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 honor 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'" (Matthew 23:1-12).

Comment:

In this passage from late in the earthly ministry of Jesus, he is repeating an essential teaching that he introduces—also in Matthew—much earlier in his Sermon on the Mount. It is a simple teaching, but revolutionary for the time in which he lived, and, indeed, for us today. 'Moses' seat' represents the totality of the Law—the rules and regulations about living a human life that constitute the essence of religion—then and now. They are important, Jesus is saying here, but they are not the complete picture. We are not to settle for obedience to the Law, nor are we to follow those who act religious for wrong reasons—to impress others, to have status. We are all the Christ, and there is no hierarchy in that Truth. We are all students, learning how to express our true Christ nature in the challenges of the human experience. To 'humble' oneself doesn't mean grovelling, or becoming a doormat for others to walk over. It means we have no need to impress or dominate others; we go quietly through life, enjoying it and empowering it with our innate Christ identity.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed