Matthew 23-24

Read 

Matthew 23-24

Verses chosen for devotion:

“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.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Reflect 

In Matthew 23 Jesus was rebuking the scribes and Pharisees and he warned his disciples against imitating them. So what does the selected verses mean to the disciples and how does this apply to us today?

If we take these verses literally they may seem confusing and yet contradicting, especially on the part of no man shall be called father on earth. In addition why aren’t we allowed to respect our teachers who impart knowledge and teaching to us to make us a better person academically and morally. Aren’t we supposed to honor our parents? Then if no one shall call another person Father how then we respect and honor my parents. Isn’t this contradictory to Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long..” And likewise on the part of recognizing authority and taking instructions from leaders for again this does not sound like what we have been taught in Hebrews 13:17 “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority..”

Or is Jesus teaching His disciples (and us) about humility and that work should precede honor? And that one should not forget that God is the Father of all men and the giver of all lives? And Jesus Himself is the one and true leader, the role model and the only shepherd that directs His sheep in the right way of everlasting life?

Relate 

Teacher - 

Many of us have had the chance or experience to teach someone entrusted to us be it as a Disciple Group leader, a Sunday school teacher, or a parent to our children. What is the expectation we or those whom we teach or disciple have on ourselves? Are we supposed to be the “know it all” person who possess the knowledge far superior than those placed under our charge? Or are we supposed to have all the answers to the questions posed to us. Undoubtedly this kind of expectation exerts unnecessary pressure on ourselves as the truth is we are not perfect and we do not have all the answers. Neither should we let pride get in the way of acknowledging that we are not perfect as a teacher or mentor. The only perfect teacher is the Holy Spirit - “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”John‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬. We should not depend on our own wisdom and limited understanding to teach and disciple but rely upon the wisdom from God and the Holy Spirit that lives within us.

Father - 

As father or parent we are responsible to provide for our families and we have authority over our children especially before they reach adulthood. Nonetheless we would need to remember that we may be the earthly father or parent but God above us is the father of all mankind, and He creates all things - “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist”. As a father or parent we sometimes have certain expectation on our children to do our bidding, in their education, utilization of their spare time, extra curricular activities or maybe even their future career. It is a good time to remind ourselves that it may be good for us to guide and advise our children but God the Father’s will (not our will) be done on earth as it is in heaven. We have to learn to discern God’s plan and submit to Him (and not to ourselves). As a parent myself I often find it hard to put my own desire below God’s will (especially when it comes to my children’s future). But throughout the years of hard knocks I have learnt to discern, submit and wait upon God the Father. 

Leader -

Jesus is the true leader as he leads by example, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭45‬ ‭

Jesus serves in humility as he washed His disciples’ feet (John 13), He counseled the Samaritan woman (John 4), He ate with tax collectors (Matthew 9), just to name a few examples. 

Indeed there is only one true leader, our Lord Jesus that we should follow. His voice and instruction alone we should listen to (as the sheep listens to the Shepherd).  John 10:27 - “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”.

In a chaotic and confusing world as it is today, we should let the Holy Spirit teach us, submit to God the Father’s will, and follow the lead of the Son, our Lord Jesus.

Rest

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen, amen.

Gloria Patri

Alan Wong