Seeds for 01/05/2024 - Matthew 23:8-12
Scripture: “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Observation: The Pharisees and teachers of the law Jesus called out were more into outward symbols and public posture than inward character and posture of the heart.
Here, Jesus follows up on His critique that “they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others” (v7). They find an unhealthy satisfaction in these. Jesus emphasizes the point by drawing a contrast between the Pharisees and His own followers (“But you are not to be called…”), and repeating a version of that three times referencing the titles of rabbi/teacher, father, and instructor.
The point seems to be less about the existence of titles and more about overemphasizing them in order to make much of oneself rather than making much of the Lord. John the Baptist modeled the better way beautifully when he said, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).
Greatness among Jesus’ followers is attached to the status of servant rather than the status of honors and titles.
So, instead of puffing oneself up in the eyes of others, Jesus says, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Humility is so bedrock to the character of a Christian disciple that both Peter and James included this teaching of Jesus in their letters as a direct exhortation, connecting it with the promise of Proverbs 3:34, that “[The Lord] mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.”
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:5-6)
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
Servanthood is precisely the path of Jesus, who humbled Himself (crucifixion) and trusted His Father to exalt and lift Him up (resurrection). Jesus calls His followers to nothing more than what He Himself undertakes. This is certainly an act of faith and we have a Savior who has pioneered the way for us.
Application:
Who has modeled Christian humility for you?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, give me such faith as to practice humility and leave the exaltation up to you. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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