Lifted up

 ‘The greatest among you will be your servant.’ (Matthew 23:11)

Matthew 23:1-12 (Year A: Advent-4)

                                                       pic: http://www.mooreselectric.com/about/servant-leadership

In the scriptures, to exalt is a term applied, typically, to God. Occasionally, it is applied to human beings. Then it is in the context of honour, authority, prestige.  This is a discourse between Jesus and the ‘crowds’ as well as ‘his disciples’ (note that Jesus spoke ‘to the crowds and to his disciples’ because the latter, specifically, needed and need to take note of what he was about to say). Jesus warns about those who exalt themselves before God has a chance to exalt them!  In fact, in a pithy saying he says that those who initiate the first move get demoted from their assumed position of greatness while those who wait patiently on God’s wisdom experience an uplifting to a position of responsibility and service (uplifting comes with a high price).

There is an irony in this passage read every so often in churches. It is this – those reading the passage may be tempted to do exactly what this passage says they should not do. What does the passage say?

‘.. 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.’ (v. 3)

Sounds harsh? Wait for the next verse:

‘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.’ (v. 4)

Has that every happened in the course of the last 2,000 years including recent decades? Preachers and listeners will decide on that question. And not to mince his words, Jesus goes on to say:

‘they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues’

These statements are not going to warrant a Nobel prize in diplomacy! Little wonder that Jesus was not popular among certain religious leaders of his time. In fact, it all ended in tragedy. He was crucified for his actions and statements. With poignancy, Jesus spells out some things that might just sound a little awkward, if not ironic, for today’s listeners:

‘do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.’ (v. 9)

‘Nor are you to be called instructors [Teacher], for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.’ (v. 10).

Oh we like to hear the word ‘Doctor’ applied to us! 

But, here is the rub:

‘The greatest among you will be your servant.’ (v. 11)

Servant leadership is the way.