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

 

 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 

 

On Saturday we read that the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked Him, saying:  "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.  Now there were with us seven brothers.  The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.  Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.  Last of all the woman died also.  Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be?  For they all had her."  Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.  But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?  God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."  And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.  But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.  Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "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."

 

Today the lectionary takes us to chapter 23 of St. Matthew's Gospel, which gives us Jesus' final public sermon.  This is a grand critique of the ways of the scribes and Pharisees.  My study Bible names several themes in the entirely of the chapter.  These include, first:  The Jewish leaders have God-given authority and they teach God's Law, but personally they are ungodly and cold-hearted.  In these first verses, Jesus teaches says that their teaching is to be honored, but they are not to be imitated.  In the themes that follow, Jesus established as well that God is our true Father and Teacher.  My study Bible explains that a true teacher or father on earth is therefore one who leads people to God.  But the scribes and the Pharisees do the opposite.  They place themselves in God's position.  The rest of the chapter includes an eightfold indictment of the scribes and Pharisees.  He charges them with inverting the values of God by being mean-spirited, judgmental, greedy, ambitious, absorbed in externals, and blindly self-righteous.  My study Bible adds that, while these charges were directed against the Jewish leaders of the day, every word applies equally to those in the Church who behave this way.  

 

 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."   My study Bible notes that to sit in Moses' seat means to hold the succession of office down from Moses himself.  In the synagogue, it says, the teacher spoke while seated as a sign of this authority.  St. John Chrysostom, according to my study Bible, comments that the scribes were depraved in thought and in heart, but Jesus still upholds the dignity of their office.  This is because the words they speak are not their own words, but God's.  So likewise in the Church, the clergy are to be shown respect because they hold the apostolic office, even though they also are sinners.  Moreover, the sins of the clergy do not relieve the people from their responsibilities before God.  

 

"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."  My study Bible explains that phylacteries are small leather pouches which contain passages of Scripture.  They are worn on the arm or forehead.  This concept was to keep God's Law always in mind (see Exodus 13:9).  But the Pharisees had used them as a show of false piety, making the increasingly larger and more noticeable.  

 

"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."  My study Bible comments that Christ's warning against calling hypocrites father and teacher is not an absolute prohibition against using these terms, as some teach.  These terms are in fact applied to men many times in the New Testament, all of which usages are inspired by God.  "Teacher" is used in John 3:10; Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11; and 2 Timothy 1:11.  "Father" is used in Luke 16:24; 1 Corinthians 4:15; and Colossians 3:21.  My study Bible adds that, since the very early days of the Church, bishops and presbyters have been called "father" not because they take God's place, but because in their fatherly care for their flocks, they lead people to God, and they exercise fatherly authority within the community. 

 

