned to a town's most famous rabbi. So, He is expressing His respect for this honorable place in terms of what it represents of Jewish spiritual history. However, His criticism is for those who make an outward show of knowledge and faith, but live a personal life that is a betrayal of those values. Matthew's gospel has focused for many chapters on Jesus' concepts of leadership in His Church, and the confrontations in the temple have focused on authority. Jesus now elaborates on these themes. To understand Jesus' critique of the Pharisees, it's important to note, as my study bible puts it, that "the rabbinic teachers assumed an intrinsic value for their own office as the seat of authority."

"For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." Far from having compassion for the people whom they lead, the men Jesus criticizes are those who practice leadership in a way that burdens their followers. They expect others to follow in difficulty, and do nothing to help bring them closer to God.

"But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'" So much of Matthew's gospel has been giving us teachings by Christ on the type of leadership He wants in His Church. Here, His criticism is of the type of leadership He does not want. It goes to the heart of His own example, of the power in Jesus' faith, that His strongest criticism begins with hypocrisy. Those who do things merely to be "seen by men" fall into the trap of vainglory, a key to the downfall of real leadership and true faith. My study bible notes that "phylacteries and borders of their garments refer to articles worn by pious Jews to remind them of God's law." To care more about being "seen by men" rather than the heart of God's love and care for others is the first mark of "lording it over" others. It's not a criticism of what they wear, but of how they use the tools of faith, to what purpose.

"But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ." My study bible points out a number of instances in the New Testament where the terms "father" and "teacher" are both applied to men. Therefore, it says, Jesus' teaching here is about the undeserved use of such terms. In some way, these particular verses reflect and expand the greatest commandments given in yesterday's reading. They are to be His disciples by putting one thing first; this is a Christ-centered reality that in turn teaches disciples true brotherhood, right-relatedness to one another. This teaching is given against the backdrop of the system of the Pharisees, in which students would submit themselves completely to one rabbinical teacher, going on themselves to do the same. My study bible notes, "The call of Jesus to His disciples differed radically from the rabbinic system in that (1) the disciples were not merely servants but beloved friends; (2) their calling did not imply they would themselves become independent masters; (3) the brotherhood of disciples would remain unified and loyal to Jesus."

"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Again, we go back to leadership and authority. It is not the students who serve the teacher, but the other way around. The first sentence here is a re-statement of something Jesus taught His disciples just before He began His journey to Jerusalem. But added to it here is a deeper cautionary note: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." We go to questions of authority and leadership, and we return to the questions asked of Jesus and therefore posed for all: From whence comes authority? Who has authority and why? And it also goes back to the greatest commandments: humility begins before God, and extends in the love of fellow disciple. This is a far cry from the servility to image in the eyes of others that Jesus says is at the heart of what the Pharisees care for -- and we must be able to discern the difference! If there is anything at the root of Jesus' teachings, His actions, His life, it is this.

So, it all goes back to questions of leadership and authority. Matthew's gospel continually focuses on this subject, from the point at which the disciples confess their faith that Jesus is the Christ. What kind of Church does He want? What kind of authority? What kind of leadership? He has taught His disciples what He wants of them, and here in the temple He is pointing out what He does not want. Authority is not in the title nor in the office, but rather all authority comes from God. It doesn't come from within each of us, but from God. The whole of the Law and the Prophets can also be summed up in this way. Humility before God comes first, and from there is extended in right-relatedness to neighbor. A teacher does not place himself in God's stead. My study bible makes a very important statement: "How much worse will it be for Christians who lapse into patterns of religious life similar to the scribes' and Pharisees'!" As always, we apply these teachings to ourselves, that is the main thing. How are we living up to His teachings and His example? Can we think about our own understanding of leadership and authority? How often do we find ourselves focusing on the concern of being seen by others? Let us look toward our own notions of leadership and authority, and remember His words, as if they were said just yesterday, or today.