The Chair of Moses

Mat 23:1-12. KJ2000
(1) Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
(2) Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
(3) All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not according to their works: for they say, and do not.
(4) For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
(5) But all their works they do to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
(6) And love the uppermost places at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
(7) And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
(8) But you be not called Rabbi: for one is your Teacher, even Christ; and all you are brothers.
(9) And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, who is in heaven.
(10) Neither be you called masters: for one is your Teacher, even Christ.
(11) But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
(12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
This passage is often passed over as applying to the Pharisees only. Or, for the more rabid species of Protestant, it is the prohibition of calling a priest, "father." As for that, we would have to give up "teacher" as well. 

This passage is much more about us. Consider it this way: suppose you are taken in by some pompous, self-serving teacher of the Gospel who is in love with the sound of his own voice. Does this excuse you from living as a Christian? It may condemn your teacher but it does not excuse you.

The military had an expression for it: you salute the uniform, not the wearer. You may think the lieutenant is an idiot, but he's a commissioned idiot—and you salute him. Your teacher may indeed be pompous and self-serving, but you are to learn from him what you can, and follow Christ in doing it.

Jesus does not leave the matter at what the ordinary disciple must do. He brings out a series of examples for teachers and ministers of all types which should serve as warning.

We are not to "call" - we are not to presume that our teachers and ministers are so like God as to be worshiped. Indeed, we are to see that they are human like us. We are to honor them for the service they perform, not the title they wear.

We are not to "be called" - not to seek the titles. We are not be "rabbi" - Chrysostom translates this word as "guide." We are certainly not to be master, and indeed teacher is out of reach. Servant is the preferred role, whatever we are called.

Well, then, how does an ambitious teacher succeed in this? By service.

If you pursue greatness in the church, you will never achieve it. It's like being a hypochondriac: the more often you take your malady to the doctor, the sicker you are. You cure hypochondria by not going to the doctor.

If you pursue service, you will find greatness in the church. Status and position are not the goal; service is. Status and position will follow as the church needs; reward will flow from your Master.

For those who are accustomed to business life and climbing the ladder, look at it this way: service is the key. Therefore, there is unlimited opportunity in the church, for there is no limit to the service Christ can receive from us.