Jesus then turns to the crowd and His disciples and tells them that the Pharisees and teachers of the law sit in Moses’ seat, so they have to be careful to do everything they tell them. But do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and place them on other people’s shoulders, but they never lift a finger to move them.
Everything they do is to be seen: their phylaacteries are wide and their tassels are long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect and called Rabbi.
But you are not to be called Rabbi, because you have one teacher. You are not to be called Father, for you have one father and He is in Heaven. You are not 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.
In this passage, Jesus picks up the intensity. He calls out the religious leaders as hypocrites who are not who they say they are. I can’t help but think, as I read through this passage, how similar the church has become. In today’s world we exalt preachers and teachers…Jesus says don’t. We place individuals as “father figures” in the church who we allow to call the shots and make the decisions…Jesus says don’t. We certainly put emphasis on people in charge of things and allow them to be the knowledge instead of God…Jesus says no. Bottom line…we put too much emphasis and praise on people, when it should all be about God. We put too much emphasis and praise on ourselves, when it should all be about God. Don’t fall into the me first, my church first, my preacher first mentality. It’s God first…and then everyone and everything else. Put God in His rightful place in your life today.
A Journey With Jesus 