Matthew 23:8-12 (Hypocrisy)
"But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:8-12).
The singularity of the deity of Jesus Christ is perhaps the most radical and highly controversial topic in all religion. Christianity makes no apology for this stance, and that in and of itself is enough to rub culture the wrong way.
We live in a day where political correctness is expected and tolerance for other religions or worldviews is preached from every angle. Unfortunately, Jesus Christ left no room for debate.
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Therefore, neither should we leave room for debate.
Why then is it so important for Christians to hold firm to the singularity of the deity of Christ as the only path to God? Thankfully, Jesus directly addressed this issue when he said, "Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).
Those who profess to be Christian must realize the weight of this passage and what he/she risks by not standing up for the absolute truth of Scripture. God simply does not take this issue lightly and He expects that we will hold firm to the first commandment He gave Moses (Exodus 20:1-6), of which Jesus is the fulfillment that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).
It is quite interesting that the issue of hierarchy is directly addressed with Jesus twice in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke by the disciples. The first occasion comes after the Transfiguration on the mountaintop by Jesus, Elijah and Moses in the presence of Peter, James and John, and the second occasion during the Last Supper meal just prior to Christ's death and crucifixion.
In both instances, the disciples mistook the word "greatness" for accomplishment and/or status while Jesus sought a deeper meaning that would not only transform their perspective but also their ministerial purpose in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Specifically in Matthew 18:3, Jesus told his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
This statement echoes the statement made in Matthew 23:11-12 that in order to be in eternal communion with Jesus Christ, an attitude of service and humility must burst forth from the seams of our character and countenance, leaving no doubt that the grace we freely received for our salvation took root within our hearts and bore much fruit.
“The child is held up as an ideal, not of innocence, purity, or faith, but of humility and unconcern for social status. Jesus advocates humility of mind (v.4), not childishness of thought.”
Imagine the possibilities that would flourish in our lives if we chose to filter our minds through the spiritual colander of humility, washing away all unrighteousness and iniquity that enslaves us and leaving behind only the God honoring qualities that produce the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22).
However, due to a lack of understanding the disciples again press this question of "who is the greatest" upon Jesus in His final hours at the Last Supper (Luke 22:24-30).
The context of this verse is striking in Luke's Gospel. Here, within hours of His unconditional sacrifice and death upon a cross for the sins of mankind, Jesus took bread and wine and divided it among his disciples, symbolizing His broken body and shed blood.
In essence, He pulled back the veil of Heaven and allowed His most trusted friends a glimpse of God's sovereignty. How incredibly amazing! And yet, all the disciples could think about was their own hierarchical standing in the kingdom of heaven, proving they had completely lost perspective.
This convicts me to the core I must admit, for how often I look past the absolute truth of God's Word set before me to fix my eyes upon the selfish longings of my heart.
I repeatedly put off the blessings of Heaven that merely require a humble heart and mind and rather indulge in sinful attitudes that not only cloud my thinking but rob me of the righteousness I desperately desire in obedience to Him that paid the ultimate sacrifice for my sins.
I confess that I fall victim to the warning of Proverbs 26:11 which states, "Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly." But I pray that God will give me the strength to put off the selfishness that comes so naturally to me and draw near to the cleansing truth of His Word spoken through the prophet Hosea that I may be sanctified through humility and repentance.
"Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up" (Hosea 6:1).
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on November 5, 2009 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
