03 Mar 26 | Authority and Humility
Jesus distinguishes between legitimate authority and hypocritical leadership, grounding true greatness in humility and service.
The Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
"The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people's shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'
As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called 'Master';
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Today’s Focus
Jesus does not dismantle authority. He purifies it. The scribes and Pharisees hold legitimate positions, yet their failure lies in the gap between what they teach and how they live. Authority without integrity becomes a burden. Titles without humility become hollow. In the Kingdom, greatness is not measured by status, recognition, or religious performance, but by service. The chair of Moses remains, but the model of leadership is reordered under Christ.
In the Margins
This passage comes at the height of escalating conflict between Jesus and the religious leadership in Jerusalem. It follows public debates in the Temple (Matthew 21–22) and precedes the formal “woes” pronounced against the scribes and Pharisees. Here, Jesus is addressing both the crowds that have gathered, as well as His disciples. This is a rebuke and clarification of authority, integrity, and leadership on a very public stage.
When Jesus notes that the scribes and Pharisees sit on the chair of Moses, he is referring to their authority to interpret Law. Archaeological discoveries have uncovered stone “Moses seats” in first-century synagogues, indicating a recognized position of authority. Jesus acknowledges their authority to teach, their stewardship of the Law, and calls for continued observance of their teachings. Jesus does not abolish the Law (cf. Matthew 5:17), rather affirms its authority even while critiquing its misuse. The issue is not the office; it is the integrity of those occupying it.
Jesus defines the hypocrisy He is seeing by calling out preaching without practice. The Greek term behind “practice” (poieō) implies lived obedience. The critique we see echoes Isaiah 29:13 (honoring with lips but hearts far from God), Ezekiel 33:31 (hearing but not doing), and Psalm 50 (ritual without righteousness). The issue that is being focused on is not a theological deviation, rather a failure to embody the teaching by the ones teaching.
Jesus points out that these scribes and Pharisees will “tie up heavy burdens.” This point refers to the legal interpretations at the time. They were often detailed, while technically precise, lacked a sense of mercy or pastoral care. In Second Temple Judaism, halakhic rulings governed daily life. The concern is not obedience itself, but the absence of compassion in applying it. When Jesus speaks of Phylacteries (tefillin) and tassels (tzitzit) these were commanded in Deuteronomy 6:8 and Numbers 15:38–40. They were being enlarged here for greater visibility. Jesus is calling out this nature of piety aimed at recognition rather than obedience.
The next section is often misunderstood, especially where Jesus says to “call no one on earth your father.” We know that this cannot be absolute literalism, since scripture itself uses “father” (e.g., Abraham as “father” in Romans 4) and we will see Paul call himself a spiritual father in 1 Corinthians 4:15. The issue that Jesus is driving at here is not the use of the actual word, rather the authority and identity. In Jewish culture, titles conveyed honor and hierarchy. Jesus is correcting status-seeking spiritual elitism. To be a “son” meant to live in the image of. Jesus is calling on everyone to live in the image of God, not to seek to live in the image of another. God is the ultimate source, Christ is the ultimate authority, and the rest of us are equal as disciples. Jesus isn’t abolishing roles, rather reordering them in a divine sense.
He clarifies this by showing that roles must be reversed. He is not declaring that there will never be these roles, but He is reversing Mediterranean honor culture, where status was publicly displayed and fiercely guarded. Jesus repeats a consistent Kingdom principle (cf. Matthew 20:26–28). He tells us that true greatness is measured by service. He calls for mercy, love, and forgiveness. Humility is not self-deprecation; it is truthful self-placement before God.
It is easy for us to get caught up in a world where we are expected to follow figures of authority. There are figures all around us that proclaim their authority over us, but we have to remember that all glory belongs to God and our role is to serve Him. While authority is legitimate when rooted in truth, we have to remember that this becomes corrupt when detached from integrity. Even religious leaders can stray, just as much today as in the time of Jesus. Religious performance without obedience is hypocrisy. Titles and honor are spiritually dangerous when sought for self-glorification. Glory in the Kingdom is measured by service, not status.
Reflection Question
Where in my life am I more concerned with being seen as faithful than actually living faithfully?
A Small Invitation
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