Matthew 23:1-12
A Warning Against Hypocrisy
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is 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 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
As Jesus explains about the Pharisees and their motives, we get a sense of entitlement...Whenever we feel we deserve an entitlement, or our faith is better or stronger than our neighbors, or we should be treated higher than others let us think of Jesus’ words about the Pharisees...We distance ourselves more from God when we think we deserve more than our neighbor...Success is not made with wide and log tassels and fancy material things...Success is not being famous and being placed in the place of honor or having the most important seat...Success is not about have many people serving you...Let the greatest among us be a good servant to others... For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted...