The Greatest

Jesus spoke against the Pharisees who did good works to be seen and recognised by men.  They were fond of titles, admiration, to be respected, and to have their expert opinion sought.  Jesus countered this by explaining the conduct He expected of His servants in Matthew 23:5-12:  "But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. ⁶ They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' ⁸ But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. ⁹ Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. ¹⁰ And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. ¹¹ But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Jesus was not laying down a new law to prohibit the use of names or titles but to demonstrate His supremacy over all.  How easy it was for man to take the place of God in their lives!  They naturally looked to be taught by their rabbi, to their own father with reverence, and for insights from the experts of the Mosaic Law.  Twice in this section Jesus emphasised, "...for One is your Teacher, the Christ."  In following the example of Jesus who always did the will of His heavenly Father, followers of Jesus were to humble themselves and be the slave of all.  After Jesus girded Himself and washed the feet of His disciples after the Passover feast He provided them a pattern they were to heed themselves:  in washing the feet of one another they served the LORD.

A few chapters earlier the disciples bristled when the mother of James and John asked Jesus to appoint them to places of great honour in His kingdom.  She expressed the desire for them to sit on His right and left hand.  Jesus responded bluntly with, "You do not know what you are asking."  Honour and authority in the Kingdom of God looks very different than the honour afforded in the world.  Jesus gathered the 10 indignant apostles and Matthew 20:25-28 tells us:  "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."  Selfish ambition for greatness and to be first is misguided, for that is the spot for Jesus.  The way we can become great is when we serve others like Jesus did who gave His life as a ransom for many.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.  It is God who will bring this to pass in His time and wise way.  Just like we ought not to look to men instead of God, we ought not to think it falls to us to play God with men.  The greatest men are those who submit to God's authority, not because they desire greatness, but because they know God as the greatest of all.