Matthew 23:1-22
Dear RTB’ers,
Two simple sentences, both fundamentals of Jesus’ teachings: But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (vv. 1-2) Humble leadership. We don’t see that much. Our political leaders tend in the opposite direction! Strength! Visibility! Money! Not humble leadership. And our religious leaders… I won’t go there, but we have seen way too many sad stories of religious leaders’ failings. Frankly, I see humble leadership being played out best in the elementary school classroom. These teachers are putting themselves our there for the children, earning all too little monetary reward and all too little recognition for what they do. But they are the best example that I can think of for humble leadership.
Seven woes. Or eight? Both my ESV and NASB translations point to an eighth woe “included” as verse 14: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation. Although verse 14 is probably absent in all your Bibles (or bracketed/set off with a sidebar explanation), to me that verse 14 “woe” speaks the harshest woe of the three others that we read today. Jesus seemed to have a special place in His heart for widows and orphans, and for Jewish leaders to be taking advantage of these fragile widows, He justifiably points to greater condemnation.
So, what sticks out for me today? Personally, Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. (v. 10) I need to be careful not to think too highly of myself, not to take myself or my position too seriously. It’s the Holy Spirit who guides me; I need to be thankful and grateful for that.
And for the rest of you? Any woes or hypocrisies you’d like to divulge? Lent is a good time to get that burden off your heart!!
Blessings.
See also: