by Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples. v2″The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees are the authorized interpreters of Moses’ Law. v3So you must obey and follow everything they tell you to do; do not, however, imitate their actions, because they don’t practice what they preach.
v11The greatest one among you must be your servant. v12Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great. (Read: Matthew 23:1-12)
These verses introduce the 23rd chapter of the gospel of Matthew filled with warnings to the scribes and Pharisees. It also serves as a judgement against the Pharisees and leaders of Israel in Jesus’ time and similar to the warnings and judgement of the ancient prophets brought against the priests and Levites. Israel’s priests were responsible for instructing the people of Israel and leading them in God’s ways, but they were not faithful to these duties. Yahweh, therefore, pronounced a curse on them because they endangered the covenant itself (Micah 3:5-12). In both cases, the religious leaders were called to account because their actions did not match the words they preached. Jesus’ followers are told to listen to and obey what the Pharisees and scribes teach from the Torah, since they are the authority (“sit on Moses’ seat”). Yet Jesus will immediately qualify the authority of the Pharisees: they themselves do not practice what they preach.
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Just as Jesus has called his disciples to a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, he calls his disciples into faithful obedience in contrast to these leaders. Jesus’ interpretation of the law brings life and rest. These reminders must be contextualized in our preaching and in doing our Lord’s commands. Faithful obedience–loyalty to God and God’s word–is to be central to Christian living. In a cultural context that worships freedom from tradition and constraints–in which religious regulations or laws are often viewed, de facto, as heavy and burdensome–Jesus calls his followers to faithfulness and obedience with the assurance that his teachings are easy loads to bear. Matt 23:1-4 also reminds Christian leaders to reflect upon their own teaching: Are we placing heavy burdens upon those entrusted to us without lifting a finger in aid? Or do we share the teachings of Jesus that bring promised rest?
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In the just concluded Barangay and Samahang Kabataan election early this week, the whole archipelago has chosen their local leaders. It is now the time for the elected officials to prove their worth by fulfilling whatever they promised during the campaigns. Foremost of keeping elected officials or any leader for that matter, of being effective is hypocrisy. Jesus reminds the Pharisees and Scribes, leaders of the people that they must practice what they preach. It is not enough to know all the laws. It is not enough to have the right doctrine. It is not enough to teach people the rules. Leaders must live by the advice they give. If you tell people to construct on a solid foundation but then use cheap materials to save money on the side, then you are a hypocrite. General Eisenhower used to demonstrate the art of leadership with a piece of string. He’d put it on a table and say: “Pull it and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it and it will go nowhere at all. It’s just that way when it comes to leading people. They need to follow a person who is leading by example.
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Our gospel lesson is about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of Israel. Their dress, their deportment, their teaching, their demand for salutations that curry honor from the people, and even their very presence is a magnificent pretense, offensive to God and painfully imprisoning for those who follow them. Jesus uses this otherwise tawdry scene to exalt the virtue of humility. The Christian virtue of humility is a virtue most to be desired because it is the opposite of pride. It is one of the sacred gates into the City of Eternal Life. We are called to exalt humility. Humility is exalted in a life of service for others. This teaching is established through the negative demonstration of humility in the scribes and Pharisees. The obvious self-inflating acts of the religious leaders is at odds with the commands of God against haughtiness. “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Proverbs 16:18 ). “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12 NASB ). The opposite of bringing burden upon the backs of others through false piety is to bring blessing and freedom through authenticity and transparency. We must realize that we do not reach others in our pride, but in our lowliness. Authentic presentation of self is a beautiful and most accessible bridge over which scarred seekers of truth may walk towards healing in Christ.
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This gospel is a challenge to all Christians about the quality of their worship and the witness of their faith if we are to live up to what we profess as followers of Christ we must mean what we say and do what we mean. All of us are in constant danger of not living up to our ideals. Those of us who are in the public eye are being asked if perform good works for the glory of God or to seek our own advancement. We have lost our way when the search for human approval becomes uppermost in our lives. As parents, any correction of children falls on deaf ears when our own behavior is irresponsible and our language foul. As actions speak louder than words we must match our external behavior with an inner genuineness. In all circumstances of life we lead by example and that is what will bring others to Christ.
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Humility is exalted in personal sacrifice for all. Be careful to recognize that leadership is established in relationship not tyrannical authoritarianism. The Lord, then, says to us about this matter of master or leadership:
“’But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.’”
Jesus is speaking of true leadership. True leadership, Christ-like leadership is always, first and foremost, servanthood. “Who is first? Who is last?” The answer is in the exaltation of humility. This is precisely what Jesus is teaching in these “seven woes against the Scribes and Pharisees.” True leadership is servanthood. How is your leadership with your family? With your work? With your community? With God? Do you lead so that you can be called leader? Or lead so that others may find life? Is your life a sacrifice for the sake of love? Only personal sacrifice leads to life for others and yourself.
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We must not exalt self-exaltation. We must exalt humility. How? Through servanthood, loving relationships, and personal sacrifice. The Lord Jesus Christ is the living legacy of humility. Our blessed Savior is humility exemplified and humility exalted. Yet, for us, He must be humility received. For we read in St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians those unforgettable words,
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV ).
And we cannot have Him unless we receive Him as He comes to us. He comes on a cross, in servanthood, in a filial affectionate relationship, and in the supreme act of personal sacrifice. He is the Sacrifice for mankind who would have him. Only by faith shall you taste and see the humility of our God. Only by the indwelling faith of the humble Jesus shall you know such humility.
Let us pray.
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect Proper 26 BCP)**