Today's reading and the commentary from my study Bible call us to think about what it is that makes a true father or a true teacher.  Is it someone who leads us astray out of use of his (or her, in the case of a female teacher or parent) authority?   Once again, we're called to consider what true authority means, and particularly in the context of the Church, and in serving God.  When we consider what it means to lead people to God, as my study Bible defines a correct father or teacher, we can understand that all authority, if it is to be proper, must point toward that which is good, true, and beautiful.  The ultimate Source of all of these is God, and the spiritual reality of the Kingdom is that reality in which these things originate.  We also know that God's nature is love.  In perfect harmony with Jesus' teaching about the greatest commandments in yesterday's reading (see above), St. John writes, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8).  So, if God is love, if Christ Incarnate is the embodiment of God the Father for us (John 14:9), then a true "father" or "teacher" must also convey love as part of leading us to God.  When the disciples began to dispute regarding who would be greatest in Christ's Kingdom, He began to teach them about the proper use of authority in His Church.  As if to emphasize this very point about being proper teachers and fathers in His Church, His very first act, in teaching on this subject of greatness or authority, was to bring a little child in front of the disciples.  He told them, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me"  (Matthew 18:3-5).  His next teaching was a dire warning against abuses in such positions:  "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" (Matthew 18:6-7).  What followed these words was a dramatic warning about cutting off impulses that lead to harm or abuse, with the threat of hell fire as consequence of failure to do so, comparing this need to the amputation of a diseased foot, hand, or eye in order to save the whole body (see Matthew 18:8-9).  So, in training these men to be proper "fathers" and "teachers" in His Church, Christ has set down for us what it means to carry such authority and act this part.  He has also defined the most extreme circumstances should one not only fail to do this job, but to do so with abuse of authority in such a position.  So, therefore, in reading Christ's words in today's reading regarding the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the scribes, we are to understand the true power of authority.  In our Church, for example, as my study Bible notes, we are read the Gospel, the words of Christ, the inspired Scripture of the Evangelists.  These words come from God and they are authoritative and true.  So, regardless of the personal failings on the part of the priest or presbyter or any authority in the Church, nonetheless the office holds true in this teaching.  But to fail to uphold this ultimate office of leading people to God in some other way -- say by causing abuse, harm, or offense to those in their charge -- is to become like the greedy Pharisees and scribes, exploiting their positions for personal gain, and harming the flock whom they are to care for and steward to God.  One may daresay that the same applies to parents or other authority figures who do the same, who teach evil of any kind, leading to harm and exploitation, and real damage to the "little ones" in their care and under their stewardship.  So we are all invited to consider the roles we play in the lives of our families or all those with whom we share relationship in community of all kinds, but particularly, of course, in the context of our faith.  Do we seek to teach by living lives seeking God's way as a model for others who learn from us?  Do we seek to know God's love, and live it in communion with others?  How do we find proper authority?  Moreover, how do we discern what is improper, exploitative, and harmful?  Or even greater importance, are there ways in which our own behaviors or even teachings effectively draw people away from God, or separate the impressionable and vulnerable from the path to God and leading them astray to be lost?  So when we consider Christ's criticisms of these religious leaders (especially regarding their hypocrisy) let us take seriously our own roles in the salvation plan of Christ.  In other words, no matter who we are, as Christ's followers, we have our own role to play in being mentors, parents, elders, teachers, and it does truly depend upon taking His words to heart.  Let us remember that He has said repeatedly that He came to save the lost, and He wants to lose none of those who are given to Him (see, for example, John 6:39, "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day").  Let us play our part in the light of what we understand proper authority to be, according to His teachings, and share with Him the goal of saving that which is lost, and losing none.  All of it calls for the humility to serve God in any role we play, and to help to lead others there.  For we all have our own part to play, to help to lead in one direction or another.

 

 

 

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

 

 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 of 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 teacher; 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 

 

Yesterday we read that when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.  Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "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."  While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, "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 any more.  

 

 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying . . .  Here begins Jesus' final public sermon (which makes up nearly the whole of chapter 23).  It is a grand critique of the ways of the scribes and Pharisees.  There are several themes He involves.  My study Bible sums them up as follows:  First, the Jewish leaders have God-given authority and teach God's Law, but they are personally ungodly and cold-hearted.  So their teaching is to be honored, but they are not to be imitated.  Second, God is our true Father and Teacher.  A teacher or father on earth is one who leads people to God.  The scribes and Pharisees do the opposite, placing themselves in God's position.  These themes are covered in today's reading.  The rest of the chapter will cover an eightfold indictment of the scribes and Pharisees, in which Jesus charges that they invert God's values, they are mean-spirited, judgmental, greedy, ambitious, absorbed in externals, and they are blindly self-righteous.  My study Bible adds that while these charges were directed against the Jewish leaders of Christ's day, every word applies to those in the Church who behave in the same ways.

