Loving the best places

They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. – Matthew 23.6-10

It is interesting to look at the charges against the Pharisees and see how we compare or contrast to them. There are two particular charges here against them. First, they love the place of prominence, and second, they love to be called by the right titles.

It is just a part of our nature to want the best seats. If we go to a sporting event or a show we try to get the best seats we can afford. The best seats are called that, well, because they are the best.

These guys were no different, they wanted the best and most prominent seats in church, they wanted to be seen and acknowledged. At the feast they wanted to be sure that they got the seats closest to the food.

In Luke 14 Jesus tells a parable about a wedding guest who goes the best place at the table and is told he has to move to the foot. He speaks of how much better it is the take the worst seat and be invited to move up. The instruction is pretty simple – don’t be puffed up and insist on the best.

Not only do they want the best seats, they want the best titles. They want to be called rabbi or father or teacher or doctor or reverend anything like it. They love the acclaim that titles bring.

But Jesus says not to be bothered or distracted by that. He says we are all brothers. Only God is our Father. He is the only One who is revered. He is the Teacher. He is the Rabbi. While I don’t know that this is an absolute ban on titles it is obvious that these titles are not something that we need to put a claim on or insist on.

The lesson here is humility. We don’t need to be concerned with the best seat or the best title. We just need to serve God in humility and be concerned about glorifying Him.