“And all their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge their fringes. And they love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues, and salutations in the market place, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi.’ But be you not called Rabbi. For one is your master; and all you are brethren. And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, Christ. He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
Jesus had charged the scribes and Pharisees with being harsh with others and lax with themselves, and then highlights another crooked element of their heart, which is vainglory. To desire to be extolled by others is a great temptation for the spiritual person, for which love is the cure, because to act from a surplus of love, a heart bursting with affection, is both easier, more beautiful, and more natural in the life of grace than trying to humble oneself, which is a target easily missed: “There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect of person he will destroy himself” (Ecclesiasticus 20:24). Prayer naturally brings humility, because the light of the sun illuminates all that is imperfect about you: “For there is not any thing secret that shall not be made manifest, nor hidden, that shall not be known and come abroad” (Luke 8:17). There is also a look here at the hidden ailment of the teachers of the Law, because in doing things to be seen by men means that there is not a desire to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, and therefore when He comes, they are not thrilled, but agitated about having to share the spotlight: “This man is not of God, who keepeth not the sabbath” (John 9:16), whereas a group that loves is delighted to welcome in new members, that the good over which they bond may extend to someone new: “And the churches were confirmed in faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5). Jesus’ wording is precise, that they did not only act to be seen by men, but their lives are entirely given over to this. When He criticizes their phylacteries, this comes from taking a section of the Law: “Thou shalt bind [the commandments] as a sign on thy hand, and they shall be and shall move between thy eyes” (Deuteronomy 6:8), which means to do all things according to the Law: “In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action” (Ecclesiasticus 37:20), and to meditate on them consistently: “His will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). The Pharisees, however, took the verse in a literal manner, writing the Ten Commandments down and wearing them on their foreheads as a display of their piety. The fringes are a commandment of Moses, that while circumcision distinguished the people of Israel, there was a call for a more public display of their being God’s people: “Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt tell them to make to themselves fringes in the corners of their garments, putting in them ribands of blue: that when they shall see them, they may remember all the commandments of the Lord” (Numbers 15:38-39), and the religious leaders sought to display their righteousness by these blue fringes rather than by acts of love. There can also be a spiritual meaning, that the scribes and Pharisees stretched the commandments of God to include their own commandments and traditions: “You shall not add to the word that I speak to you” (Deuteronomy 4:2), and placed undue stress on them, which is indicated by the fringes. When Jesus then convicts them of desiring the highest seats, this is not to condemn those who are genuine leaders and thereby are given these places: “And then men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to be king over the house of Juda” (2 Kings 2:4), but rather those who clog their hearts and minds with the desire for esteem and position, rather than with their Beloved. It is the same in taking the lowest place out of a desire to seem holy, with the body in a low place but the heart feasting on one’s own perceived righteousness: “Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? There shall be more hope of a fool than of him” (Proverbs 26:12). Furthermore, this was taking place in synagogues, where their minds should have been focused on guiding the people on the way of righteousness, to be the answer for the prayer: “Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths. Direct me in thy truth, and teach me” (Psalm 24:4-5), but rather they were turned in on themselves, concerned with their reputation. The love of salutations is not just to be greeted in a friendly manner, which is warmth to the soul: “A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth” (Ecclesiasticus 6:5), but a public display with bowing, followed by the greeting “rabbi,” a title the Pharisees sought to hold as an honor to themselves, but not do the duties as they should. Now, this translates to your personal love story, Theophila, that there is one high place that the Lord desires you to go: “Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high places” (Psalm 148:1), and this is the heights of contemplation, that you may drink deeply of the cup of love: “My chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly it is!” (Psalm 22:5), and enjoy the sweet delicacies of truth: “Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat: so also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul” (Proverbs 24:13-14). Make yourself worthy to be seated on the throne of the Lamb: “To him that shall overcome, I will give to sit with me in my throne: as I also have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Apocalypse 3:21), not concerning yourself with office or position. When Jesus says “do not be called Rabbi,” this is because true teaching comes from God, for many are the words that can pour out of a man, but it is only when the heart is heated with love and the mind graced with insight that the wisdom that is truly important can make its proper imprint: “It is written in the prophets: ‘And they shall all be taught of God’” (John 6:45). Thus, many hear the words of God, but few receive it in such a way: “Thy words I have hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee” (Psalm 118:11), but this is not to despair, but to pray for the grace to hear in your heart: “Sacrifice or oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced ears for me” (Psalm 39:7). From this is a look into the fact that all members of the Church, including the saints, are your brothers and sisters in Christ; let Jesus form you, be pleasing to Him: “As long as thou livest, and hast breath in thee, let no man change thee” (Ecclesiasticus 33:21), for you are like a bride that enjoys the company and aid of her bridesmaids, but all for the sake of being a greater delight to her husband. Love all, but love freely: “Give not to son or wife, brother or friend, power over thee while thou livest” (Ecclesiasticus 33:20). He then says to call no man your father, meaning that your every action is done before God, therefore let nothing and no one come before the love and service of your heavenly Father: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). Now, the priestly title of father, the term spiritual fatherhood, and the title of master in the spiritual sense are like sun shining through windows. To trust a spiritual director as the voice of Christ in your life is to take them as a spiritual father or mother, but this is insofar as they are a vessel of the light of God for you, thus in listening to them you are listening to God: “’Masters, what must I do, that I may be saved?’ But they said: ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30-31). This is not something to be sought, with the care of souls being a grave duty: “Be ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment” (James 3:1), but rather be a simple servant. If your words find their way into the hearts of others and pierce them with love, this is the action of the Holy Spirit in them, Jesus in you, and the Father shining behind you, and thus you are not a master, but a window of grace: “He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith, ‘Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38). Withhold your love from no one, serving all, but all for the divine Master who ministers to you: “I am in the midst of you, as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27), giving you the love you need. Finally, it is ugliness to lift oneself up, to be bloated with one’s own ego or clamoring for position, but to be little, held gently in the hands of your Abba, this is precious, and makes ready to be rich in love.