 

 "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."  To sit in Moses' seat, my study Bible explains, means to hold the succession of office down from Moses himself.  In the synagogue, the teacher spoke while seated as a sign of this authority . My study Bible cites St. John Chrysostom's commentary, in which he said that the scribes were depraved in thought and in heart, yet Jesus still upholds the dignity of their office, as they don't speak their own words, but God's.  So also within the Church, clergy are to be shown respect for they hold the apostolic office, although they are also sinners.  Moreover, the sins of the clergy do not relieve the people from their resonsibilities before God.  Let us note here the cold-heartedness Jesus describes of those who bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders -- and yet will do nothing to help in the slightest.   This is in distinct contradiction to Christ's teaching in yesterday's reading (above), in which He cited the second greatest commandment as that in which we're told to "love your neighbor as yourself."

 

"But all of 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.'"  Phylacteries are small leather pouches which contain passages of Scripture and are worn on the arm or forehead.  The concept is to keep God's Law always in mind (see Exodus 13:9).  But instead the Pharisees used them for a false show of piety, making them increasingly larger and more noticeable.  

 

 "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 teacher; 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." My study Bible says that Christ's warning against calling hypocrites father and teacher is not meant as an absolute prohibition against using these terms (as some teach).  These terms are applied to people many times in the New Testament, and all of these usages are inspired by God.  "Teacher" is used in John 3:10; Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11; and 2 Timothy 1:11.  "Father" is used in Luke 16:24; 1 Corinthians 4:15; and Colossians 3:21.  From the earliest days of the Church, bishops and presbyters have been called "father" not in order to take the place of God, but rather for their fatherly care of their flocks:  they lead people to God, and exercise fatherly authority within the community. 

 

Jesus teaches in today's reading, "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."  This is one of several occasions in which we read similar statements or teachings in the Bible.  See also, for example, Luke 14:11, 18:14; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 18:4, 23:11. There are many other occasions of such sentiment found in the Bible but using different language.  But in this context, this statement is given regarding use of the terms "father" and "teacher."  Jesus' statement is telling the disciples (and their spiritual descendants), who would come to be both "teachers" and "fathers" in the Church that they are not to be like the hypocrites.  This statement by Jesus suggests to us that if any of us, or if anyone in the Church, wishes to be thought of as teacher or father (or perhaps mother as well), then the only way to do this is to be a servant to others and to humble oneself.  It is in this way that teachers and fathers come to be exalted in the Church.  Oftentimes, we call such people saints, both literally and figuratively.  To be both humble and to serve is a way to curb the tendency to hypocrisy, as such discipline is counter to the goal of doing good works for the express purpose of simply being seen by others.  Human nature such as it is makes it difficult to both be concerned with serving others and also to tamper our desire to be seen as doing good.  The real emphasis here is on one's chosen aim or profession.  Do we really desire to teach?  Do we truly deeply desire to care for others with a "fatherly" (or motherly) care?  Or is our highest priority to be praised by others and to judge ourselves only through their eyes, rather than the eyes of God?  Every parent likely knows the dilemma of being a good parent -- and so sometimes having to say "No," imposing rules, and delineating boundaries, and wanting a child's love without their disappointment or disapproval.  Ultimately -- again, as in the teaching of the two greatest commandments in yesterday's reading (above) -- our highest priority needs to be loving and pleasing God, for in this way we do seek to be true teachers and fathers (and good parents, for that matter).  For this is where we go to be dedicated to truly learning love and goodness, what really serves, and what truly teaches.  There our desire can be met with God's care for our goals, and for the disposition of our souls.  Hypocrisy, living as an actor behind a mask (a literal understanding of the word's Greek roots) prevents us from assuming the humility necessary for sincerity, for the pure heart Jesus desires for us (Matthew 5:8).  A good teacher, just like a good father or mother, has for their primary concern the welfare of those under their care, and their first priority is not their own gain, well-being, or capacity to impress and lord it over others.  We are blessed in the Church to have a long history of many teachers, and many fathers, notably among those whom we call saints, but a myriad more whom we don't know.  Ultimately, as Jesus indicates, we have one true Teacher (the Christ) and one true Father (He who is in heaven).  We might call Christ the Teacher of all teachers, and God the  Father is the Father of all fathers.  But through humility and love we can learn to grow in likeness to them.  Let us start with Christ's first and greatest commandment, the love of God, and how love of neighbor (the second great commandment) can be expressed through all the teachers, fathers, and mothers of the Church.  Let us strive to become like them. 

