Humilty Vs Pride

 

  Mt 23:1-12

A Warning Against Hypocrisy

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

In this telling passage, Jesus exposes hypocrisy which can creep its way slowly and subtly into our attitudes and behaviors. No doubt the teachers of the law and the Pharisees "meant well" in trying to implement the law but fell off the cliff into pride and self-righteousness, a show of "I'm better than you" or "holier than thou', as the expression goes. Jesus, on the other hand, extols humility: the greatest being the servant, and the humble being exalted. He became the child of a humble young woman. Where do I stand?  Where would I like to stand and how can I get there?

Bro. Rene

Dear God, cleanse me of all pride and help me to be humble. Amen. .