Matthew 23: 1-12
Matthew 22: 34-40
Jesus
spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
What fuels your desire to serve? What motivates you to do
something? Is it the personal recognition? Does it make you feel important when
you are recognized for something you have done? Are you one to hold favors over
the heads of those who you have done them for? Do you keep a ledger of debts
owed to you? If so you will have an earthly reward.
The Pharisees strictly abided by the letter of the Law.
They called for an adherence so strict as to put a heavy, unbearable load on
those who followed that religion. They did in public where all could see and
marvel but seldom practiced in their hearts. They did it solely for power and
recognition.
Jesus took on the unbearable load and bore it for us so
that our burden would be light and our load easy. He showed us by example how
to live. He did not stand on the top of the mountain and yell, “Look at me!” He
did not instruct us to do while he did something else. He lived what he taught
and he never judged anyone who tried and fell short. He did not place himself
better than those who followed him.
We disciples who follow today are called to act like the
master. We are called to serve our brothers without thought to the cost. We are
called to bear the heavy load for someone who cannot bear it themselves.
To be truly humble we are not called to think less of
ourselves. We are called to think of ourselves less.
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