 

 

But all their works they do to be seen by men

 

 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 our present readings, the events take place during the final week of Jesus' earthly life, which we commemorate as Holy Week.  On Saturday we read that, as Jesus was being questioned in the temple in Jerusalem, the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying:  "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.  Now there were with us seven brothers.  The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.  Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.  Last of all the woman died also.  Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be?  For they all had her."  Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.  But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?  God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."   And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.  Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "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 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."  This chapter consists of Jesus' final public sermon.  It is a grand critique of the ways of the scribes and Pharisees, and today we're given its beginning.  My study Bible notes several themes to the chapter and the entire sermon.  First, as He begins to teach here, the Jewish leaders have God-given authority and teach God's Law, but they are personally cold-hearted.  Their teaching is to be honored but they are not to be imitated.  To sit in Moses' seat means to hold the succession of office down from Moses himself.  In the synagogue, my study Bible explains, the teacher spoke while seated as a sign of this authority.  St. John Chrysostom notes that the scribes were depraved in thought and in heart, but Jesus still upholds the dignity of their office nonetheless, for they speak not their own words but those of God.  Likewise within the Church, my study Bible says, the clergy are to be shown respect because they hold the apostolic office, although they also are sinners.  Moreover, the sins of the clergy do not relieve the people from their responsibilities before God.  

"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.' "  Phylacteries, my study Bible explains, are small leather pouches containing passages of Scripture which are worn on the arm or forehead.  The idea was to keep God's Law always in mind (see Exodus 13:9).  But the Pharisees used them as a show of false piety, making them increasingly larger and more noticeable; hence Christ's words of criticism referring to their hypocrisy and the show of image that goes with it "to be seen by men."

"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."  My study Bible notes that Christ's warning against calling hypocrites father and teacher is not an absolute prohibition against using these terms, as some teach.  These terms are applied to figures in the Church many times in New Testament, all of which usages are inspired by God.  "Teacher" is used in John 3:10; Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11; and 2 Timothy 1:11.  "Father" is used in Luke 16:24; 1 Corinthians 4:15; and Colossians 3:21.   Since the very early days of the Church, my study Bible explains, bishops and presbyters have been called "father" not because they take the place of God, but because in their parental care for their flocks, they lead people to God, and they exercise such authority within the community.  

We should note that between Saturday's reading (see above) and today's there is a passage that was given by the lectionary in May (see this reading).  In that passage, significantly, Jesus poses a question to the Pharisees regarding Psalm 110, and its words attributed to King David, "The LORD said to my Lord . . ."  Who would David, a king, call "my Lord," when he has already referred to the LORD?  The conclusion is that this Lord is the Son of God, and not the Son of David who would not refer to his own son as "my Lord."  It is an important passage for us to note here, as it established through His own words the source of Jesus' authority, precisely the question being debated in the temple, and the reason why the religious leaders quiz Him.  By what authority is He teaching and did He cleanse the temple?  Here in today's reading, Jesus takes this a step further with this beginning of this grand critique of the religious leadership, its corruption, and its hypocrisy.  We should understand, then, with what sort of authority He speaks.  Of course we should hasten to add that all the criticism Jesus levels at the religious leadership of His time and in the temple is also a warning to His Church, and for all time.  Take note, therefore, that the same problems that He attacks here in His criticism can also happen in the Church:  corruption and hypocrisy of many kinds.  Of primary importance is that Jesus places a great deal of emphasis on their lack of compassion for their flock.  His very first criticism is this:  "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."    Jesus speaks of their inhabiting of "Moses' seat" just as in the Church we have those who fill the role of the leaders of the early Church, those who were the direct disciples of Christ.  Compassion, we should be reminded, becomes the standard Jesus sets out in Judgment, as when He will give the great teaching on His Judgment, using sheep and goats as images (Matthew 25:31-46).  His "new commandment" that He will add to the rest and give to His disciples for our Church is that we "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34).  We should note that in the ways that Christ phrases His criticisms, this lack of compassion somehow goes hand in hand with hypocrisy -- and specifically a focus on the external image we project to others.  These are coupled with one another.  Therefore the historical Christian perspective has been a focus at once on humility and also on the internal state of the soul, who we are when we stand before God and everything else is stripped away.   

