Sunday Meditation: Hypocrisy Versus Humility

This Sunday begins the final discourse of the five discourses in Matthew’s Gospel.  Jesus begins with another excoriation against the scribes and Pharisees, this time calling them hypocrites.

 

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,

"The scribes and the Pharisees

have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,

but do not follow their example.

For they preach but they do not practice.

They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry

and lay them on people's shoulders,

but they will not lift a finger to move them.

All their works are performed to be seen.

They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,

greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'

As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'

You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.

Call no one on earth your father;

you have but one Father in heaven.

Do not be called 'Master';

you have but one master, the Christ.

The greatest among you must be your servant.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;

but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

~Mt 23:1-12

Humility is at the heart of this message, and hypocrisy in many ways is the opposite of humility.  After all, a hypocrite feels himself above the very thing he preaches.  Jeff Cavins has a wonderful sermon on this.

 

That was excellent.  Now if you have ever wondered why we call priests “Father” while in this very passage Jesus says to call no one father, Dr. Brant Pitre explains.

 

That makes sense.  

Meditation: "Whoever humbles himself will be exalted."