Matthew 23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds
and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on
Moses' seat; 3
therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as
they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 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. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others;
for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to
have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be
greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are
not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no
one your father on earth, for you have one Father--the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you
to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The
greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and
all who humble themselves will be exalted.
It
is thought that “to get ahead in life” an individual must find ways to be noticed.
Useful avenues include ostentatious gifts to charity, public observance of
religious ritual; and volunteering for an aid organisation. Twitter, facebook and blogs are harnessed in
pursuit of self-promotion, as the individual lets society know what an awesome
person he or she is.
Matthew
tells of Jesus’ criticism of such relentless self-promotion. He is scathing
about the ego-gratifying strategies of the religious leadership of his day: “They
do all their deeds to be seen by others ... phylacteries broad and their
fringes long... the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the
synagogues ... to be
greeted with respect in the marketplaces.” It was all about being seen to be important.
Remember,
says Jesus, “all
who exalt themselves will be humbled.” If we want to get ahead in the estimation of
Jesus, then we are to humble ourselves and become the servants of all.
Ordinary 22 / Pentecost +15
44 True Greatness
The Scripture passage
for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other
Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 271.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.
In Mt. 23 Jesus uses the word hypocrites a lot. The Greek word for hypocrites was used especially for "actors," like those in the theater, putting on a show to impress others. In Mt. 23 Jesus portrays scribes and Pharisees who "sit on Moses" seat" (at the front) and love to be called rabbis, the experts in the law of Moses. This setting and show are similar to that of many churches and their elevated platforms, pulpits, and preachers.
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