 

 

 

 

 

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

Yesterday we read that on the same day Jesus was quizzed by the Pharisees and Herodians about paying taxes to Caesar, the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying:  "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.  Now there were with us seven brothers.  The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.  Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.  Last of all the woman died also.  Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be?  For they all had her."  Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.  But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?  God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."  And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.  But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.  Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "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."   Our readings skip over Matthew 22:41-46, as these verses were included in the reading for the eve of Ascension Day, on May 20th (see that reading here).

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples . . ..  Today's reading is the beginning of what would be Jesus' final public sermon.  It is a grand critique of the ways of the scribes and the Pharisees.  There are several themes which Jesus will include.  First, while the Jewish leaders have God-given authority and teach God's Law, they are personally ungodly and cold-hearted.  This is an important distinction, and will shape the future of Christianity and Jesus' teachings to us.  As those with authority, the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees is to be honored, but they should not be imitated (verses 2-7, which are included in today's reading).  A second theme in this sermon is that God is our true Father and Teacher.  Just has Jesus has spoken of Himself as the One who leads people to the Father, so any teacher or father on earth is one who leads people to God.  But the scribes and Pharisees do the opposite; they place themselves in God's position, my study bible says (verses 8-12, also included in today's reading).  Christ then will proceed with an eightfold indictment of the scribes and Pharisees (verses 13-36).  He will charge them with inverting God's values, and as the commentary in my study bible phrases it, with being mean-spirited, judgmental, greedy, ambitious, absorbed in externals, and blindly self-righteous.  These charges are directed against the Jewish leaders of the day, but my study bible affirms that every single word applies equally to Christian religious leaders today who behave in the same way.

. . . 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."   My study bible explains that to sit in Moses' seat means to hold the succession of office down from Moses himself.  In the synagogue, the teacher would speak while seated as a sign of authority.  My study bible cites St. John Chrysostom as commenting that the scribes were depraved in thought and heart, but Jesus still upholds the dignity of their office, as they speak not their own words but God's.  So it is likewise in the Church.  The clergy are shown respect as they hold the apostolic office, although they are also sinners.  Moreover, the sins of the clergy do not remove from the people their own responsibility before God.

"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.' "  Phylacteries are small leather pouches which contain passages of Scripture and are worn on the arm or forehead.  The concept is to keep God's Law always in mind (Exodus 13:9), but the Pharisees use them as a show of false piety, making them more and more large and noticeable.   The other highly conspicuous signs of elevated position and religious authority Jesus names we can easily recognize for ourselves.

"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."  Jesus' warning against calling hypocrites father and teacher, my study bible explains, is not an absolute prohibition against using these terms (as some falsely teach).  They are terms used, in fact, many times in the New Testament, each usage inspired by God.  Teacher is used in John 3:10, Acts 13:1, 1 Corinthians 12:28, and 2 Timothy 1:11.  Father is used in Luke 16:24, 1 Corinthians 4:15, and Colossians 3:21.    Since the earliest days of the Church, bishops and presbyters were called "father."  This is not because they take the place of God, my study bible explains, but rather because in their fatherly care for their flocks, they lead people to God, and they also exercise fatherly authority within the community.  In many cases, they have also died for their communities during times of persecution and hostility.

What does it mean to call someone a father?  Or to call someone a teacher?  These words, of course, are masculine words, and so are oriented toward men, but of course teachers come in all genders, and we also have many mothers who may have spiritual children.  So when we think of these words, what do we think of?  In all of Jesus' teaching, He holds firm to the concept that all things must serve God first.  When He's asked the greatest commandment in the Law (in Saturday's reading, above), He lists the first greatest commandment as "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."  This takes priority over all things.  But then He lists the second, allied to it, as follows:  "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  Throughout Jesus' ministry, there has been one theme:  that when one sees Christ, one sees the Father.  He is here to lead all to the Father.  Moreover, He allies a new commandment to His followers to that teaching:  "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34-35).  In this unity of love, we find one insurmountable theme, and that is the theme of truth.  The reality of the God revealed by Christ is the truth, as He Himself is the truth, as expressed in "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  The ultimate truth is the reality of God the Father, reflected clearly in Christ, who is also our Teacher.  And whoever would call themselves father (or mother) or teacher must also lead to and live this truth in order to be qualified to carry such a name.  Otherwise they are false shepherds who mislead, false prophets who are wolves in sheep's clothing (7:15).  And there is really nothing in between.  We are either serving one thing or the other.  People may be confused and well-intentioned, or they may be deliberately misleading.  But either way, the choice is really between these two things:  we are either going (or being led) toward God, the ultimate truth -- or we are being led the other way, possibly by those merely in it for themselves, or misguided themselves.  Either way, it matters little, for ultimately there is repentance and hence correction available to all; a deep lack of repentance is already a sign of a problem.  And here we come to the heart of Christ's teachings in today's reading:  that it is hypocrisy that is the greatest sign of false teachers.  If Jesus is the Person who is truth (again, as in "I am the way, the truth, and the life"), then those who fail to truly lead us to Christ and the Father fail to be true teachers; they fail in caring for the spiritual health and well-being of their flocks.  Neither do they qualify as true spiritual fathers or mothers, for the kind of love that includes freedom in Christ's truth is missing.  Without a heart that is truly humble before and dedicated to God, we can't manage to find our own flaws and hence repentance.  To come to today's reflection of this teaching, we have but to look around us in social media, and how easily we find it is to do what is called "virtue-signalling."  Are we good or God-like because we put up a slogan on Twitter or Facebook?  It really doesn't matter what "side" one is on in terms of expressing some sort of God-like virtue of loving truth or even practicing love for neighbor and reflecting God's love in our own conduct.  It is all too easy to make a statement or slogan, to express oneself to be on the "right side" (whichever that might be), rather than to do the work Christ commands us to do.  Some people might be so busy with activity and sloganeering they forget to take the time to pray and come to terms with what God's calling them to.  We need to take time out for God, and to remember that to love God is done with all one's heart and soul and mind.  This is not achieved through joining up on the bandwagon with the latest slogan or following the group call to somehow "join up" or join in whatever activity is proffered today.  To root ourselves in the places that Christ asks us to be, to be certain that we are acting to avoid hypocrisy, we need a kind of regular withdrawal for prayer, just as Christ does Himself throughout the Gospels.  We need to "check in" with our real Father, and make certain we're on the path He offers; we need to pray with our true Teacher and dedicate ourselves to His teachings, asking for correction where it is needed, and making certain that repentance is for us always possible by remembering the essential need we have for humility, and staying away at times from the public's great cry of today.  We don't want to be like the crowds in the temple, who at one day welcome Christ, and the next are stirred to condemn Him to death on the Cross.  Our true teachers, and real fathers and mothers worthy of the name, will encourage each one of us to do the same, to find ourselves in prayer to Our Father, to come to ourselves (as did the Prodigal) in our true home which is in Christ and in the heart (John 14:23-24).  Especially in a time of public unrest such as we might see today, it is a good time to withdraw for prayer, and to center ourselves in that place where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make their dwelling within us.  We have to remember Christ's words and teachings, and seek first Our Father, so that we know and recognize who are true fathers or mothers and true teachers.  In the Church we are left with many tools for doing this, from worship to the tools of prayer -- especially the Psalms, the Lord's Prayer (or "Our Father"), and the prayers of the Church.  Let us remember that the greatest among us -- those who would be teachers and fathers or mothers -- are those who are true servants, and that "whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."