OUR FATHER WHO IS TO BE HONORED

The Lord Jesus, having confronted the religious leaders and showed them to be incomplete in their knowledge of the things of the spirit and of the scriptures, issued a scathing indictment of their practices as recorded in Matthew chapter 23 verses 1 - 12,

1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, 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 by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

The Lord Jesus advised His listeners to heed the words of the Pharisees and scribes because they sat in the seat of Moses and therefore had the authority of Moses confered on them by the office they held but Jesus warned them not follow after their conduct because they talked the talk but did not walk the walk.

These are the things that the Lord told his people not to emulate from the religious leaders;

• They placed heavy burdens on others that they exempted themselves from
• They did all their works to be seen by others to attract admiration
• They wore clothes and accessories to appear pious to other people
• They sought prominent positions and placements at feasts and gatherings
• They sought to be honorably greeted by men in social environments 
• They sought to be called by the title ˋRabbiˋorˋteacherˋ by others

The Lord said that only the Messiah and God had the right to be honored in such ways. All men should treat each other as brothers and should seek to be servants of each other.

Amen.

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