What do we love?

Before we begin: Once again, as we have in previous posts, we need to be clear that what Jesus said was not and is not a condemnation of Judaism or Jews. There are a set of texts have have been misused by Christians in anti jewish, anti semitic ways and we need to stop doing that. In Matthew chapter 23, there are harsh statements which are addressed to the political and religious authorities, the people in power. Jesus, as a Jew, could and did criticise Jewish authorities. If I, as a Presbyterian criticize the PCUSA leadership, I am not condemning all Presbyterians. Jesus when he criticizes the Jewish authorities is not condemning all Jews or all of Judaism. Over the centuries Christians have used these texts and others like them to be intentionally or sometimes unintentionally anti semitic. Christian readers of these texts need to be thoughtful and careful about our interpretation.

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It’s the crowds turn. After telling the elites three parables about how they have not been faithful to God’s ways and that they need to act differently, and after answering three questions from them designed to trap him, Jesus’ discussion with the Jerusalem elites is finished. And finished so completely that “No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.” (Matt 22:46)

Jesus has shown the Jerusalem elites as unreliable teachers and inadequate leaders- presumably with the crowd overhearing. He now talks to the crowds and to his disciples. But Jesus says something that at first glance doesn’t make sense given his criticism of the elites.

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach”. (Matt 23:2-3)

Moses seat? We don’t exactly know what this is but many commentators believe this is a phrase referring to religious and political authority. We might say someone sits on the throne, implying royal authority. Or we might say someone sits in the boardroom, implying business authority.

Do whatever they teach you?? Jesus just finished demonstrating the scribes and Pharisees are not reliable teachers. Has Jesus changed his mind? Some think that Jesus recognizes how powerful and how dangerous the Jerusalem elites may be. Perhaps he is cautioning his followers to be wise and to not directly confront their power. To directly confront such powerful people will only end in failure. Jesus’ followers must be careful and wise. Jesus himself has and will continue to challenge their authority.

Some think when he says “teaching”, Jesus means reading from Torah. Their reasoning is that Jesus means listen when the elites read Torah and follow it- Torah. But don’t act like them because they do not practice what they teach/read.

In answer to the elites question, Jesus has just said the most important commandment is to love God and love neighbor. Now he points out what the elites actually love- public acknowledgement of their piety, places of honor at banquets, the best seats in the synagogue, respect in public life, and titles that grant them honor and status.

Jesus examples make sense to his first century audience. But they may be a little unclear to us.

Phylacteries and fringes are distinctly Jewish items. Christians can, if we are not careful, misunderstand what Jesus is saying. He is not condemning the use of phylacteries and fringes. He is condemning the showy misuse of them. We can come up with a modern Christian version without much effort. Perhaps some Christian bumper stickers would qualify? Or tee shirts or caps? One’s social media bio? Does this mean we can never have a Christian bumper sticker or tee shirt? I don’t think so, but also Jesus is asking us to think about intent. What are we trying to say or do with these items?

Then Jesus says no one should be called Rabbi, or Father, or instructor. What’s going on here? Does he mean we are not to have titles? Is he against people having particular areas of knowledge?

I don’t think Jesus is saying no one can have a title, or a particular area of expertise or that no one can teach another person or have particular religious duties. I think he is calling for a non hierarchical society. Jesus goes right on to say, “The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matt 23:11-12)

We need to stop and think about the term “Father because it had some different meanings then. Father was not just a parental title. To be called Father had political and social implications. Caesar was called the Father of the country. Fathers had particular authority over families. It referred to Zeus. It was used in other religious groups as a title of highest authority.

Rabbi, Father, Instructor/Teacher

Jesus is talking about how we interact with each other. A religious leader, or a teacher or a government figure or a business figure, no matter how powerful, isn’t better or more important than anyone else. They have particular knowledge and responsibilities, yes. But they are not owed honor or the “best seats” because of their title.

Today we have all sorts of titles. These titles can denote particular knowledge or training. They can denote particular responsibilities. But according to Jesus, they shouldn’t mean unlimited power and authority.

Yes, a cardiac surgeon when caring for patients has knowledge and authority and responsibility that needs to be respected. But when the cardiac surgeon is talking about sports or the weather they are just another person. If someone is the Speaker of the House, when at work, they have a particular authority and power and responsibility. Once they leave the chamber, they are just another person. An electrician has knowledge and authority about electrical matters. And they have my respect. And they are of equal worth and value as people as is anyone else.

We all have different tasks, different areas of expertise, different areas of authority. No one person can know everything. But that doesn’t make one person better than another, just different.

Jesus’ critique of the Jerusalem elites does give us some standards to follow. Once again we are warned against loving power, authority and the trappings that attend. We can love power and authority for ourselves and for others. We are cautioned about how and when we give power and authority to others. ¹ We can be tempted to bask in the reflected power of others, as employees, as fans, as citizens. Putting someone on a pedestal can make us feel a little higher up also.

This is such a temptation for us. The pull to participate in social hierarchy is strong. The desire to compare and compete is strong. It is nearly impossible to imagine a non competitive society. Which may be why Jesus talks about this so often. He, more than once, reminds us that the first will be last and the last first. He reminds us that the greatest among us is to be a servant to others. He shows us this every moment of his life.

1. What Jesus is saying here is consistent with Israel’s history. Remember that originally Israel had no ruler but God. They were intended to function as a non hierarchical society, a tribal confederacy, no ruling elites¹. If you read the New Testament carefully, that’s the direction Jesus and Paul and the other epistle authors are directing us. Among many texts, see 1 Samuel 8:4-22. See also Judge 8:22. In Deut 17:14-20 there are instructions about a king, but notice the restrictions, including the people choosing the king and the limits on the king’s power and wealth. , exp v 20 ↩︎