3 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Matthew 23:6-7 (CSB): “They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
When we examine the verses I have chosen for today, we are reminded that some people cultivate personal happiness and value in superficial ways. Some folks find a shortcut to joy and importance by trying to elevate themselves and put others down.
This is what the Pharisees did. They wanted people to make them feel valuable, so they demanded that others address them as “Teacher” or “Rabbi.” While there is nothing inherently wrong with addressing someone as a teacher, the Pharisees wanted the title to make them feel superior and everyone else inferior. This seems to be precisely why Jesus opposed it.
A moment’s reflection would reveal that we periodically do the same sort of things. Some people insist on using “Dr.” before their name (I’m not talking about an M.D.), while others in ministry require church members to call them “Pastor,” “Reverend,” or something similar. Although these titles are not necessarily wrong, they become problematic when they create a two-tiered class of individuals.
It may be appropriate to give someone a title in certain situations, but if it creates division within the Christian community, and if it is intended by those who hold those titles to make themselves feel better and look down on others, then we should refuse to use them entirely. And even if those using those designations don’t intend it, if it causes others to feel inferior, Christian charity would call us to drop them.
If I lived in the first century and got a chance to meet an elderly Apostle Peter, I can imagine that I would be slightly intimidated. Jesus chose this man to follow and learn from Him. Peter played a central part in all four Gospels, and he was the primary leader of the early church when thousands of people were coming to faith in Christ. Essentially, he was a legend in his own time.
Yet, I’ve always been impressed with how he introduced himself to other pastors when he wrote a letter that bears his name. We could easily see how he could have addressed other pastors by calling himself their “Rabbi” or something else to make it clear that he was superior to them. But, instead, he humbly called himself simply “a fellow elder.”
1 Peter 5:1 (CSB): “I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:”
Oh, that we could demonstrate the same humility and grace in our Christian communities.
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, let me seek my happiness and value in You and in what You say about me. Help me never be so superficial as to seek personal value by elevating myself and putting others down. If and when I do, give me the wisdom to see it and the grace to repent immediately. I pray this in Your Name, Amen.
Going Deeper
If you want to go deeper, check out this article by Got Questions: “Why did Jesus rebuke the scribes and Pharisees so harshly in Matthew 23:13–36?”
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com).
Matt’s Musings 