A warning against Hypocrisy
Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10; Psalm 130; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13; Matthew 23:1-12
Today’s gospel, taken from Matthew 23:1–12, exposes the activities of the scribes and the Pharisees. This session of the gospel is divided into three parts. The first part exposes the oppressive burdens they lay on others (1-4), the second part exposes their motivations (5–10), and the last part speaks about service and humility as the way of Jesus (11–12).
The first part: This part exposes the oppressive burdens the Pharisees and the scribes laid on others. Oppressive burdens here also refer to heavy burdens. The burden of the religious leaders contrasts sharply with Jesus’ burden. His burden is light, and his yoke is easy (Matthew 11:30). The Pharisees were burden-bringers; Jesus was a burden-taker. Similarly, many spiritual leaders today teach as if Christianity were a set of burdensome rules to follow. The early church rejected this legalism when it insisted that obedience to the Mosaic Law was not a foundation for the Christian life. Peter told the legalists in Acts 15:10: “Why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? Beloved, life in our nation is already too difficult; let us not lay further burden on ourselves.
The second part: The scribes and pharisees do their works to be seen, and they live for the praise of men. They are motivated by the admiration they get from people. They love the best places and greetings in the marketplaces. What are your motivations? We know we all need encouragement, but let us evaluate our governing propensity. Hence, Jesus went further and warned, saying, “Do not call anyone “Rabbi, father, and teacher”. Jesus warns us against giving anyone inappropriate honor. One may have a father or teachers in an ordinary human sense, but one should not regard them in a sense that gives them excessive spiritual honor or authority, like we see in churches today.
However, it is proper to note that this is not an absolute rejection of title since Jesus was called Rabbi: Matthew 26:25 and 26:49; John 1:38 and 3:26. Paul called himself a father (1 Corinthians 4:15, Philippians 2:22). Paul called other Christians his children (Galatians 4:19). Paul called himself a teacher (1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11). That which Christ forbids is: an affectation of such titles and hunting after them; the exercise of an absolute mastership; and a demand of unquestioning submission to power.
The third part exposes the way of Jesus: service and humility (11–12). “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Normally, people estimate greatness by how many people serve and honor them. Jesus reminded His followers that in His kingdom it should be different and that we should estimate greatness by how we serve and honor others.
Consequently, this message serves as a warning to us all to amend our ways. In the first reading, the Lord speaks against the deeds of the priests and expresses his desire to deal with them harshly unless they amend their ways. This will be our fate if we all do not practice what we preach or profess. Paul, in the second reading was a good example to the Thessalonians; we too should be good, not bad, examples to those around us.
